"Core Curriculum: Introductory Craft Skills," Vocabulary from Module Nine

Learn these words to gain some real-life insights into the construction industry. This list focuses on material handling.

Here are links to our lists for the trainee guide: Module One, Module Two, Module Three, Module Four, Module Five, Module Six, Module Seven, Module Eight, Module Nine
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. material
    things needed for doing or making something
    Most tasks performed in construction involve the handling of some type of material or load, such as wood, brick, lumber, pipe, or other supplies, on a daily basis.
  2. potential
    existing in possibility
    Always read the warning labels or instructions on materials before they are moved, and be aware of the potential dangers associated with mishandling a particular product.
  3. strain
    an intense or violent exertion
    When lifting objects, avoid unnecessary physical stress and strain.
    Know your limits and what you are able to handle physically when lifting a load. If the load is too heavy for you to lift on your own, ask a co-worker for help.
  4. conduit
    a passage through which water or electric wires can pass
    Ask a co-worker for assistance in the following situations:
    •The load is too heavy (weighing 50 pounds or more) for one person to carry alone.
    •The objects to be handled are longer than 10 feet, such as lumber, conduit, pipe, and scaffolding poles.
    •The objects to be handled, such as plywood and tarps, can be affected by wind gusts.
  5. cumbersome
    difficult to handle or use, especially because of size or weight
    Secure long or cumbersome objects. Floppy rods, pipe, or lumber should be tied together in several places before you try to carry them. Never carry more pieces than you can control.
  6. secure
    cause to be firmly attached
    To work efficiently and effectively, workers should properly stack and secure materials. Taking care to stack and secure materials correctly can save space and time, and helps avoid accidents and injuries.
  7. accessible
    capable of being reached
    Stacking materials keeps them from interfering with other activities and makes them more organized and readily accessible for use.
    Here are some guidelines for stacking:
    •Never stack cartons higher than the height listed on the carton.
    •Stack lumber on level, solidly supported surfaces, and remember to remove all nails.
    •Stack pipes neatly and chock them so that they cannot roll.
    •Stack pipes and fittings according to size so that workers do not have to dig to find the piece required for the job.
    •Do not stack bagged material the same width all the way to the top of the pile.
  8. convey
    take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
    Never carry tools or materials by hand up a ladder, or throw material up to or down from a work platform. Place objects in a bucket to convey them to and from the platform.
  9. terminology
    a system of words used to name things in a discipline
    First, some knot-tying terminology needs to be reviewed.
    The standing end is the long end of the rope; the end that is not being knotted. The working end is the short end; the end of the rope that is being used to tie the knot. The standing part is the portion of the rope that lies between the standing end and the working end.
  10. capsize
    overturn accidentally
    Finally, to capsize means to change the form and rearrange the parts of a knot, usually by pulling on specific ends of the knot. This may be done intentionally to undo a hitch. On the other hand, if certain knots are used inappropriately they can easily—even spontaneously—capsize, resulting in serious safety hazards.
  11. parcel
    a collection of things wrapped or boxed together
    A square knot, also called a reef knot, can be used to tie the ends of a rope around an object, such as a parcel or the neck of a sack.
  12. rescue
    recovery or preservation from loss or danger
    The bowline is used to form a secure loop in the end of a rope. It is sometimes called a rescue knot, or the king of knots, because it is reliable enough to be used for rescue work (usually backed up with a stopper knot for extra security, or tied twice into a double bowline for extra strength).
    Some people use this saying to help them remember how to tie a bowline: "The rabbit comes out of his hole, around a tree, and back into the hole."
  13. tension
    the action of stretching something tight
    A clove hitch, sometimes called a builder's hitch, is one of the most widely used general hitches. It is typically used to make a quick and secure tension knot on a fixed object that serves as an anchor, such as a post, pole, or beam.
    Because it is a tension knot, a clove hitch comes loose as soon as tension is removed from the rope. Additional half hitches can be added to make a clove hitch more secure.
  14. technique
    a practical method or art applied to some particular task
    The stacked loops technique for tying a clove hitch allows the rope to be dropped quickly over a stake or post, instead of tying the knot around the object. It also allows the hitch to be tied at any point in a rope, not only at an end.
  15. transport
    something that serves as a means of movement
    Examples of manual material handling equipment include the following:
    •Material carts
    •Hand trucks
    •Cylinder carts
    •Drum dollies
    •Drum carts
    •Roller skids
    •Wheelbarrows
    •Pipe mules
    •Pipe transports
    •Pallet jacks
  16. platform
    a raised horizontal surface
    Material carts, also known as platform trucks, are platforms or boards that are laid horizontally on four caster wheels.
  17. traction
    the friction between a body and a surface on which it moves
    Check to make sure that the surface has adequate traction to avoid slips.
  18. decline
    a downward slope or bend
    Use caution when moving a cart on an inclined or declined surface, and never load a cart past its labeled weight capacity. If the load is too heavy on a decline, it may drag you down with it. If the load is too heavy on an incline, it may back over you.
  19. tilt
    incline or bend from a vertical position
    When loading a hand truck, tilt the object to be moved forward and slide the blade of the hand truck under the object. Hold the object against the hand truck's framework as you tilt back on the wheels to load the object onto the hand truck.
    Hand trucks, also known as dollies, are two-wheeled carts that are used to transport large, heavy loads, such as appliances or stacks of heavy boxes.
  20. cylinder
    a rounded container for oxygen or compressed air
    High-pressure gas cylinders, or bottles, should be transported on cylinder carts, which are designed specifically to transport compressed gases.
  21. unwieldy
    difficult to use or handle because of size or weight
    Chemicals, lubricants, and other materials are commonly stored in 55-gallon drums or barrels. Drums that are filled with materials can be very heavy and unwieldy to move.
    A drum dolly is used to move relatively light drums. The simplest type of drum dolly is a flat wheeled platform that the drum sits on. The dolly may be equipped with a strap to secure it and prevent movement, or a handle to pull and control the load.
    A drum cart is typically used to move heavier loads, such as sealed oil drums. One common type is a rotating drum cart. Its main features include prongs, handles, wheels, and a set of heavy duty casters.
  22. skid
    a plank used to make a track for rolling or sliding objects
    Roller skids move materials by pushing them on a table surface that is placed on top of two, three, or four roller skids.
  23. vehicle
    a conveyance that transports people or objects
    A wheelbarrow is a one- or two-wheeled vehicle with handles at the rear, used to carry small loads.
  24. buggy
    a small lightweight carriage
    A pipe mule is a two-wheeled device used to transport medium-length pieces of pipe, tubing, or scaffolding. It is sometimes referred to as a tunnel buggy. It may also be called a V-cart or a grasshopper, which is a brand name.
    A pipe transport is similar to a pipe mule, but it is used to move larger pieces of pipe. The pipe is slung underneath the frame that is attached to two rubber wheels. This device requires two people to operate it.
  25. pallet
    a portable platform for storing or moving goods
    A pallet jack, also known as a pallet truck, is a device that typically uses hydraulics to lift and move heavy or stacked pallets.
    Both motorized and non-motorized versions of this device are available. Motorized pallet jacks are sometimes called walkies.
  26. authorize
    grant permission or clearance for
    Operators must be trained, certified, and authorized to operate motorized material handling equipment.
    Examples of motorized material handling equipment include the following:
    •Powered wheelbarrow
    •Concrete mule
    •Freight elevator
    •Industrial forklift
    •Rough terrain forklift
  27. distribute
    spread throughout a given area
    Tugs are designed to distribute weight ideally and maximize torque, which minimizes the effort required for operators to pull or push loads. The body of the tug acts as a wedge, slightly lifting the load at an angle and transferring all the weight to the tug's drive wheels.
  28. concrete
    a strong hard building material made with gravel and cement
    A concrete mule, sometimes referred to as a Georgia buggy, is a wheeled device used when a concrete pour is in a location that a concrete delivery truck or pump cannot reach.
  29. freight
    goods carried by a large vehicle
    On multi-level sites, workers may use a freight elevator to transport materials from floor to floor.
  30. industrial
    suitable to stand up to hard wear
    An industrial forklift is a vehicle with a power-operated pronged platform that can be raised and lowered for insertion under a load to be lifted and moved.
    Be aware that forklifts pivot on the front wheels and turn with the back wheels, which could cause a potential pinch point.
  31. deliberation
    a rate demonstrating an absence of haste or hurry
    Forklift operators with the fewest accidents drive with slow deliberation, take their time, and do not make mistakes.
  32. terrain
    a piece of ground having specific characteristics
    Rough terrain forklifts are characterized by large pneumatic tires, usually with deep treads that allow the vehicle to grab onto the roughest of roads or ground cover without sliding or slipping.
    To prevent tipovers with rough terrain forklifts, observe the following safety guidelines:
    •Study load charts carefully and only operate the forklift within its stability limits.
    •Before placing a load, apply the brakes, shift to neutral, level the frame, and engage the stabilizers, if so equipped.
    •Carry the load low, except for short distances.
    •Move carefully on slopes and only operate within specific grade limits.
    •Retract the boom and lower the forks before moving.
  33. prior
    earlier in time
    In any case, prior to performing a task the equipment operator and the other workers must agree on the signals that will be used and the exact meaning for each signal.
  34. pause
    stop an action temporarily
    Another very important signal for the operator to know is Dog (or pause) Everything. This signal means to pause, and can be used when potentially risky situations arise, such as when it starts raining, when the load does not fit the space for which it was planned, or when a bystander gets too close.
  35. automated
    operated with minimal human intervention
    Automated guided vehicles (AGVs) have long been used successfully in manufacturing. Now automated forklifts, which are retrofitted with AGV technology, are poised to generate significant improvements in material handling productivity.
Created on Sat Oct 31 14:53:42 EDT 2015 (updated Thu Nov 05 16:14:59 EST 2015)

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