“Precaution is better than cure”, this proverb goes true not only in the health-care industry but in all industries, including those of heavy machineries. In addition to acquisition of raw materials, the efficient handling and storing of materials are vital to the heavy industry. The improper handling and storing of materials often result in costly injuries. To avoid such unwanted workplace hazards, the right material handling equipment is essential in more or less all heavy industries.

Weight and bulkiness of objects are major contributing factors to the injuries at workplace in many industries. Bending, followed by twisting and turning, are also more commonly cited movements that caused back injuries. Other hazards include falling objects, improperly stacked materials, and improper use of the various types of equipment. Manual material handling involves potential risks of injuries that can be among the following:

* Strains and sprains from lifting loads improperly or from carrying loads that are either too large or too heavy,
* Fractures and bruises caused by being struck by materials or by being caught in pinch points, and
* Cuts and bruises caused by falling materials that have been improperly stored or by incorrectly cutting ties or other securing devices.

It is essentially important to provide important safety information on handling, lifting, loading, storing and installing in heavy industries. Efficient flow and proper handling of materials is essential to a high production operation. A systematic approach should be used to reduce the total amount of required manual material handling and minimize the hazards associated with these activities during the planning and construction phases, by creating a unified material handling system.

Material handling equipment selection is a complex task and there is usually more than one good solution for any particular situation. The choice of material handling equipment depends on the product and process requirements. For this reason, material handling equipment can only be selected according to the product and process specifications. The entire material handling equipment process can be divided into three stages:

* Material Handling Equipment selection
* Rationalization of the selected Material Handling Equipment.
* Utilization and detailed design of the Material Handling Equipment

The types of material handling equipment are most often based on one of the following categories:

* Load Type
* Load Capacity
* Size
* Nature
* Speed
* Accumulation Required
* Distance
* Frequency Of Movement
* Flexibility of Path
* Loading and Unloading ability

An effective management always works towards worker safety and health protection. It is a decisive factor in reducing the extent and severity of work-related injuries and illnesses and their related costs. In fact, an effective safety and health program forms the basis of good worker protection and can save time and money. It is essentially important to make the right choice of material handling equipment and reduce the cost and increase efficiency in all heavy industries.