CFTS supports National Forklift Safety Day

Tuesday 8th June 2021 is National Forklift Safety Day, and the UK materials handling industry is once again being encouraged to get involved, share guidance and take action to make sites safer.

Now in the UK for its third year, National Forklift Safety Day will be hosted by the UK Material Handling Association (UKMHA), which comprises the industry’s leading trade associations: BITA and the FLTA.

This year, National Forklift Safety Day will highlight the role of Thorough Examinations, and why regular inspections are key to ensuring businesses are using safe equipment.

As the industry’s accrediting body for Thorough Examinations, CFTS has been working closely with UKMHA to develop insightful resources that will be shared as part of the event.

CFTS Chairman Geoff Martin explains: “National Forklift Safety Day runs fantastic campaigns every year, and we are proud to support UKMHA in raising awareness about Thorough Examinations.

“There is a lot of confusion about what work equipment owners need to know and do in relation to regular inspections and checks. But by sharing information as widely as possible through this event, we hope to provide clarification and guidance.”

A key message this year is the difference between maintenance or services, and Thorough Examinations.

“There are certain legal requirements with a Thorough Examination,” adds Geoff. “Under LOLER regulations, the lifting equipment must be inspected in detail, and PUWER regulations require that safety-related items, such as brakes are assessed as well.

“Thorough Examinations can only be carried out by a suitably qualified Competent Person who has been trained to inspect the equipment and is under a legal obligation to report dangerous defects. It is important that owners and users are sure they are receiving the right examinations, as insufficient inspections leave them open to risk of accidents.”

The National Forklift Safety Day campaign provides a wealth of practical tips and free downloadable materials available via the website: www.nationalforkliftsafetyday.co.uk/2021-thorough-examination/

Forklift safety ‘time bomb’ post-Covid

RTITB has revealed lift truck training and assessment statistics for 2020 which could indicate an upcoming ‘safety time bomb’, where thousands of candidates are operating without up-to-date training.

“Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, the number of operator tests taking place each year was fairly steady, but we saw declines in all areas in 2020,” says Laura Nelson, Managing Director for RTITB, the UK and Ireland’s leading workplace transport training accrediting body. “Covid-19 did of course present risks and challenges for training and assessment, but operators without the correct training also pose a serious danger to the supply chain.”

Statistics from RTITB show that Counterbalance Lift Truck Operator tests declined by 24.7% from 2019 to 2020, accounting for around 10,000 operators across all candidate types (Novice, Refresher, Conversion). The number of Counterbalance Lift Truck operators being tested for the first time was down by 29.2%, with an even bigger decline of 32.8% for Reach Truck operators. Overall, across all candidate types, there were around 2,400 fewer Reach Truck operator tests in 2020, compared to the previous year.

“With the number of new operators down by around 30% and overwhelming demand in the supply chain, it begs the question of who is filling these gaps?” asks Laura. “Are untrained people operating trucks? Or are qualified operators working extremely long hours to cover the deficit and risking fatigue, which could also be jeopardising safe operation.”

Refresher training also saw a significant decline, with Counterbalance and Reach Truck operator tests down by 22.2% and 23% respectively from 2019 to 2020.

“Worryingly, this means that almost a quarter of the candidates due for refresher training are potentially out there operating without any update on skills – how long before there is a serious incident as a result of this?” asks Laura. “Some might suggest that these operators may have left the industry, but this is unlikely considering the huge demand on the supply chain during the pandemic.”

As well as a decline in operator test numbers, Lift Truck Instructor examinations have also seen a huge dip of 50% in 2020.  This lack of instructors could also be a key contributor to the deficit in operator training and testing.

“After 2020, many supply chain organisations need to catch up on their operator training,” says Laura. “But with less instructors qualifying or re-qualifying, who is going to deliver this?

“Though the pandemic has meant the training industry has had to adapt, delivering both operator and instructor courses in a Covid-secure way is possible, and in most cases, there is no real need to delay training,” she continues. “In addition, the HSE suggests that eLearning can be used for operator training, and we have seen this really help training plans from falling behind in many organisations.”

For example, RTITB eLearning programs can be used to help top up a qualified operator’s knowledge so they can extend their refresher period, or can be used to provide comprehensive, engaging novice theory training.  Courses are available for Counterbalance and Reach Truck operators, alongside many other equipment types, including Pallet Trucks, MEWPs, VNA, Order Pickers and Tow Tractors. Selected eLearning courses are also available for Plant and LGV training.

Staying safe in the warehouse with STILL

Hamburg-based intralogistics supplier STILL recently presented a webinar highlighting ways in which it has harnessed technology to help make the warehouse workplace safer.

In Germany alone, more than 20,000 reportable occupational accidents involving forklift trucks and warehouse equipment occurred last year. So much for the bad news. The good news: there are effective assistance systems that help prevent such accidents. STILL presented some of these innovative safety solutions in a webinar entitled Safe around the warehouse with industrial trucks.

To demonstrate where hazards lurk in the warehouse, Jürgen Wrusch and Janos Poppe took the webinar participants on a virtual warehouse tour. On the way, the two STILL experts explained that each warehouse has specific features and, as a result, an individual risk ranking.

Access and usage control

As early as at the beginning of the shift, hazards may arise from willful or negligent misconduct. For example, when vehicles are used without permission. This could be people who either do not have a driving license or whose driving ability is impaired. Or those who – without thinking of the consequences of their behaviour – want to use damaged vehicles or vehicles unsuitable for the task.

“Each of these reasons conjures up incalculable dangers,” emphasised Poppe. This can be remedied by systems that ensure that only competent operators use a suitable vehicle in proper technical condition. One of these systems is the pre-shift check feature of the STILL Easy Control on-board computer: before the start of each shift, or at user-defined intervals, drivers must confirm the vehicle’s operability via the on-board computer before they can operate the vehicle with all its functions.

STILL’s FleetManager access control system also offers a comprehensive suite of reports and telematics applications that can be used to monitor the use of trucks and drivers on the site. Acceleration sensors can also be used to monitor the driving style of the operators and – if necessary – intervene in the vehicle control.

“The sensor detects mechanical shocks and immediately generates a speed reduction. Road hogs whose wanton misbehaviour poses a danger to people and equipment are thus quickly unmasked and slowed down,” says Poppe.

Collision accidents

After successful access control, movement through the warehouse begins. From this moment on, there is a risk of collisions with other people or vehicles. “One way to prevent this is to use visual warning signals. These significantly increase the perceptibility of the vehicles,” explained Wrusch to the webinar participants.

A proven solution for this is the STILL warning zone light. The optional lighting equipment acts as a visual warning for pedestrians and other drivers in the immediate vicinity by projecting luminous strips onto the side of the hall floor next to the vehicle. This makes the STILL warning zone light a good complement to the STILL Safety Light. This projects blue light dots onto the ground at a distance of approx. 5m in front of and behind the vehicle, which warn of the approaching vehicle and can thus prevent an imminent collision.

A big step towards completely avoiding collision damage to people and vehicles are radio-based safety systems.  “The basic principle of these systems is to establish bidirectional communication via radio waves between vehicles, pedestrians and stationary equipment even without visual contact. For this purpose, this equipment as well as all pedestrians and vehicles are equipped with radio modules,” explained Wrusch. With their help, vehicle control can take place automatically in danger zones, for example by reducing the speed or braking the vehicle if there is a risk of collision.

Tipping accidents

Whenever the forklift truck is in a hurry on its way to the next task, the top risk looms: a tipping accident. “These occur with heavy counterbalance trucks as well as with pallet trucks. The frequent cause is excessive cornering speed,” recounted Poppe.

However, STILL has a suitable remedy for this risk, too, in the form of Curve Speed Control. The steering angle-dependent speed limitation reduces a possible tipping accident by ensuring an appropriate cornering speed. This assistance function is available for various forklift trucks and warehouse equipment and automatically regulates the travel speed depending on the steering angle. This means that the driver does not have to worry about speed when cornering. The vehicle automatically brakes exactly to the point where the operator is safe and at the same time as fast as possible when cornering.

Tipping accidents also occur when drivers overestimate the load capacity of their equipment. If there is too much load on the front of the forks, the truck tips over into the racking. To prevent this from happening, STILL has developed the Dynamic Load Control assistance system. This system limits the lifting height in relation to the load weight and thus prevents the truck from being overloaded.

Wrusch: “The result can be described like this for counterbalance trucks: The higher and heavier the load, the slower the lift. A very effective assistance system that not only makes storage at great heights much easier, but also considerably safer.”

Another innovative system for accident prevention is the Active Load Stabilisation (ALS). An automatic compensation pulse quickly and effectively stops the mast vibrations that occur at great heights, which – in addition to the safety benefit – also reduces the waiting time at the racking up to 80%.

Conclusion

The vision of accident-free intralogistics seems within reach, as the results of the STILL webinar showed. In order to make this a reality, however, not only innovative technical solutions for trucks are needed, but also effective training concepts for warehouse employees to enable them to handle these trucks safely and responsibly.

This is also the purpose of the website specially created by STILL on the subject of safety: www.still.de/safety. Even if the ever more reliable technology can take many decisions away from the operating personnel: industrial trucks are – and will remain in the future – complex tools which safe operation must be properly learned.

Alliance to help protect vulnerable road users

Humanising Autonomy, a behaviour AI company, and VisionTrack, a leading in-vehicle video telematics and computer vision provider, have entered into a strategic partnership to bring advanced vulnerable road user (VRU) perception to vehicle operators globally.

Humanising Autonomy’s behaviour AI will be integrated into VisionTrack’s Autonomise.ai solution, enabling a nuanced understanding of human behaviour in fleet management and compliance, insurance, road safety and risk management settings.

Behaviour AI will enable drivers to receive real-time VRU collision warnings. By empowering vehicle camera technology to accurately analyse and predict human behaviours, the technology aims to generate earlier alerts to the driver with a higher degree of accuracy than traditional ADAS systems. The sophisticated Behaviour AI Platform will also enhance VisionTrack’s ability to identify safety challenges and key coaching opportunities for fleet customers by better analysing incident statistics and trends using advanced behavioural insight.

“Humanising Autonomy’s Behaviour AI Platform will help to better support and protect drivers and ultimately save lives on the road,” explains Richard Lane, Commercial Director of VisionTrack. “We are truly passionate about road safety and driver welfare, so we are thrilled about our new partnership with Humanising Autonomy. Together we will deliver cutting-edge technologies that not only benefit our customers, but all road users.”

Autonomise.ai is a next-generation IoT platform that is at the forefront of the video telematics sector. Launched last year, it uses computer vision to collect, process and analyse footage alongside supporting vehicle data from a growing number of connected camera devices. Autonomise.ai is also empowering the latest AI technologies including Advanced Driver Assist System (ADAS), Driver Status Monitoring (DSM) and Blind Spot Detection (BSD), with the aim of preventing collisions before they happen.

Said Humanising Autonomy’s Chief Executive officer Maya Pindeus: “For us, this partnership is further validation that our Behaviour AI Platform is critical in eliminating pedestrian deaths, and enabling safer fleets.” She continued, “We’re excited about the doors this opens for both parties.”

Tackling the industry’s core challenges with camera perception, the technology can be used in all lighting, road and weather conditions, as well as in areas with high densities of road users. Backed by a dataset of 1 billion human behaviours, Humanising Autonomy offers the best possible VRU detection and prediction and multi-camera support.

RHA launches tail lift safety guidance

The RHA has published long-awaited guidance to improve safety around the use of tail lifts.The Tail Lift and Pallet Truck Guidance Document aims to help operators reduce the risk of death and serious injury when palletised goods are delivered by vehicles fitted with tail lifts.

The guidance sets out industry best practice, and supports businesses to review their health and safety processes.

It helps firms with establishing safe systems of work, risk assessments, staff training and support, incident reporting, equipment maintenance, and reminds employers of their responsibilities.

The guidance is the culmination of several years’ work by the RHA, the Association of Pallet Networks, haulage and logistics operators, and transport law experts Backhouse Jones.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) provided technical support to the group as they developed the guidance which has been keenly anticipated across the haulage and logistics industry.

RHA Chief Executive, Richard Burnett said: “This guidance offers operators who move palletised goods essential advice to keep their staff and others as safe as possible.

“I cannot thank our partners in the working group and HSE technicians enough for helping us pull this document together that should make our working environments safer.”

HSE Head of Transport and Public Services Unit, Harvey Wild said: “We believe that this guidance is an important step for the industry in improving the safety of tail lift deliveries and we have provided technical support to the working group during the production of the document.

We have agreed to provide an endorsement of the guidance that recognises the value of the advice it provides to vehicle operators and others in the haulage industry.”

 

RTITB confirms Irish post-Brexit status

Following Brexit, RTITB confirms that it remains a recognised accrediting body for lift truck operator and instructor training in the Republic of Ireland.

RTITB’s recognition as an accrediting body in Ireland is derived from the HSA (Health and Safety Authority) Code of Practice Rider-operated lift trucks: operator training and Supplementary Guidance. The HSA has confirmed that the document, which names RTITB as an accreditation scheme provider in the Appendix, is still valid following the UK’s departure from the EU. Therefore, RTITB Accreditation for employers and training providers delivering lift truck operator and instructor training is recognised in the Republic of Ireland.

“For RTITB, it has been very much ‘business as usual’ since Brexit,” says Laura Nelson, Managing Director for RTITB, the leading workplace transport training accrediting body for the UK and Ireland. “Brexit shouldn’t mean that forklift training standards slip, so we remain committed to working with organisations in Ireland to help improve safety in lift truck and workplace transport operations.

“To remove any uncertainty and help minimise business disruption, we also aim to keep all our customers in Ireland up-to-date throughout this time of change, and our team continues to provide the same high level of support,” she continues.

RTITB also confirms that trainees’ data can continue to be shared by trainers in the Republic of Ireland, with RTITB as an Accrediting body in the UK in line with GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation). This is possible due to a temporary framework that permits the free flow of personal data between the EU and UK – a ‘third country’ – for business and law enforcement purposes. This arrangement, established by the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement, is currently valid until 30th June 2021.

Indications from the EC suggest that following this deadline, the UK’s existing data protection regime will be deemed adequate for this transfer process to continue legally. However, this will be subject to further reviews by the EU Data Protection Authorities and European Data Protection Board before a decision is formally made or adopted by EU member states.

Hörmann dock leveller offers flexibility and safety

With the most recent ONS retail sales survey showing a 32% growth in on-line sales during 2020, retail distributors and operators are looking for even greater flexibility and speed when loading and unloading of all types of fleet vehicle. The innovative HTLV-3 dock leveller from Hörmann provides the safe solution, with a unique 3-part telescopic lip making it suitable for standard trailer sizes including euro-trailers, right down to smaller vans.

The installation of a HTLV-3 dock leveller is a cost effective and space-saving solution, reducing the need for separate loading bays for lorries and vans. It been specifically designed and developed to operate either across the full telescopic lip as a conventional dock leveller or with the extension of just the middle section to accommodate smaller vehicles and vans.

For the loading and unloading of vans the HTLV-3 has been manufactured with an intelligent and patented hydraulic system. Fitted with two hydraulic cylinders, which allow the dock leveller to follow the movement of the loading surface of the van during loading, the HTLV-3 reduces the transference of weight from the leveller onto the back of the van. This combined with the positive positioning of the leveller at every point of the loading operation, results in a safer working environment for loading operatives and protects the vehicle from harsh loading forces.

For lorries, the HTLV-3 is operated across its whole telescopic width without any compromise in performance and safety standards when compared to a standard dock leveller. Fully extended the HTLV-3 provides an impressive maximum rated load of 60kN, whilst a maximum load of 20kN applies when the leveller is operating with just the middle section extended.

Paul Tulley, Key Account Manager at Hörmann UK, comments: “The HTLV-3 dock leveller is just one of the innovative loading bay solutions on offer from Hörmann. Whilst there are other products available on the market that facilitate the loading and unloading of different sized vehicles, Hörmann is the only manufacturer to offer a solution that has been designed specifically for this requirement.

“Not only does the HTLV-3 offer flexibility, but it also ensures that operators can maximise their loading capacity in terms of performance, whilst not compromising safety considerations.”

Hauliers issued powerline warning

The UK’s biggest electricity distributor has launched a new initiative designed to save hauliers’ lives, by talking to people most at risk of coming into contact with overhead lines.

Figures for 2020 show that 44% of overhead line incidents were through road hauliers, ahead of farmers (18%), tree surgeons (16%) and small or self-employed builders (12%).

UK Power Networks says that road hauliers are among the four groups with the highest number of safety incidents around overhead power lines during the past five years, along with farmers, tree surgeons and builders. Its new ‘Think, Plan, Locate’ initiative sees it join forces with the Road Haulage Association (RHA).

With lockdown easing across England, safe working procedures to reduce the risk of accidents near overhead power lines are essential. These include manoeuvring, loading or unloading vehicles which risk coming into contact with electrical equipment.

Touching high voltage cables can be fatal. Accidental contact with live overhead power lines kills people and causes many serious injuries every year. People are also harmed when a person or object gets too close to a line and a flashover occurs.

Ros Forbes, a safety advisor at UK Power Networks which owns and runs overhead electricity networks across the East and South East of England, said: “Safety is our number one priority and we saw a rise in incidents when locked down eased last summer, so it’s timely to remind people again of the dangers.

“Our research has shown us the trades and professions most in danger and we sense that a focus on being Covid-secure, has led to less of an emphasis on electrical safety in some areas.

“This new ‘Think, Plan, Locate’ initiative builds on the work of our ‘Be Bright Stay Safe’ pledge and is there to remind people to concentrate on their safety. We want to prompt collaborative working and positive conversations about safety which, ultimately, will help save lives.

“Taking time to plan, informing workers and contractors where the power lines are, being prepared and focusing on the on the way you work, can help keep people safe.”

Pete Short, head of business development for the RHA said: “You can never be too careful when it comes to working near power lines, as one momentary lapse or wrong move can be fatal.

“We urge firms to make sure their drivers and other staff are aware of the risks of working in and around electricity networks so they can do everything they can to keep themselves and others safe every time.”

Tom Price, farm safety and transport advisor for the National Farmers’ Union said: ‘Almost all contact incidents can be avoided altogether – the key is planning. Find out where power lines are and make sure everyone knows – workers and contractors.

“You should know the height and reach of machines and the height of lines. If you suspect lines are low contact UK Power Networks and ask them to check – the service is free.

“Our advice is don’t rely on GPS and other tech to avoid lines – you must always be alert when driving any machine near a line.”

UK Power Networks has free cab stickers for lorry drivers and farm vehicle operators to use in their vehicles which can be obtained by emailing MBX-HSSkit@ukpowernetworks.co.uk

 

Zurich warns of warehouse blaze risk

 

Leading insurer Zurich has warned of a potential rise in warehouse blazes as a pandemic-propelled e-commerce boom sparks a surge in demand for storage and distribution space.

Retailers are scrambling to secure more warehouse units – with demand for sites over 100,000 square feet up 64% last year – as the pandemic accelerates the shift of shoppers online.

But Zurich has cautioned “outdated” rules on sprinklers could fuel an increase in warehouse blazes, harming businesses and the economy.

The number of warehouses gutted by fire increased by 42% in 2019/20, according to Zurich’s analysis of the latest available Home Office data covering all 44 fire authorities in England.

It has led to renewed calls for automatic sprinkler protection to be made compulsory in all new warehouses over 2,000 sq m, roughly a third of the size of a football pitch.

Government guidance currently only recommends sprinklers in warehouses of more than 20,000 sq m.  This leaves Britain lagging behind other European countries where sprinklers are required in sites as small as 1,000 sq m in the Netherlands and 800 sq m in Norway.

Charles Bush, Zurich’s Head of Property and Energy Claims, said: “Warehouses underpin the huge and growing e-commerce sector. Against the tens of millions of pounds Britons spend online every day, current sprinkler standards look increasingly inadequate. As well as posing a threat to life, warehouse blazes devastate businesses, send shockwaves down supply chains, and lead to the loss of jobs and productivity.  While we’re committed to helping firms of all sizes manage their warehouse risks, and recover after a fire, the government must look to address this issue too.  A failure to make new warehouses more resilient to fire risks damaging Britain’s growing e-commerce economy, and the many jobs and businesses that depend on it.”

Jonathan Dyson, NFCC Lead for Automatic Fire Suppression Systems, National Fire Chiefs Council, said: “Sprinklers are an effective part of an overall fire safety solution and can be used efficiently to improve fire safety in a range of new and existing buildings.  Due to the size, scale and use of warehouses and the potential risks these pose to firefighters responding we believe suppression coverage should be fully reviewed. Sprinklers are the most effective way to ensure that fires are suppressed or even extinguished before the fire service can arrive. They save lives and reduce injuries, protect firefighters who attend incidents and reduce the amount of damage to both property and the environment from fire.”

Fire crews in England attend an average of 336 warehouse fires every year – nearly one a day.  More than one in 10 blazes (14%) results in the destruction of an entire warehouse building.  In the last decade, fires are recorded to have caused 99 fatalities or casualties.

Shockingly, of the 3,400 warehouse blazes attended by fire crew since 2010, half (49%) did not have alarms and just 6% had sprinklers.

Although the long-term trend has seen the number of warehouse fires fall, the cost of insurance claims has increased across the market.  Zurich claims data shows the average cost of large warehouse fires is £5.9m.

Losses have been driven by the demand for same and next-day deliveries which has sprouted an increase in smaller ‘last-mile’ warehouses located closer to, or in, urban centres. These are typically older buildings that pose higher fire risks.

The growth in online retail has also sparked a trend towards taller and larger ‘big box’ warehouses, with more tightly packed goods.  Automation – including the use of robots – has further ratcheted up the risk and costs of warehouse fires.

Bush added: “As warehouses grow in size and density, firms face more severe losses. The destruction of one warehouse is now the equivalent of several.  Consumer demand for faster deliveries also means there is little margin for delay in processing times.  When a disaster strikes, business losses start to mount immediately.  By containing blazes, sprinklers reduce the damage fires inflict, helping businesses to recover sooner.”

As warehouse risks change, Zurich said it was committed to helping small and large firms protect their businesses and assets.

Kumu Kumar, Head of Zurich Resilience Solutions, which includes Zurich’s risk engineering arm, said: “Warehouse size and usage is changing so rapidly that they are pushing the limits to which sprinklers have been tested.  We’re guiding customers through what’s proven to work.  Using insights based on the latest fire protection research, our risk engineers are developing sprinkler solutions for businesses and the specific warehouse risks they face.  We’re also working with customers as they build new warehouses to ensure the right fire protection is designed in at the start, supporting them at the planning stage, through to sprinkler installation and testing.”

Menzies joins Transaid in bid to improve road safety

Menzies Distribution Group has become the latest supporter to show its commitment to improving global road safety standards by becoming corporate members of international development organisation Transaid.

Menzies has pledged its support for an initial three-year period, just months after it acquired one of Transaid’s founding members Bibby Distribution (now Menzies Distribution Solutions).

The partnership will see Menzies contribute time, expertise, and resources to help Transaid deliver professional driver training programmes, transport management systems and provide rural access to transport in sub-Saharan Africa.

Alice Broster, Group Health & Safety Manager at Menzies, has also committed to joining Transaid’s Road Safety Advisory Board.

Greg Michael, Chief Executive Officer of Menzies, welcomed the news, saying: “Our colleagues from Menzies Distribution Solutions (MDS) did a fantastic job supporting Transaid for more than two decades, and we are excited to be continuing this strong association.

Transaid’s commitment to global road safety is an issue close to our hearts at Menzies. With almost 5,000 employees and 4,000 vehicle assets operating across the UK, we recognise the huge value training plays in keeping our drivers and other road users safe. We firmly believe all drivers around the world should have the opportunity to build the skills they need to transform their future.”

The vital unrestricted funds provided by corporate members allows Transaid  to test and implement new projects, which have allowed it to develop longstanding HGV and PSV driver training programmes in both Tanzania and Zambia.

As a direct result of these projects, Transaid recently secured significant external funding to take its HGV training into West Africa for the first time, with a new three-and-a-half-year project starting in Ghana.

Caroline Barber, Chief Executive of Transaid, explains: “The support we receive from our corporate members means a huge amount, and is crucial to ensuring we can deliver many of our life-saving projects on the ground.

“Knowing we have the strength and support of Menzies and its nearly two centuries of supply chain experience behind us is amazing. We are really excited about the opportunities to work closely together.”

Subscribe

Get notified about New Episodes of our Podcast, New Magazine Issues and stay updated with our Weekly Newsletter.