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Moving Large Objects

Moving large objects takes careful planning in order to minimise the risk of damage to them and injury to anyone involved in the move. Following these simple guidelines will help to ensure that all goes smoothly.

General Gudelines

• A risk assessment should be carried out before any large object is moved.
• The handling and movement of all objects should be kept to an absolute minimum.
• Trained personnel and suitable equipment must be available for the safe lifting
   and transport of large objects.
• Contractors used for lifting and removal work should have proven experience in the field and must work closely with museum staff to ensure best practice in caring for the object.
• Every move of an object should be carefully planned in advance. A sufficient number of staff with appropriate equipment should be available, and the route agreed and cleared in advance.
• Objects should be protected from physical shock and vibration, and from hostile environmental conditions.
• Staff and volunteers should be trained in the handling and moving of objects and should be aware of the potential risks to objects and to themselves.
• Moving any object involves a risk of damage. Some are very delicate; others are very large, complex and heavy; and some are all of these things.
• The condition of objects should be checked and recorded before and after the move.
• Lifting and moving equipment should be provided to ensure that people do not lift or move any load that could cause injury. It is likely that limits for safe lifting to waist height will be introduced into Health and Safety at Work legislation in the future.
• Trollies or crates, cushioned (for example with Plastazote polyethylene foam) should be provided for the moving of large objects.
• Aisles and corridors should be kept clear at all times. Before an object is moved, the route should be prepared and a clear area made ready to receive it.
• Wherever possible, self-opening doors and lifts should be used to make moving objects around the museum easier. Floor surfaces should be clear of obstacles (including matting) and should not be slippery. Lighting should be adequate and there should be sufficient space.
• Large objects should always be moved within their cases, if they have them, or on pallets.
• It is essential to protect delicate objects against shock and vibration at all stages. Additional packaging may be needed to ensure soft, flexible materials immediately next to objects, as a buffer against physical shock and vibration, within an outer rigid casing. Objects should not be able to move about within their packaging. A variety of instruments are available to monitor shock and vibration received in transit.
• All joints should be checked, and all loose components removed or secured. Accessible moving parts should be padded to avoid vibration.
• All objects should be adequately supported when lifted. They should often be supported at the base as well as at the neck, and heavy objects should never be lifted by mouldings or other potentially weak parts.
• Never rely on an object's own handles or castors for lifting or moving. Objects such as large instruments or furniture, should never be moved on their castors, but always lifted, as their legs are often fragile and unstable.
• Large objects should have padding attached to their corners and edges before being moved, and accessible moving parts should be padded to avoid vibration.
• There are specialist firms trained and equipped to transport particularly large, awkward, fragile, environmentally sensitive and valuable items. They will move objects within a building as well as form one building to another.  Removal services using specially designed high-security vans are available; contact MLA's Security Adviser.

Mechanical handling

• Moving large objects, will normally require some form of mechanical handling.
• The use of pallets and pallet movers, both manual and motorised, is the key to the management of larger objects. They should be secured to their pallets by strapping devices, web netting or polythene wrapping sheets. Everyone who uses such equipment should receive appropriate training.

Beyond the premises

• Fragile or important objects should be transported by courier. 
• Boxes and crates in vehicles should be secured so that they will not move or slide about. Drivers should be made aware that they are carrying a fragile load and should drive accordingly.
• There are specialist firms trained and equipped to transport particularly large, awkward, fragile, environmentally sensitive and valuable items. A removal service using specially designed high-security vans is available. Contact MLA's security adviser.

Based on original work by Dr Patricia Andrew for the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council series ‘Standards in the museum care of collections'. 

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