Module 7 of 86–8 minutes

Equipment, Aids and Tools

Keg trolleys and lifters, sack trucks, roll cages, pallet jacks, step stools, lift tables, plate carriers and anti-fatigue mats — and the checks and rules for using them.

Last reviewed September 2026 · Part of Manual Handling Training for Hospitality and Retail Workers

Key learning points

Recognise common manual handling equipment used in hospitality and retail
Understand that equipment use requires training, and some equipment requires authorisation or a licence
Carry out simple pre-use checks
Choose the right aid for the task rather than improvising
Respond correctly to faulty, missing or unsuitable equipment

Common equipment

Keg trolleys and keg lifters: Purpose-built for kegs — a cradle that holds the keg's shape, straps or hooks, and large wheels for ramps and thresholds; some lifters raise a keg to bench or stillage height
Sack trucks and dollies: For sacks, cartons and stacked crates; stair-climbing versions exist for cellar and basement steps
Roll cages: Wheeled stock cages for moving many cartons at once from dock to aisle; have brakes, hinged sides and a load rating
Hand pallet jacks: Move whole pallets on flat ground in the back dock; powered pallet jacks and forklifts need separate training and, for forklifts, a high risk work licence
Step stools and platform ladders: For anything above shoulder height; platform ladders give you a place to stand and a rail to hold
Shelf-stocking carts and lift tables: Bring cartons to the height of the shelf being filled, so stock moves sideways rather than up or down
Trolley collection aids: Motorised pushers, tow straps and coupling bars that let one person move a line of nested trolleys with far less force
Lightweight microfibre and long-handled tools: Mops, dusters and scrubbers that reach floors, baths and high surfaces without kneeling or overreaching
Plate carriers, trays and tray jacks: Trays sized for the load, carriers for stacks of plates, and stands so a tray is set down rather than held while unloading
Adjustable checkout equipment: Height-adjustable bagging areas, sit-stand stools, hand scanners for heavy items
Anti-fatigue mats and footwear: Mats where people stand still for long periods; non-slip, supportive footwear on wet and hard floors

This course does not teach you to operate equipment

Online text cannot replace practical, supervised training on the actual equipment in your workplace. Keg lifters, pallet jacks, trolley pushers and ladders each have their own hazards. Powered equipment usually requires specific training and authorisation, and a forklift requires a high risk work licence. Do not use equipment you have not been shown how to use.

Rules that apply to all equipment

Only use equipment you have been trained on and, where required, authorised to use
Check it before each use — wheels, brakes, straps, frame, platform, battery
Stay within the manufacturer's load rating and never modify or extend equipment
Use the equipment for its purpose — a milk crate is not a step, a sack truck is not a keg trolley, a roll cage is not a ladder
Follow your workplace procedure for where equipment lives and how it is returned, so it is there for the next person
Tag out and report faulty equipment immediately; do not leave it for the next shift to discover
Never improvise or substitute because the right aid is missing — escalate instead

Pre-use checks that take thirty seconds

Keg trolley: Tyres inflated or intact, straps and hooks not frayed or bent, cradle secure, handle tight
Sack truck: Toe plate not bent, wheels turn freely, frame not cracked at the welds
Roll cage: All four wheels present and turning, brake holds on a slope, sides latch, no bent or protruding bars
Hand pallet jack: Forks lower fully and lift under load, steering wheels turn, no hydraulic leak on the floor
Step stool or platform ladder: Feet intact, locks engage, platform dry and clean, rail secure, rated for the task
Trolley pusher: Battery charged, coupling secure, brakes work, emergency stop functions
Anti-fatigue mat: Lies flat with no curled edges or splits — a lifted edge turns a mat into a trip hazard

The right aid for the task

Full keg: Keg trolley or keg lifter, two people, the cellar route in your procedure
25 kg sack of flour or rice: Sack truck to the store, bench-height storage, scoop to decant
Thirty cartons from dock to aisle: Roll cage or platform trolley, then a stocking cart at the shelf
Stock on the top shelf: Platform ladder or step stool, light lines only
Ten nested trolleys in a car park: Motorised pusher or strap, within the store's maximum line length
A full hotel pan of hot food: Half-size pans and a trolley; carry only short distances with a dry cloth
A dozen plates to clear: Tray and tray jack, or a bus cart

Practical scenario

Scenario: the keg trolley with a flat tyre

The keg trolley has a flat tyre. Three kegs are waiting at the back door and a colleague suggests you both walk-roll them on their rims down the cellar ramp instead.

What should you do?

Reveal the explanation

Do not roll kegs down a ramp. Rolling on the rim is for short distances on flat ground, and a keg that gets away on a slope is uncontrollable. Tag the trolley, report the flat, and ask whether the venue has a second trolley, a keg lifter or a hand truck rated for kegs. If not, the kegs wait where they are until the equipment is fixed — a delay is a supervisor's problem to solve, and a crushed foot is not.

Practical scenario

Scenario: the electric pallet jack

A cook is asked to move a pallet of dry goods from the dock into the storeroom using the electric pallet jack. The cook has watched others use it but has never been trained on it.

Is it acceptable to use it just this once?

Reveal the explanation

No. Powered pallet jacks can crush feet, pin people against walls and run away on slopes; watching someone else does not prepare you for any of that. Decline, explain that you have not been trained, and ask for someone who is authorised to move the pallet or for a hand pallet jack you have been shown how to use. Ask your supervisor to add you to the training if the task will come up again.

Defect reporting closes the loop

A tagged-out trolley that is never reported stays broken. Use your workplace's fault log, maintenance app or manager — whatever the procedure is — and say what is wrong, where the equipment is and what task cannot be done safely without it. If a fault sits unrepaired and people start improvising, raise it again through your health and safety representative or escalation pathway.

Knowledge check

These questions are for your own learning. They are not part of the final assessment.

1. You have not been trained on the electric pallet jack, but a colleague says it is easy and offers a quick verbal explanation. What should you do?

2. Which is an appropriate pre-use check on a keg trolley?

3. The step stool is at the other end of the store and a colleague suggests standing on the bottom shelf to reach the top one. What is the correct response?

4. An anti-fatigue mat at the register has a curled, split edge. What should you do?