LUMBER BUDDY/JOB SAFETY ANALYSIS Definition the LUMBER BUDDY is a portable workstation Design The LUMBER BUDDY is designed to help you operate more safely by reducing strain and possible injury to workers. Reducing the manual handling of material and using leverage when you do transfer material by hand when utilizing the LUMBER BUDDY challenges workers to think ahead putting into use the LUMBER BUDDY and their forklift as efficiently as possible. 1) Reducing injuries 2) Increased production 3) Reduced damage to your inventory PPE Required 1) Leather palmed gloves are required 2) Steel toe shoes are required while replacing or moving LUMBER BUDDY components 3) Safety glasses eye protection is a good idea for any industrial application. Wood fiber, dust and metal particles may cause eye injuries Equipment required Forklift never attempt to push or shift the LUMBER BUDDY platform without a forklift. Obstructions Make sure the LUMBER BUDDY is positioned with all four legs firmly on the ground. Make sure the area is free of debris for a safe work area.
Inspections Make sure all LUMBER BUDDY products are inspected daily. Inspect welds Inspect for sharp edges (Note: Report any problems to your supervisor immediately) Proper Operation Procedures 1) The LUMBER BUDDY is rated for 10,000 lbs. load capacity. 2) The fork pockets are designed to keep the LUMBER BUDDY from shifting from side to side. However, this will not keep the LUMBER BUDDY from sliding forward. Treat the LUMBER BUDDY like an unsecured unit of lumber. Four simple rules for safe transporting 1) Always use the fork pockets to transport the LUMBER BUDDY. Even moving the LUMBER BUDDY short distances can be dangerous without using the fork pockets. By using the fork pockets, the forks are directly under the main frame of the LUMBER BUDDY. This keeps the unit from shifting due to the posts in the middle of the fork pockets. 2) While transporting, keep the LUMBER BUDDY as close as possible to the travel surface and keep the mast tilted as far back as possible. 3) When transporting the LUMBER BUDDY, always travel at a safe rate of speed. Excessive speed may cause loads of any type to shift, thus causing possible injuries and damage to equipment and materials. 4) Good judgment is something we cannot control. Please operate any type of equipment wisely. WORK SAFE, WORK SMART LUMBER BUDDY, INC. For more information call toll free: 1-888-844-4708 E-mail: worksafe@lumberbuddy.com Visit us online at: www.lumberbuddy.com
Please Feel Free To Print This Page Lumber Buddy, Inc. Toll Free 1-888-844-4708 www.lumberbuddy.com LUMBER BUDDY Features and Uses. The LUMBER BUDDY is a portable workstation and is comparable to stacking posts used in lumberyards throughout the United States. However, the unique difference between stacking posts and the LUMBER BUDDY is that the LUMBER BUDDY is transportable, and has the ability to go where the work requires it to go. It gives workers better visibility while splitting various types of material and it also provides a solid platform to hand stack material. When pulling from a racking system the LUMBER BUDDY is an excellent device. Cutting engineered wood products like I-Joists, Glue-Lams, Parallam, and LVL is a breeze because the LUMBER BUDDY is mobile and it saves time driving back and forth from stationary poles. The platform is 18 inches off of the ground, reducing the need to bend over to stack materials. The overriding appeal to LUMBER BUDDY is that it makes the forklift a more valuable tool, not just an expensive stacking platform. The LUMBER BUDDY is designed to perform three essential tasks, each extremely beneficial to a lumberyard s efficiency and time-management. 1.) It helps individuals work safer, smarter and reduces strain to the body. 2.) It increases the rate of productivity. 3.) It reduces the amount of damage done to inventory. These are three very good reasons to make the LUMBER BUDDY a part of your team. To follow are the particulars on how you can effectively use the LUMBER BUDDY. Built To Last, Tested Tough Built and engineered by a team of professionals, the LUMBER BUDDY has a well constructed, secure platform. The LUMBER BUDDY has been tested in a large, wholesale distribution center and has passed the test period with flying colors. The forklifts used at the test facility were rated 11,000 Lb Caterpillar and 12,000 Lb Hysters. The LUMBER BUDDY met each challenge with ease. One day, for my own piece of mind, I decided to give the LUMBER BUDDY a personal test. I was rotating stock, and rather than stacking the material on the pavement, I thought I might stack the material on the LUMBER BUDDY. I placed one unit of 18 20 mixed, then a unit of 16 and then two units of 8, all at 120 pieces per unit on the LUMBER BUDDY. The material was green Western Red Cedar and the LUMBER BUDDY handled the load successfully. This was merely a test and representative of the strength of construction of this unit. Do not exceed the Maximum weight limit of 10,000 LBS. I. Fork Pockets The fork pockets are a crucial part of the LUMBER BUDDY. This feature does not allow the LUMBER BUDDY to shift from side to side. It also puts the forks of the forklift directly under the main frame of the LUMBER BUDDY. The LUMBER BUDDY frame should only be moved by using the fork pockets. If used incorrectly it could cause serious injury or death. Only lift the LUMBER BUDDY off of the travel surface six to eight inches for safe travel. The LUMBER BUDDY weighs approximately 900 pounds and should be handled with caution. See Caution stickers on the unit.
II. Banding Channels The banding channels are there if and when you need them. Not all units require banded feet. But in some cases you may want stickers attached to the unit. Total quality management comes into play here, because it is much easier to move units around without getting on and off the forklift and to set stickers. If you have high-grade material that you want to protect, then the banding channels place the third sticker in the center of the unit keeping the unit from sagging in the middle. These banding channels reduce possible fork damage to material from sagging in the fork's path. By using the banding channels, placement of the feet are uniform on all units, so weight transfers uniformly for tighter loads on the truck. III. Cover Sheets Cover sheets are also easy to apply with the LUMBER BUDDY. Simply put the stickers in the banding channels and then lay the cover sheet on the LUMBER BUDDY frame. Pull the order, and then apply the top cover sheet and finally band it all together into one solid, well-built unit. Note: Always challenge yourself to work smarter, not harder. Always think ahead to the next step. Your job is not only to sell building material, but also to sell service and a quality product. We at LUMBER BUDDY feel confident that by using our product it will make your job much easier. You ll work safer and smarter, while delivering a better value to your employer, and ultimately your customers. IV. Splitting and Stacking Panels Splitting and stacking panels has never been easier. First you must decide how you want to package the unit. Do you want stickers banded to the unit? Do you want a cover sheet to protect the material? Splitting Panels Begin by bringing the panels to the LUMBER BUDDY, leaving the unit on your forks. Strip the unit of banding and any other unwanted debris that could possibly get tangled up in your work and then set the unit in the LUMBER BUDDY. If you re just pulling a few sheets and you re working out of a rack, take the unit out of the rack and bring the material to the LUMBER BUDDY. Using the forklift to adjust the elevation of the material, pull your order, sliding the material into place. This procedure helps reduce strain to the body. Remember there is no reason to work harder when all you need to do is work smarter. If you re pulling a large order, put the unit in the LUMBER BUDDY and take excess material off by hand or fork splitting, depending on the grade of material. Then return excess material to the rack. If you are pulling large orders of mixed material, backsliding panels is the way to go. Backsliding Panels First Step: Clean unit of banding and any other debris. Second Step: Set unit in LUMBER BUDDY and then remove excess material by hand or by fork splitting. Third Step: Return excess material to storage. Adding additional products to order. 2
Fourth Step: Bring the next product to the backside of the LUMBER BUDDY. Fifth Step: Clean unit of unwanted debris. Sixth Step: Lower unit down behind uprights of the LUMBER BUDDY to about two inches above material already stacked in the LUMBER BUDDY. Square the two products and then back the forklift up, sliding one unit on top of the other. Seventh Step: Remove excess material by hand or forklift and return it to storage. This process can be repeated as many times as needed to complete the order. Then complete the banding process you have chosen. Wide Units The LUMBER BUDDY frame has 48 inch uprights and a 48 inch base. If you have units wider than 48 inches, there is a simple solution. Before cutting the bands on the unit, take the full unit to the backside of the LUMBER BUDDY and lower the unit down over the uprights like you would if you were backsliding material. Then put three pieces of 2x4 about 48 inches long in the banding channel. Pull the 2x4 material out far enough to hold the outside edge of the unit of the material. Then back the material up against the uprights. Lower the unit into place, be sure the unit is firmly in place, and the main part of the unit will keep the 2x4 s firmly in place. Note: Use solid 2x4, if you use poor quality or damaged material stickers could break, causing possible injury to workers. If you are banding stickers to a wide unit, cut the 2x4 stickers to the length of the finished unit. V. Hand Stacking Panels Hand stacking panels is much easier with the LUMBER BUDDY. Panels are hard to handle, to stack and keep them square, but using the LUMBER BUDDY allows you to leave the product you re stacking on your forklift. This gives the ability to raise or lower your work, giving you the use of leverage as a means of reducing strain to the body. The uprights make it easier to keep units square and well organized. Panels are very expensive; you should handle them with care. This also keeps customers happy by reducing chipped and damaged material. Note: To reduce damage to panels and other material, keep your forks well manicured by grinding down rough edges. This will reduce chips and scratches to material. VI. Splitting and Stacking Lumber Lumber products such as timbers, treated lumber, framing lumber, and finished lumber are easily handled in the LUMBER BUDDY. Splitting units is a simple process. First step: Bring the material to the LUMBER BUDDY. Before you set the unit in the LUMBER BUDDY, strip the unit of banding and unwanted debris. Second Step: Set the unit in the LUMBER BUDDY then end split the unit. Because the LUMBER BUDDY is 18 off of the ground this should give you better visibility reducing the possibility of damage. The uprights keep the material flush and square on the backside of the unit. The front side will vary depending on the dimensions and various sizes of material. Third Step: If you need to take off extra pieces, just back up, leaving the extra 3
material on your forks. Adjust the elevation of the forklift and take the additional pieces off using leverage. Then return extra material to stock. Once again, shipping the bottom boards before they are damaged by repeated handling. VII. Adding Material Backsliding additional material on top of material already in the LUMBER BUDDY is simple. First Step: Take material to the backside of the LUMBER BUDDY and remove banding and any other debris from unit. Second Step: Lower the next product on the other side of uprights. If the unit is not level, take enough pieces from the next product to even the lower unit. Once you ve completed leveling the bottom unit, you re ready to backslide the material. Third Step: Lower the unit down to about two inches from material already in the LUMBER BUDDY. Then tilt the material so it is almost touching the material at the tips of your forks. Fourth Step: Back out from material being stacked. The material should slide off with ease. Fifth Step: Come around to the front and split off extra material and return to stock. Sixth Step: When dropping large timbers on top of your order, backslide the timbers and then slide them into position by hand. With the LUMBER BUDDY there is no reason to muscle heavy material. Remember: work safer and smarter, not harder. VIII. Hand Stacking Material Hand stacking material is quite simple when using the LUMBER BUDDY, especially if you re pulling from a racking system. First Step: Set the LUMBER BUDDY next to the area you will be working. Second Step: Bring material down from the rack, leaving the material on the forks at waist level. Proceed to pull the material you need, using leverage as a tool. Third Step: Return excess material to the rack, then repeat the process until your order is complete. Bear in mind that you can attach feet to the unit or a cover sheet depending on the material being pulled. During this procedure the material should never leave the forks, this reduces the possibility that the material could be damaged. You do not need to set the unit down or set stickers. At the distribution center where LUMBER BUDDY was tested, there are 20 Lumber Handlers and eight Engineered Wood Cutters. There are a total of 10 LUMBER BUDDIES at this location. They have eight standard units and two units with adjustable front legs. The units with adjustable legs are designed to lean back, so I-Joist floor systems can be stacked in the unit without falling over. Less hand stacking of I-Joists was a big hit at the distribution center. IX. Cutting E.W.P. Cutting long and heavy beams like Glue-Lams, Parallam, LVL, and Timberstrand Header Stock is made much easier with the LUMBER BUDDY. First Step: Set the LUMBER BUDDY in the area you will be cutting. Second Step: Cut your material and place the bottom row in the LUMBER BUDDY from the front side. 4
Third Step: Backslide the additional product on top of the first row. If needed, position the material by hand. It is much easier to slide material than muscle it into place. This procedure can be repeated until the order is completed. X. Cutting I-Joist Cutting I-Joist is also very easy with the LUMBER BUDDY. First Step: Set the LUMBER BUDDY in an area large enough to accommodate the longest I-Joist you will be cutting. Second Step: Cut your I-Joists and then bring it to the LUMBER BUDDY with adjustable front legs. The unit tilts back so I-Joist does not tip over while you backslide the I-Joists, locking them together. If you set up your work area you can lock the I-Joist packages together by backsliding the I-Joists. Once you are used to this type of system you will find that there is much less physical labor involved. At the distribution center where LUMBER BUDDY was tested, one cutter can cut up to 12,000 LF per day and that s cutting, not units. To have this type of production your cutting area needs to be set up correctly. A Word From LUMBER BUDDY Designer, Jamie Tweten: The LUMBER BUDDY is a different way to build lumber packages. When I designed the first unit it was much smaller, but worked on the same principle. When I took it on the job, my co-workers looked at me like I was nuts. Then one of the cedar pullers started using it, and others saw him using the LUMBER BUDDY and by the end of the month I had an order for five more units. Now that the new model has come out and, the test site has purchased four more units for their location. The LUMBER BUDDY is an excellent tool; I hope you will let it work for you. I understand old habits are hard to break, but try this and your body and your boss will love the results. Work Safe, Work Smart JAMIE TWETEN President, LUMBER BUDDY, Inc. To assure safe use of your Lumber Buddy portable stacking platform we strongly suggest that you replace all missing or worn stickers. Replacement stickers will be provided, Free of charge, by calling toll free 1-888-844-4708 or by emailing your request to worksafe@lumberbuddy.com. 5
Using the Adjustable Leg component The adjustable leg is designed to tilt the LUMBER BUDDY Portable Workstation backward for certain applications. The first two settings would be used for stacking lumber or engineered products, and for products such as composite decking or cement sidings. This component can also be used for any product that may be hard to stack without the possibility of materials falling when hand stacking or while transporting them across the yard. The third setting is mainly used for stacking I-Joist floor systems. This setting allows for the vertical stacking of I-Joist by tilting the LUMBER BUDDY Portable Workstation back for safe stacking. Note: See our website for more information about vertical stacking. www.lumberbuddy.com Note: Always check the pins and bolts for damage, making sure the LUMBER BUDDY is in proper working order. How to position the Adjustable Uprights 1) Measure the forklift cage of the largest forklift using the LUMBER BUDDY. 2) Measure from the center banding channel out to the position you need for ease of operation. 3) Place the upright to the rear of the LUMBER BUDDY then lock the upright into position using the rear bump plate as shown in the picture. 4) Attach the front nose cone to the upright while hooking it to the front bump plate. 5) Using the bolt provided, tighten the upright into place. Note: Check the bolts weekly to make sure they are tight for proper operation. Banding channels The banding channels can be used to attach feet to the finished units. This makes loading and unloading materials a much more simple and safer procedure. Also, by using the center-banding channel to apply a center foot, you reduce the possibility of damaging material. Some products, such as cement sidings, engineered decking, cedar sidings, moldings, and finished lumber and plywood s, have a tendency to sag in the middle of the unit. This makes the material hard to handle without scuffing, chipping or damaging the product in some way. Returns and damaged materials are very expensive. Banding channels can also be positioned to support material. Simply slide the banding channel to the area that requires the extra support. 6
Note: I have had people tell me it takes too long to attach feet. However, after they load the material/product, they have to get off their forklift then climb back up on their forklift to set stickers. I have personally seen three people slip and fall while climbing around on their forklifts to set stickers. Two of them ended up seeing a doctor. I understand that not all units can have feet. But loads that are unloaded by forklifts at a jobsite or at a retail operation can easily accommodate the attached feet. It s much safer, and your customers and truck drivers will have an easier time loading and unloading the materials. 7
LUMBER BUDDY, INC. ASSEMBLY/STICKER SCHEMATIC (The stickers are placed on your Lumber Buddy unit prior to shipping) CAUTION stickers RED-WHITE REFLECTIVE stickers One on the top/outside section of each upright (red part on the top and white on the bottom) 2x3 RETAIL upright CAUTION stickers FORK POCKETS These pockets MUST be used when transporting the Lumber Buddy safely around the yard! LUMBER BUDDY 5 x 36 sticker NOTE: Please review all of the Instructions for Operation before using the Lumber Buddy unit! All stickers are placed on the Lumber Buddy units prior to shipment. REPLACEMENT STICKERS/DECALS ARE AVAILABLE BY CALLING: 1-888-844-4708
Efficient use of the Lumber Buddy Portable Workstation is as easy as 1, 2, 3 1. Keep your Buddy close. Always position your Lumber Buddy Portable Workstation as close as possible to avoid unnecessary travel. 2. Leave the work area like you would want your Buddy to leave it for you. This means keep bundles square and your work area safe and clean. 3. Think before you Start. Take a few minutes to plan your work. Make sure you position your Lumber Buddy Portable Workstation correctly for backsliding or hand stacking materials. Practicing these three key principles will go a long way to making your workplace Safer and More efficient. If you have questions or suggestions on how to use your Lumber Buddy Portable Workstation more efficiently, please call 1-888-844-4708.