Membership of the UKMHA offers many benefits, one of them being the ability to notify the membership about a stolen forklift truck.
UKMHA legacy organisation, the Fork Lift Truck Association first introduced the Report a Stolen Forklift Truck service and the UKMHA is now proud to have taken over responsibility for the service.
From its inception, the service has helped to protect firstly FLTA, and now UKMHA members from criminal losses by notifying them of stolen trucks. Any member who falls victim to a stolen truck can complete a form on the UKMHA website listing the make, model, serial number, truck type and capacity of the truck.
Further information such as power source or fuel type, type of mast, colour and the truck’s last known location, along with the circumstances of the surrounding the theft can all be listed.
Finally, the member can state whether the police have been notified and a contact should the truck be found, along with their company details.
Stolen trucks are listed in their own section of the UKMHA homepage news feed, as well as the new searchable Stolen Truck Database.
Rob Fisher, Director, UKMHA said: “Fork Lifts Trucks are expensive pieces of equipment which makes them attractive to thieves and therefore the UKMHA encourages all its members to ensure their trucks are kept secure at all times. Sadly, nothing is foolproof, and thefts will occur.
“The Stolen Trucks Database is an invaluable reference tool for members who are unlucky enough to have equipment stolen. It is also useful if members are looking to buy used equipment then they can check to see if the truck has not been stolen. If it does match a machine on the database then we encourage our members to report the matter to the police.”
The Stolen Trucks Database is just one of the many benefits of UKMHA membership.
For more details visit the Stolen Trucks Database.
For more details on the many benefits of UKMHA membership visit www.ukmha.org.uk/discover-and-join.
The UKMHA’s latest Annual General Meeting has seen the appointment of the association’s new board of directors.
The serving members of the board were all re-elected, with the addition of Brian Tilt, Sales Director at The Compact Group and Adam Hughes, Managing Director at Spartan Forklift Trucks Limited.
The meeting, which took place prior to the latest Thought Leadership event, also saw the formal ratification of Cameron Burnett as UKMHA Director.
Cameron said: “With the support of my fellow directors and colleagues at the UKMHA, together with our members, I know we can forge ahead and make the UKMHA the pre-eminent trade association for the UK material handling sector.
“There have been – and remain – many challenges to the effective management of the UK material handling sector but the UKMHA intends to help overcome these challenges and we will do this by pledging to enhance the prosperity, raise the profile and lift industry standards for all stakeholders of the UK material handling industry.”
He said this would be achieved through the continued production of insightful market intelligence, effective lobbying, by benchmarking best practice and attracting the best new talent to the industry.
“Our aim is to create engaged stakeholders, provide valued expertise and promote operational excellence,” he added.
The new UKMHA board comprises:
The UKMHA has warned the UK’s material handling industry faces a tough second half of 2023 as inflationary pressures and cost of living issues continue to dominate the domestic economic agenda.
In its latest Forklift Truck Forecast for the Spring of 2023, prepared exclusively for the UK Material Handling Association (UKMHA), analysts at Oxford Economics have predicted that total bookings growth for 2023 is likely to contract as economic growth remains elusive.
However, they said this is in part, due to a normalisation in bookings due to the strong growth in 2021, which the authors of the report said was an exceptionally strong year as the economy bounced back from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
There was more positive news on order backlogs, which the economists have said are likely to ease during the year as manufacturers look to complete orders already on their books and the supply of components improves.
“It will take time for firms to clear the backlog of orders, therefore we have forecast growth of counterbalance deliveries in 2023 with a total growth rate of 18% for class 1 and class 4/5,” states the report.
The counterbalance segment is expected to remain subdued in 2023, with a forecasted fall in orders of around 12 per cent, with classes 1 and 4/5 also declining. However, the picture for 2024 looks more positive with forecasted growth of 2 per cent in new counterbalance bookings.
The picture for the warehousing sector is similarly skewed due to the unusual profile seen during 2021, where class 2 orders rose 66 per cent and class 3 by 41 per cent. Whilst the surge in growth from the e-commerce sector was more subdued in 2022, the sector remained buoyant, although the squeeze on discretionary spend is thought to have negatively impacted the market, especially with consumers moving more towards services now these sectors have fully reopened and restrictions on international travel have been relaxed.
The Oxford Economics analysts have said warehouse orders are likely to fall considerably during 2023 as the cost of living crisis continues. However, they expect the situation to ease from 2024 onwards, with a recovery in orders of 2 per cent next year, rising to 4 per cent in 2025.
The economists say the skewed picture created by the pandemic bounce back disrupted typical market trends in the warehouse sector, and during 2023 and into next year when things stabilise, orders are expected to revert to their long-term trend.
Commenting on the data, Cameron Burnett, Director, UKMHA said: “With the ongoing disruption to the UK economy we had been cautious about what to expect in this latest forecast. Whilst the picture for 2023 looks subdued, this was hardly unexpected considering all the external factors influencing the economy.
“On a more positive note, the report indicates a strengthening from next year onwards – albeit modest – but this will still be welcomed by the UKMHA membership.
“Having access to such detailed economic forecasting is a great help to our members allowing them to formulate their strategies for the second half of the year and beyond. The UKMHA is pleased to offer this as a valuable member benefit. In fact, the forecast is often used as a barometer for the health of the wider UK economy.”
The UKMHA has produced a new guidance document for manufacturers on the adoption of the latest European standard for electrical/electronic requirements for industrial trucks.
EN 1175: 2020 Safety of industrial trucks – Electrical/electronic requirements was published in July 2020 as a replacement for the standards:
– Part 1: General requirements for battery powered trucks
– Part 2: General requirements of internal combustion engine powered trucks
– Part 3: Specific requirements for the electric power transmission systems of internal combustion engine powered trucks.
EN 1175:2020 was cited by the European Commission in the OJEU as providing a
presumption of conformity with the Machinery Directive, 2006/42/EC, in October 2021, and
was listed as a UK ‘designated standard’ providing a presumption of conformity with The
Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008, as amended, in July 2022. The transition
period, whereby both the new standard and the previous editions provide a presumption
of conformity, terminates in both the EU and the UK on 15 April 2023. From this date, the
1998+A1:2010 editions of EN 1175 parts 1, 2 & 3 will no longer provide manufacturers with
a presumption of conformity.
UKMHA said the new standard significantly increases the design details and, to enable manufactures to update their technical construction files an extended overlap between the date of availability of the new standard and the date of withdrawal of the previous editions was agreed.
It said in the period since the text was finalised the world had suffered from the coronavirus
pandemic, which continues to disrupt global manufacturing and supply chains. Parts shortages and long lead times, combined with unprecedented demand for material handling equipment and the disruptions caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine have made it especially challenging for manufacturers to ensure that their whole product range is fully aligned to the latest edition of the standard by the end of the transition period.
The difficulties are particularly acute for well-established designs produced in relatively low volumes.
So, while manufacturers are expected to adopt EN 1175:2020 expeditiously, there may be instances where this is not practical for some products by the end of the transition period.
Article 12 of the Machinery Directive does not require that harmonised standards be applied to demonstrate compliance with requirements of the Directive even where such standards exist. Accordingly, there is no mandatory requirement for manufacturers to adopt EN 1175:2020 so long as the manufacturer has applied the appropriate procedure for conformity assessment.
The full document can be read here
The UK Material Handling Association have recently released their latest Safety Alert which looks at cold staring an LPG truck engine.
This Safety Alert has been issued following some reports of users of LPG powered trucks experiencing issues with the start-up process. David Goss, UKMHA Technical Director, explains, “Investigations into the root cause are ongoing, but instances where a build-up of deposits in the evaporator (pressure regulator), flow regulator and shut-off valve have been identified.
“The concern is that sticking valves could lead to a mixture which is too rich and therefore cannot be ignited. If there are then repeated starting attempts, this can lead to a release of a high unburned concentration of LPG which, in extreme cases, could present a risk of fire. This is because LPG is heavier than air, so it will accumulate in low lying areas where it can easily be ignited by an ignition source, such as sparks, electrical arc or a hot surface.”
He continues, “UKMHA are committed to informing the material handling industry on the latest safety guidance. This particular Safety Alert has been issued to highlight the potential dangers when struggling to cold start an LPG truck engine and how to safely deal with the issue.”
The Safety Alert gives advice for operators on what to do, and what not to do, if experiencing difficulty starting an LPG truck engine. It also offers guidance to service and maintenance engineers in how to safely deal with an LPG truck which has a reported starting issue.
All the Safety Alerts are published on the UKMHA website and have been created by the UKMHA Health & Safety Group to highlight hazards and safe working practices for technicians working on material handling equipment. They are freely available to members and non-members alike.
This latest Safety Alert is available to download now from the UKMHA website: https://ukmha.headwall.tech/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/UKMHA-Safety-Alert-0002-LPG-cold-starting.pdf
UK Material Handling Association (UKMHA) has released a new Fact Sheet entitled “Battery Producer Responsibilities”. This guidance is freely available from the UKMHA website and is aimed at anyone introducing industrial trucks to the UK marketplace. It explains that, legally, the battery producer is the organisation who first places the battery on the UK market, therefore, this may be the importer of the truck rather than the manufacturer of the battery.
UKMHA Technical Director, David Goss, explains, “Placing a battery on the UK market has many obligations. Battery producers must be registered and can be responsible for the safe disposal of other producer’s batteries as well as their own. Although there is a thriving scrap market for lead-acid batteries, lithium-ion end of life can be an expensive burden. We have published this Fact Sheet to help manufacturers, importers and distributors understand what the law requires of them.”
Generally, the batteries used in industrial trucks are either classified as ‘industrial’ e.g. traction batteries, or ‘automotive’ e.g. starter batteries for internal combustion engines. UK legislation places slightly different obligations on battery producers for each of these battery types.
The producer is the entity that introduces the battery to the UK market, irrespective of whether it is sold standalone, built into a machine, or supplied as a spare or replacement. Frequently, the producer is a party other than the battery manufacturer even if the battery manufacturer also has a UK presence. As there is no minimum limit on the legal definitions, importation of single battery/truck places all of the obligations of a battery producer on the importer, and, as detailed in the Fact Sheet, these obligations can be onerous.
This new Fact Sheet is the latest addition to UKMHA’s library of information. David Goss says, “As the UK’s largest and most authoritative organisation in the material handling industry, UKMHA regularly receive requests for information and advice. Our Fact Sheets address many of the most frequently asked questions and covers categories such as safe operations, Thorough Examination, operator selection and training, maintenance, and good practice. The Fact Sheets are supported by more detailed information in our Guidance Notes and Technical Bulletins.”
UKMHA will be promoting this Fact Sheet and other recently released resources at IMHX, Stand 5D12. To access this free resource visit: https://ukmha.headwall.tech/advice-centre/best-practice-advice/fact-sheets/
UK Material Handling Association, UKMHA, is launching its latest Guidance Note at IMHX. The new GN70 ‘Working On High Voltage MHE’, promotes safe working practices for the inspection, maintenance and repair of high voltage systems on MHE.
UKMHA Technical Director, David Goss, explains the importance of issuing this new guidance, “Working with high voltage equipment is potentially extremely hazardous if carried out without the correct procedures and training. Safety is at the core of UKMHA and with the continuing trend towards higher voltages, we have published this Guidance Note to highlight the risks associated with working with this type of MHE and detail risk reduction.”
The advancing state-of-the-art in electric trucks increases the voltages that may be encountered when compared with traditional lead acid battery technology of the past. For example, regenerative braking, lithium-ion technology and developments in electric drives all provide opportunities for working at higher voltages.
Technicians working on Materials Handling Equipment (MHE), and those employing and supervising their work activities, need to be aware of the hazards associated with this equipment and the mitigations that need to be implemented. The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 require that work on, or near to, an electrical system be carried out so as not to give rise to danger, and the GN explains the practical steps required to achieve this.
This latest Guidance Note explains employer’s obligations and work procedures. It also details the hazards applicable to high voltage equipment and identifies appropriate PPE and tools to carry out maintenance.
David Goss adds, “GN70 highlights the need for risk assessments, method statements, safe systems of work and training for those working with higher voltages. We have explained what constitutes a safe system of work, which should address topics such as ‘Who is authorised to carry out which activities’, ‘What constitutes a safe working area’ and ‘Is there adequate access control’?”
This document provides advice to ensure the technician’s safety at each work stage, and includes helpful links to legislation, Standards, HSE documents and other relevant UKMHA Guidance Notes.
GN70 is available for free to UKMHA members. It is also available to purchase from the UKMHA web store.
UKMHA Safety Alert: Disconnected hydraulic lines
The UK Material Handling Association (UKMHA) have published a warning about the risks of oil leaking from hoses during maintenance activities.
The first of a new series of Safety Alerts, which will be published regularly on the UKMHA website, are being created by the UKMHA Health & Safety Group to highlight hazards and safe working practices for technicians working on material handling equipment. They will be freely available to members and non-members alike.
David Goss, Technical Director for UKMHA says, “Safety is at the heart of UKMHA. We believe that information that can help prevent incidents occurring should be available to all. We have created these new documents as one-pagers, making them easy to download, print and share. Being a single sheet also means they can be displayed on Health & Safety or information notice boards within areas of relevant activity, enabling staff to have direct access to vital safety information.”
The first Safety Alert looks at an incident involving a disconnected hydraulic line which lead to an injury being sustained by the forklift engineer following an oil spillage. The document identifies the root cause and contributory factors, and offers guidance on actions that should be taken to prevent similar incidents occurring.
David Goss explains, “This particular incident resulted in the engineer sustaining a fractured wrist and three weeks of lost working time. This was a preventable situation, as are most incidents, which is why we feel it is vital to publish these Safety Alerts with clear instructions on how to avoid a similar situation which could result in an even worse outcome. Each Safety Alert we publish will highlight a different real-life incident and we urge those working in material handling to use and share this free resource to improve safety in their operations.”
This first Safety Alert is available to download now from the UKMHA website, https://ukmha.headwall.tech/advice-centre/best-practice-advice/ukmha-safety-alerts/ with others following later in the year. It will also be available as a hand-out to visitors to the UKMHA stand at IMHX in addition to other new safety documents being launched at the show.
“IMHX is critical to our engagement with everyone involved in the materials handling industry” says David Goss, “We encourage users and providers to attend IMHX and visit us on stand 5D12, where they can find out more about the work of UKMHA and take advantage of exclusive in show deals on Safe User Group Membership and Safety Convention tickets.”
As the temperature climbs, experts urge employers to focus on flexible working, relax dress codes and consider those whose jobs are based outdoors. People Management have put together the following advice for employers.
Experts are calling on employers to monitor their workforce’s health as temperatures in the UK are set to reach their highest so far this year.
The mercury climbed to more than 34ºC in some parts of the UK yesterday (11 July) – just short of the highest ever recorded in the UK, which was 38.7ºC on 25 July 2019.
As such, the Met Office has issued a level three amber heat warning, which will be in place until Monday (18 July).
Do employees have to work in high temperatures?
There is currently no legal maximum temperature for workplaces, but the Health and Safety Executive has said that companies should ensure staff are working in ‘reasonable’ temperatures. The TUC, meanwhile, has called on ministers to introduce a maximum working temperature of 30ºC, and 27ºC for those undertaking strenuous activities.
As it stands, workers do not have the right to leave work because of high temperatures, unless they are ill and have to take sick leave, advises Laura Kearsley, employment partner and solicitor at Nelsons. But, under the Management of Health and Safety Regulations 1999, employers are required to undertake suitable risk assessments, and Kearsley suggests that “the temperature of the workplace is one of the potential hazards that employers should consider when doing risk assessments”.
How should businesses support employees?
Rachel Suff, senior employee relations adviser at the CIPD, advises employers to honour flexible working arrangements at this time, and to allow staff to work from home in hot weather. “Commuting can be arduous in hot weather, so allowing people to stagger their start and finish times to avoid travelling at peak rush hour could help,” she adds.
Some buildings are not equipped to deal with the warm weather, says Suff, noting that workplaces within old buildings or those with a lot of glass can become extremely hot, and employers need to be aware of the health risks.
For those not working from home, experts agreed that employers should account for disruptions to public transport, which may be more frequent in the hot weather. Alan Price, CEO of BrightHR, says employers should be “prepared for the eventuality and have a procedure in place” if employees are unable to get to work.
Echoing this, Dannielle Haig, business psychologist at DH Consulting, says businesses should allow staff additional commuting time during the period of travel disruption. Those with pets may also want to stay at home so that they can leave doors and windows open, she adds.
How can workplaces mitigate high temperatures?
The CIPD advises employers to take measures such as relaxing dress codes in the heat, allowing staggered start and finish times for commuters, and providing fans or air conditioning.
Meanwhile, the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health has issued guidance for employers whose staff work outside, advising that staff wear sunscreen, hats and sunglasses, and swap job tasks so that all workers can spend time in the shade.
Barry Stanton, head of employment and partner at Boyes Turner, suggests that some work could be carried out earlier in the day when temperatures are lower. “A longer and extended break [or] siesta during the hottest part of the day” could also help staff, he says.
Can employees take time off?
Durlak cautions that sick days may become more frequent at this time, and employees could even take legal action if they are not sufficiently protected, “which could cost the business more in the long run”.
And Price says that employees may submit last-minute absence requests during periods of hot weather, and adds it would be wrong for businesses to jump to conclusions regarding the nature of their absence. “Continue your usual absence management procedures and if you have some concerns consider asking employees to call in rather than text or email,” he says. “Make sure that all absences are recorded so that you can look for patterns in case some employees have a habit of calling in sick whenever the weather heats up.”
What about vulnerable employees and those with health conditions?
“People’s health and safety should be first and foremost,” says Suff. “Employers should be particularly mindful of people with a disability or health condition as the heat can make them particularly vulnerable.”
“Heat may aggravate medical conditions and illnesses such as high blood pressure or heart disease owing to increased load on the heart, and workers over 65, who are at greater risk of heat stress,” notes Hannah Copeland, HR business partner at WorkNest.
Those going through the menopause may also experience more discomfort, and the workplace should be an open environment where they can discuss their concerns, says Kate Palmer, HR advice and consultancy director at Peninsula.
“Ventilation is key. Make sure windows are open (if possible) and fresh air gets into the workspace. Position desks near windows or allow employees to swap desks if needed to sit near the open window,” she says.
Employers may also wish to provide desk fans, close doors if they are unused, and move work stations away from direct sunlight.
Kernow HR key points for employers to consider:
As a result of the widely publicised merger of The Fork Lift Truck Association Ltd (FLTA), with The British Industrial Truck Association Ltd (BITA), to form the UK Material Handling Association Ltd (UKMHA), we wish to advise you that, as of May 1st 2022, both BITA and FLTA will cease trading in their own right. However, the member and business activities will continue, exactly as before under the new Trade Association (UKMHA) and we wish to retain our relationship with our much-valued suppliers and members.
We will soon be launching our new website which combines all the information previously available from FLTA and BITA plus lots more!
Our new company details are:
UK MATERIAL HANDLING ASSOCIATION LIMITED, is a company incorporated in England and Wales, whose registered office is at:
34B Kingfisher Court,
Hambridge Road,
Newbury,
Berkshire,
RG14 5SJ
Company Number: 12817278 VAT Registration Number: 406 6626 96
Owned by the industry for the benefit of the industry
UK Material Handling Association
34B Kingfisher Court,
Hambridge Road,
Newbury,
Berkshire,
RG14 5SJ
