Embedded Files
SUBJECTS COVERED
#1 Hand trucks
#2 Black Straps
#3 Ratchet straps
#4 Piano dolly
#5 Hump Strap
#6 Sliders
#1 HAND TRUCK USE
#2 BLACK STRAPS USE
BLACK STRAPS
These are also called a "Shoulder Dolly"
The Black-straps should be in a bag, that's kept in a single known location so people don't have to hunt around for them.
To put the straps on, first find the side of the buckle that says "FRONT".
Then duck in from the back side, with the "FRONT" side facing away from you.
Then feed the long strap up through from behind like this.
Then feed it over the bar and back down out the back side like this.
The excess strap of the black-straps can be a trip hazard, so it needs to be tucked away. But first hold the strap next to the item to be sure how much strap you need.
The quickest way is to fold the length in half...
and tuck it behind the body straps.
The way that best protects furnture from the metal bars is to wrap the excess strap around the metal bars, and then tuck in the remainder.
The other way to protect the furniture from the metal buckle is to stick in a folded blanket like this. This is called a "diaper". This is particularly important for people new to using black-straps.
This is also especially important for the person who is going to be the bottom end person going up stairs, where the major weight of the item is going to be pressing against the bottom person.
A good way to get the strap under the item is to tip the item back and use your foot to slip the strap under the item.
If the item is on legs, an alternative way that's good, especially if the item is particularly heavy, is to just feed the strap under and through with your hands.
The easiest way to get the strap under the item that's going to be carried is to tilt the item back, and use your foot to slide the strap under the item. Here's an example picture of using your foot to get the strap under compared to using your hand.
When you get ready to lift with the strap, make sure your back is arched back like this.
And not forward like this. Or else you can really hurt your back. A mover that had been the business for 20 years put his back out by doing exactly this.
When you are getting ready to stand up, you need to stand up and pull the line tight TOGETHER, or else the strap will slip towards the person standing up first, and throw off the height positioning of your strap . So count together, "1,2,3 up", to time the moment of standing up together. It is extra taxing and sapping of strength to be in the "down" position, so both parties should be extra quich about dropping down and getting back up.
If your strap is angled straight forward, with no sideways tilt, that tells you the balance is correct, and you are not both pushing the item in opposite directions.
However, if you see the strap angled off to the right like this, that means you are pushing the top of the item to the right too much, and that your partner on the other end is also pushing the top of the item to his right (your left) too much, in essence you are both pushing against each other needlessly.
If you see the strap angled off to the left like this, that means you are pushing the top of the item to the left too much, and that your partner on the other end is also pushing the top of the item to his left too much, in essence you are both pushing against each other needlessly.
After you have picked up the item and started walking with it, you can raise the height of the item by pushing the item further away from you. If you want the item to sway from side to side less, then take narrower steps. If you are rounding a corner where the item needs to be farther to the side than the natural straight down position that its at, then you can use your knee to hold the item to the side for just a very short distance.
You will note here the folded blanket put over the edge of the highest stair. This is the stair that the item will likely bottom-out on and rub over, and thus, the blanket protection for both the stair and the piano.
Here you will notice the extra 3rd person helping to push behind the bottom mover. When an item is particularly heavy, that extra push can be very helpful.
An example of putting an unopened cardboard box on a corner.
Another example of a helpful cardboard box on a corner. You may also note the mover's knee helping to hold the piano to the side.
To get out of the black-straps, one option is to squat down to release the tension off the strap, and then tilt the bottom edge of the buckle upwards to at least horizontal. This will release the strap-holding bar and allow the strap to be pulled out. Once freed, you can stand up and just pull the strap out from under the item.
Or, you can pull the strap back out from under the item, the reverse of the same way you put it in.
The owner of the black straps should put a mark on each section (such as these orange stripes) that identifies the black straps as belonging to that specific owner, because these things do get mixed up with other peoples equipment.
The black straps should then be put back into the black-straps bag and the bag should be put back into its designated location, so that no one has to go looking for it next time they're needed.
Just so you know, the modern black strap have these little extra loops on them, for going over your forearms, instead of the body harness going over your back. They're supposed to be use on lighter items. But if it's a lighter item, I just carry it, so I cut these loops off may straps.
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