Wheelbarrows & Hand Carts

Wheelbarrows and hand trucks save your back, but overloaded or poorly balanced loads tip over, pull your shoulders and wrists, and roll away on slopes.

• Construction
• General Industry

Inspect it

• Tire inflated, not flat or cracked
• Handles solid, grips intact, bolts tight
• Tray not rusted through or cracked

Using a wheelbarrow

1. Load it right: put the heaviest part of the load toward the front, over the wheel. Don’t overfill. Heavy material like wet concrete or gravel only needs a partial load.
2. Lift with your legs: squat, grip both handles, keep your back straight and stand up.
3. Push, don’t pull, on level ground. Keep your arms slightly bent.
4. Plan the route: clear debris, use planks or ramps over soft ground and cords, and avoid steep slopes and edges.
5. Dump carefully: stop, then lift the handles and tip forward. Use a wheel stop at trench and excavation edges.

Hand trucks and dollies

• Keep the load’s center of gravity low and close to the axle. Strap tall loads.
• Tilt the load back so the weight rests on the axle, not your arms.
• Go down ramps backward, with the hand truck below you.

Last updated: October 1, 2026