In the construction industry forklift trucks are often used to move heavy loads from place to place especially if the load needs to be lifted a relatively short height. There are different types of power units that drive forklift trucks namely electric which is battery powered, propane gas or diesel. The choice of forklift will be dependent upon the working environment for example an indoor environment would necessitate an electrically powered truck for safety reasons as the other two types produce noxious exhaust gases.

It is vitally important that when choosing the forklift truck that you are going to use, you are mindful of the weight of the load you intend to lift and allow extra capacity for unexpected contingences such as a load that is heavier than anticipated resulting in the need to manually remove some of the load.

Another factor is the physical size of the truck which is only an issue if you are working in a confined space. Some forklift trucks are capable of shifting loads sideways as well as vertically and these are particularly useful in smaller spaces.

Operating a forklift truck requires the driver to have a valid license for that type of truck to ensure that it is operated safely and correctly.

Drums trolleys are specifically designed for moving drums and cylindrical loads, due to their shape and construction. They can be used when:

• Moving drums
• Loading them onto lorries, shipping containers etc.
• Unloading drums to store them
• Reorganising drums and stacking them i

The drum will be loaded onto the trolley, often with a jack, and will then need to be secured to make sure it will not move whilst it is being relocated.

A drum trolley can improve safety when loading up drums and moving them; drum management and logistics become significantly easier and more efficient as well. The usual safety standards must be followed though, such as not overloading a drum truck because they will come with a specific capacity. They must also be used safely in the manner intended. If a drum trolley is not easy to manoeuvre or it is not big enough, a different size must be obtained – some drum trolleys have handles to make moving loads easier.