adfield, Author at UKMHA

The UK Material Handling Association (UKMHA) is pleased with the news that 2023 saw a more than 100,000 industrial truck operators obtaining training from providers accredited by the Accrediting Bodies Association for Workplace Transport (ABA). Data released by the ABA reveals that approximately half of that number took part in refresher training, an encouraging finding indicating that there is a clear commitment to enhancing workplace safety among forklift operators.

The fact that such a considerable number of operators participated in refresher training also highlights that a career in forklift truck operation is attractive and offers significant development and continuous learning opportunities. Although it has its place, basic training only represents an initial step in the overall training process. Comprehensive training courses offered by ABA members such as the AiTT, ITSSAR, Lantra, NPORS and RTITB provide operators with an in-depth understanding of a range of key topics, including safe systems of work, mitigating hazards and site rules.

David Goss, Technical Director at UKMHA, commented: “We are delighted by the news that a growing number of forklift operators are receiving accredited training. These figures clearly demonstrate that there is a collective effort to improve workplace safety standards, and we hope that this positive trend continues.”

He added: “As the National Forklift Safety Day 2022 eBook explains, the UKMHA is dedicated to raising safety standards across the entire material handling sector, and these figures provide a source of optimism. Training from ABA members will provide participants with industry recognised accreditation, an external verification of training, and evidence of compliance with national standards.”

While these figures reinforce the importance of workplace training for forklift operators, the vital role that employers play in ensuring that safety standards are adhered to should not be overlooked. By maintaining training records, monitoring workplace performance and providing refresher training, companies can effectively contribute to creating safe environments for their employees.

Visit ABA’s website to learn more about the training courses their members offer: https://abawt.co.uk/

The UK Material Handling Association (UKMHA) is renowned for hosting the prestigious Archies awards to honour excellence in material handling. This annual event brings together a wide range of industry representatives to celebrate the special people and ingenious products that make this industry what it is today. The Archies awards ceremony will be held on Saturday 14^th September at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole where over 500 attendees are anticipated to attend the ‘event of the year’.

The UKMHA strongly encourages people and businesses to submit their entries for any of the 14 award categories. The deadline for the entries has been extended until 31^st May. The whole industry, UKMHA members and non-members, are all invited to submit nominations for any of the awards.

Tim Waples, Chief Executive of UKMHA commented: “The Archies awards is a great opportunity for everyone, from manufacturers and suppliers to end users, to showcase the exceptional achievements of people and products. These deserve to be celebrated and recognised for making a significant impact on the material handling industry.”

This event has been the highlight of the material handling industry’s calendar for over 30 years. A few years ago, it was renamed as the Archies to be more representative of how the industry has evolved, the event now represents the entire spectrum of material handling.

Every year, entrants seek to win the ultimate accolade: a hand-cast Archie statuette, which has been modelled on Archimedes, the father of engineering. The award has become a symbol of distinction within the material handling sector, so to honour this most coveted prize, the event is known as the Archies.

The winners will be announced during the highly anticipated Archies awards ceremony on 14th September. The event will provide a wonderful evening with plenty of entertainment, a delicious three-course dinner, and a fantastic after dinner party until the early hours of the following morning. The compere for the evening is well-known actress, comedian and TV presenter Sally Phillips. There will be lots of opportunities for networking with hundreds of colleagues, meeting old friends and making new ones.

Companies are encouraged to take advantage of the Archies sponsorship packages. This is a proven way for a sponsoring company to boost both their profile and visibility before, during and after the event. There are many fantastic sponsorship packages available to suit all budgets, from 14 different award categories to menu, host, drinks, band and late-night refreshments.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have published a report of their investigation into problems suffered by LPG fuelled forklift trucks during the period 2022-24. The full report can be downloaded using the link above and UKMHA hereby acknowledge that this contains public sector information published by the Health and Safety Executive and licensed under the Open Government Licence. Details of the Open Government Licence can be found at https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/.

The report should be read as a whole, however, UKMHA especially draw attention to the following content:

“15. The contamination problem affecting the LPG has the following attributes:

a. It is geographically limited to sites predominantly in the Midlands and North of England,

c. We could find no reports of a similar problem manifesting concurrently in Europe or the USA

e. The same truck models had worked safely, without design modification, since their introduction more than 10 years earlier.

f. It affects all types and ages of LPG forklift truck, some being worse affected than others, but there are potential safety risks from the contamination in all trucks.

g. There were also reports of it affecting the operation of other liquid LPG equipment, in other industries, including hot air balloons, large scale industrial users and bio-gas enrichment, although the HSE has not been made aware of any safety issues arising in these areas.

h. The problem becomes worse in cold months, suggesting the repeated startup of the lift truck in cold conditions could lead to a quicker buildup of contamination in the vaporiser.

i. Some forklift users in the affected areas switched the source of their fuel to one from outside the affected area and the problem quickly resolved so that they ceased to have problems with blocking vaporisers.

j. HSE is not aware of any evidence that the LPG supplied in the affected areas was not to the relevant standards (BS 4250 and BS EN 589).

39. Therefore the investigation has concluded that the plasticiser contamination found in the vaporisers does not result from components within the FLTs themselves or a reaction between these components and the normal constituents of LPG.

51. The investigation has identified that the presence of the residue chemicals is likely to be due to certain feedstocks used at the P66 refinery at Immingham. As already noted in the analysis section of this report, the residue is at very low levels, which could not have been identified by testing to BS 4250, the standard for this fuel.

53. The most likely cause of the residue appears to have been related to an increase in the processing of used cooking oil as a co-processed feedstock through the refinery, with specific compounds being found in the propane product, but not impacting on the other products produced at the refinery. Processing of used cooking oil is part of a strategy to meet renewable fuels obligations, reducing the reliance on fossil fuels as part of achieving Net Zero.

54. There is evidence that the steps taken so far may have reduced the rate at which replacement vaporisers are required in the affected areas; however, as of July 2024, the replacement rate had not returned to pre-September 2022 levels.

55. Work has started within the BSI committee responsible for BS 4250 to review the standard and produce a new specification for residues in LPG with a view to preventing the problem with vaporiser blocking re-occurring.”

UKMHA will monitor the revision of BS 4250 and will provide further information as it becomes available.

Material handling equipment is generally used in a typical warehouse and without appropriate safety protocol being strictly implemented can result in a dangerous working environment.

The UK Material Handling Association (UKMHA) is the voice of the UK material handling industry. We work tirelessly to raise awareness of safety and help our members and the wider industry reduce the number of accidents in the industries where moving material is an essential part of business operations.

A fork lift truck is one of the most useful pieces of warehouse equipment but without a safe operating protocol can be dangerous. Almost daily there will be at least one major fork lift truck accident in the UK when an employee will be hospitalised or worse with long-term consequences for victim and employer alike. In addition, there will be countless minor incidents causing painful injuries, reducing productivity and damaging trucks, racking and valuable stock that will all be costly to warehouse businesses.

You can protect your workers and yourself with the UKMHA free four-step guide ‘Safer site essentials’ that helps manage safety risks with simple actions. These steps cover the key basics for fork lift operation, and this article summarises one of the steps: what makes a warehouse site safe.

The first step in eliminating risks in the warehouse, and other workplaces, starts by removing layout and design risks, including:

Most people injured in fork lift truck incidents are non-operators, so consider training for those working in the same areas as fork lifts.

Encouraging workers suggestions and acting upon them gives everyone a sense of ownership and involvement. Enforce standards with regular refreshers and written materials, and encourage people to report issues and incidents.

The UKMHA members and the wider material handling industry representatives will gather on Saturday 14^th September 2024 for the prestigious Archies industry awards ceremony and dinner. This occasion celebrates the dynamism within the industry and recognises the innovative products and special people that make it what it is today. This renowned industry awards dinner will once again return to the Hilton Birmingham Metropole where over 500 material handling professionals are anticipated to attend the ‘event of the year’.

The UK Material Handling Association (UKMHA) is recognised as a leading trade body for the material handling sector. The association provides its members with a vast array of member benefits, and the association is renowned for holding the annual Archies event.

For more than three decades, the Archies has been the most distinguished event in the material handling industry’s calendar. The event’s ongoing triumph is a tribute to the industry’s innovative and forward-thinking attitude and its commitment to strive for progress that continues to make this industry better for everyone working within it.

Tim Waples, Chief Executive of UKMHA explains: “The Awards for Excellence event has been the highlight of the material handling industry’s calendar for over 30 years. A few years ago, it was renamed as the Archies to give it some real gravitas and be truly representative of how the industry has evolved. We are delighted that the event now represents the entire spectrum of material handling.”

He continued: “We are excited to share that this year we have three new award categories, making it 14 in total. This provides plenty of opportunities for individuals and businesses, from manufacturers and suppliers to end users, to shine and showcase their achievements.”

The ultimate accolade is a hand-cast Archie statuette modelled on Archimedes, the father of engineering. Each year, entrants seek to win this magnificent award that has now become a symbol of honour and distinction within the material handling sector. The whole industry, whether they be members or non-members of UKMHA are welcomed to make nominations for any of the awards.

Tim Waples, Chief Executive of the UK Material Handling Association said: “We are pleased to announce that nominations are now open for our much-respected Archies awards. We encourage as many people as possible to submit nominations and recognise the excellence of those in the industry.”

The winners will be revealed at the much-awaited Archies awards ceremony night on 14^th September. Those attending the event will be treated to fabulous evening with an abundance of entertainment, compered by a celebrity host, a delicious three-course dinner, and a fantastic after dinner party until the early hours of the following morning. There will be plenty of opportunities for networking with hundreds of colleagues, meeting old friends and making new ones.

Now representing the entire material handling sector and giving a much wider market reach, the prestigious Archies awards dinner is always a memorable night, drawing a large audience and generating a significant amount of publicity throughout the year. Having delivered over 300 Archies over the last 3 decades, it is recognised that the success of this event is, in a large part, down to the generosity of our sponsors.

Due to the high esteem that the Archies is held in across the sector, sponsorship of the Archies awards event is the perfect way to maximise impact on and raise the prominence of your company profile and brand awareness. It will increase your company’s visibility before, during and after the event to maximise exposure of your brand, in particular with key decision makers and leaders within the sector, who will recognise the contribution and support made by a sponsoring company. This also provides an ideal opportunity to network and develop beneficial business relationships with key people within material handling sector.

We deliver benefits to our sponsors through featuring them in the UKMHA’s comprehensive range of marketing activities which run for a period of about 10 months. These include online promotion on our website and social media platforms, e-shots to the industry and the public, continuous presence in trade press and UKMHA publications. In addition, our official media partner Logistics Matters will be running a series of articles to further enhance the exposure of the Archies awards ceremony and highlighting the generosity of our sponsors.

We have a number of fantastic sponsorship packages available to suit all budgets. These brilliant sponsorship options include 14 different award categories as well as sponsoring the event, menu, host, drinks, band or late-night refreshments.

The UK Material Handling Association (UKMHA) is the voice of the UK material handling industry. We are working tirelessly to raise awareness of safety in this sector and help our members and the wider industry reduce the number of accidents in the industries where moving material is an essential part of business operations.

In the UK alone there are a significant number of businesses, with responsibility for thousands of workers safety, where manual handling equipment performs daily tasks. Factories and warehouses typically have dangerous working environments, material handling is just one of the many potential hazards which include falls, collisions and tip-overs.

A fork lift truck is one of the most useful pieces of workplace equipment but without a safe operating protocol can be dangerous. Almost daily there will be at least one major fork lift truck accident in the UK when an employee will be hospitalised or worse with long-term consequences for victim and employer alike. In addition, there will be countless minor incidents causing painful injuries, reducing productivity and damaging trucks, racking and valuable stock that will all be costly to businesses.

You can protect your workers and yourself with our free four-step guide ‘Safer site essentials’ that helps manage safety risks with simple actions. These steps cover the key basics for fork lift operation.

As a manager or supervisor, you set the standards and working practices that keep everyone in your organisation safe so equip your leaders first, and the rest should follow.

When it comes to ensuring safety, managers have ultimate responsibility. They don’t need to be able to operate a fork lift truck, but do need the skills and knowledge to:

Observing how other sites identify safety issues and what safety precautions they have taken, can be a real eye-opener. It will provide you with ideas and options to take back and implement.

A fork lift truck is only as safe as the person operating it. For this reason the safety awareness of your operators is critical.

Seat restraints are a vital part of fork lift safety especially when there is a major incident, with a truck turning on its side or falling off the back of a lorry or loading bay.

Regardless of whether your fork lift trucks are used full time or occasionally, pre-shift tests are a cornerstone of safety and operators need to take responsibility for ensuring they’re done.

The environments in which your trucks and people work is a big factor in eliminating risk. Here are the main elements to consider.

Most people injured in fork lift truck incidents are not operators, consider training for those working in the same areas as fork lifts. This will help them understand the practical issues faced by operators and how they can help minimise the risk to themselves and others.

Encouraging workers suggestions and acting upon them will give everyone a sense of ownership and involvement. Enforcing standards with regular refreshers and written materials is a must, as is encouraging people to freely report issues and incidents.

Different working environments require different trucks. You must make sure you have the right truck for your site, and the job in hand.

Information on important site safety equipment, including explosion proofing, can be found in the Layman’s Guide to Fork Lift Trucks. (/safer-site-essentials-four-trucks/)

Routine maintenance, carried out in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations to ensure the safe and efficient operation of the truck, is an essential part of preventing accidents.

Thorough examination is a legal requirement, and must be carried out by a competent person at least every 12 months.

This article covers basic fork lift safety, there is much more to learn regarding this topic and to achieve best practice.

Tim Waples, Chief Executive of the UKMHA, has announced he is to retire from his role as the association’s figurehead. He announced his intention to step down at the recent Thought Leadership event.

Addressing the audience at the event, he said: “Following a recent health scare, it is my intention to retire from my role as Chief Executive of the UKMHA next March.”

Tim has been Chief Executive of the association since it was first formed in 2020, following the merger of the material handling sector’s two leading trade associations, BITA (The British Industrial Truck Association) and the FLTA (Fork Lift Truck Association) – the latter of which, Tim had served as Chief Executive.

With a career spanning more than 45 years, he is one of the UK material handling sector’s most recognisable figures.

Prior to taking on the role at the FLTA, he had a distinguished 33-year career with Doosan Industrial Vehicle UK Ltd, serving as the company’s Vice President and Chief Executive Officer for almost 12 years – a position which saw him appointed BITA President in 2016, having previously filled the same role at the association between 2010-12.

Tim began his long association with the material handling sector while serving as a mechanical engineering apprentice, a reason he is still passionate about the importance of proper training provision and why he is a long-time advocate of the need for higher skills within the sector.

Prior to joining Doosan, he had spent more than 16 years with Lex Industrial Machinery, starting out as Workshop Manager before rising to Logistics Manager, where he oversaw responsibility for the pipeline stock and inventory of multiple product lines in support of an independent import and distribution operation. Tim’s transfer to Doosan (at the time still trading as Daewoo) in 2001, was due to Lex surrendering their importer franchises in Material Handling Equipment back to the manufacturers. It was Tim’s responsibility then to set up and run the factory-owned, UK Import and Distribution Centre for Daewoo, based in Northampton. Daewoo was acquired by Doosan Heavy Industries in 2005 and Tim went on to become the Chief Executive, a position he held for over 11 years, up to his retirement, in 2018.

During his speech at the Thought Leadership event, he also announced that his successor as UKMHA Chief Executive would be the association’s newly-installed Director, Cameron Burnett.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has issued a safety bulletin in response to issues on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) powered forklift trucks and other similar vehicles.

UKMHA had issued its own warning last year after being contacted by a number of members following a series of fuel system failures. The association issued its warning following a series of incidents in Central and Northern England involving LPG powered trucks.

Outlining the problems, the HSE said there had been issues with trucks not starting due to sticking valves caused by deposits building-up in vaporiser units, flow regulators and shut off valves. It said the build-up of deposits could lead to sticking valves and the mixture supplied to the engine being too rich to be ignited.

It warned that repeated starting attempts could result in the release of unburned LPG, which in extreme cases could be ignited, setting fire to the truck and surrounding materials.

When service and maintenance engineers are presented with an LPG powered truck with a starting problem, the HSE advice is:

The HSE reiterated that LPG is cold, so appropriate precautions should be taken when working with it. Once released LP gas is heavier than air and can pool in low lying areas, where it can be ignited by any source of ignition, including static electricity, electrical sparks and hot surfaces.

Operators seeking additional guidance have been advised to check the following sources of information:

David Goss, Technical Director, UKMHA said: “We have been working closely with HSE to identify the root cause of the problem and our advice remains unchanged and that is, that members should follow the steps outlined in the HSE’s latest Safety Bulletin.”

For more details on the Safety Alert issued by the UKMHA last November, follow the link here

UKMHA National Safety Convention

Wednesday 11th October 2023

CBS Arena, Judds Lane, Coventry CV6 6GE

The must-attend safety event in the UK material handling calendar for anyone with a responsibility for ensuring the safety and well-being of their workers, the UKMHA’s National Safety Convention returns for 2023 with the theme Implementing a Safety Culture.

Featuring presentations from leading safety professionals and supported by a special exhibition from big name companies in the material handling sector, the convention is attended annually by hundreds of safety professionals from across the UK – and you could be one of them.

Take advantage today of our special July Early Bird ticket offer and save 20% on the price of admission.

Non Members: £156.00 (usual price £195.00)

Members: £116.00 (usual price £145.00)

If you want to implement a safety culture then people have to want to get involved. One of the most interesting things about our Safety Convention is that it illustrates that safety doesn’t have to be either frightening or boring. Previous speakers have found fun ways to engage with their workforces and make safety more interesting.
David Goss, Technical Director, UKMHA

The convention is attended annually by hundreds of managers from across the UK who come together to share best practice advice. The event is part of the UKMHA’s drive to deliver change within the material handling industry.

Collectively, Safety Convention delegates are responsible for the lives of many thousands of workers across the UK, as such, it is crucial they possess the very best, most practical and valuable information on current safety protocols as they apply to the material handling industry.

Make sure you don’t miss out.

Save the date – Wednesday 11th October 2023

This year’s National Forklift Safety Day attracted widespread support from both the UK material handling and safety communities.

Backed by the slogan ‘Safe Sites Save Lives’, the 2023 campaign highlights the importance of correct safety procedures in the workplace, including the use of thorough risk assessments, proper site supervision, operator training and driver safety.

The focal point of the campaign was a special webinar screened on NFSD itself (Tuesday 13^th June) featuring an array of industry experts who outlined why having correct procedures in place is so important, from both a safety and regulatory perspective.

Steve Simmons-Jacobs – Retired Principal Specialist Mechanical Engineering Inspector, Health & Safety Executive

The safety campaign, which runs throughout the year, embraces many facets of the material handling industry, with the intention of curbing the number of accidents in the workplace involving vehicles and pedestrians, although not solely restricted to this.

The UKMHA’s Safe User Group is also playing a pivotal role in the campaign, encouraging end users of material handling equipment to benchmark their safety protocols against best practice.

The Safe User Group is a key resource for the UKMHA. It offers members access to a vast array of resources designed to help them improve their operational performance. Importantly, the association’s safety audit for dealer members is a badge of honour businesses can aspire to. It is a recognition that the business maintains the highest professional standards and can provide a competitive advantage in the marketplace.

The role of the SUG in the promotion of best practice is being characterised by its own slogan, ‘UKMHA – Setting the Benchmark on Site Safety’.

In support of the campaign, the UKMHA has produced a special media kit, which can be downloaded from the National Forklift Safety Day website. The kit includes:

David Goss said: “National Forklift Safety Day is always one of the highlights of the UK material handling calendar and this year it was better than ever. The scope afforded to the campaign through the greater resources of the Safe User Group means we can give important issues such as site safety the attention they deserve.”

More information on National Forklift Safety Day, together with details on how to download this year’s media kit, can be found by visiting www.nationalforkliftsafetyday.co.uk

The webinar produced for this year’s campaign is available to view on YouTube by following the link here

Stay connected

Contact

Address

Contact Us

Sponsor an Award for 2025

Contact Us