Opinion BITA Getting technical
Trevor Clifton, Chair of BITA’s Technical Policy Committee, explains that fork lift truck safety was high on the agenda at the most recent committee meeting.
With numerous sector parties, sub-committees and working groups
reporting back, BITA’s six-monthly Technical Policy Committee (TPC) meetings often have a wide- ranging agenda. Last month’s meeting of 25 engineers in Ross-on-Wye was no exception, covering everything from emerging battery technologies to the proposed introduction of dynamic strength and fatigue life fi gures into leaf chain standard ISO 4347.
The TPC features engineers from different companies working across competitive boundaries with a common focus – to interpret and infl uence the standards and legislation
racking or against another vehicle. In fact, the fi gures show lift trucks are involved in around a quarter of all workplace transport accidents – cause for concern for an industry which prides itself on safe working practices.
DESIGNED-IN SAFETY For some time, there has been debate about how technology can help improve lift truck safety, and the industry can offer a wide range of potential improvements. These start with ‘white noise’ reverse alarms which emit multi- frequency bursts of noise which can be directed more effectively than common single frequency alarms. More advanced systems being explored include rear- mounted sensors connected to an
“Lift trucks are involved in around a quarter of all workplace transport accidents – cause for concern for an industry which prides itself on safe working practices”
affecting our sector. Most obviously, this work has been seen in our liaison with FEM, the European Materials Handling Federation, helping the industry get to grips with the broad and far-reaching implications of the 2006 Machinery Directive, including compliance and surveillance issues. At the most recent TPC meeting, one of the focus areas for discussion was industry developments to combat “drive-by strikes” by fork lifts. The design of lift trucks, with the steering axle at the back, is one key to their versatility, but Health and Safety Executive statistics show it remains all too easy to accidentally trap someone against warehouse
22 July 2012 Storage Handling Distribution
auto-braking system which kicks-in when danger is sensed near the truck.
Another option being looked at is people in the working environment wearing transponders which communicate with a low-level power generator on the lift truck, alerting the lift truck operator if anyone is nearby. It is diffi cult to know what the best way forward will be until we see the results of current trials. My personal view is that technological advances are to be embraced provided normal safe working practices are not compromised in any way. When it comes to minimising danger, there really is no substitute for operators’ vigilance or for busy
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transport sites to have areas where personnel on foot, or in vehicles for that matter, are prohibited.
As well as warning systems, the committee also looks at the safety of lift trucks themselves. CE markings are a fundamental part of the ‘designed-in’ safety that must be assured by law wherever industrial trucks are used. Without a compliance mark, users have no guarantee that a truck design meets the minimum safety standards laid down by the EU. In an ideal world, only compliant products would be available for sale and use. However, the increasing tendency to cut costs by sourcing grey imports on the global market presents a danger as some countries lack a proper understanding of the rigorous testing a truck requires to comply with CE. There have even been instances where lift trucks have been found on display at European trade shows that are not legal for sale in Europe because of infringements relating to the CE certifi cate. It can be relatively straightforward to spot potentially suspect trucks through clues on the CE certifi cate itself and whether the truck’s engine plate has correct emissions data, and we continue to advise and provide guidance both to members and freight inspectors responsible for UK border controls. Activity relating to safety, as with much of the TPC’s work, is a constant focus of BITA’s commitment to ‘Lifting Industry Standards’ and it will be interesting to see the progress when we next meet in October. ■
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