A clear voice for MHE

HARNESSING THE expertise from both organisations, the UKMHA plays a vital role as the single voice of the material handling industry, dedicated to creating an environment where all its members can prosper, and technical excellence is paramount.

Promoting improved safety standards industry-wide is a main priority, aided by existing campaigns including National Forklift Safety Day, the Forklift Safety Convention and Safety Drive. In addition to collating focused market intelligence, which is shared between all members, the association ensures that member needs are considered in key areas of legislation, including on key issues such as safety, trade and training. Representation on European and International standards committees will ensure the highest standards are consistently maintained.

Tim Waples, Chief Executive UKMHA says: “As the new single voice for the British material handling industry, UKMHA have been supporting our members with advice and information. The common thread throughout is our commitment to safety. As companies find themselves in new situations and often have to make adjustments rapidly, it is vital that safety is never compromised.”

One of the areas which has grown rapidly is the use of high voltage equipment in the material handling industry and in 2022, UKMHA released its latest Guidance Notes (GN70) to address this. 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 systems where voltages above 120 V dc or 50 V ac may occur 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.

Guidance Note

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.

In addition, UKMHA 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. 

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.”

Tim Waples adds: “We will be releasing more Guidance Notes, Fact Sheets and Technical Bulletins over the coming months to keep our members up to date with the latest information. During 2023 we will continue to hold events such as the Safety Convention, which will bring together safety professionals from across the industry. It is the most authoritative event of its kind in the materials handling calendar and sees hundreds of managers, from across the UK, come together to share best practice advice.

“The event is part of the Association’s drive to large-scale change for the better. Collectively, Safety Convention delegates are responsible for the lives of many thousands of workers across the UK. It is crucial that they have the very best, most practical and valuable information, and this is exactly what the Safety Convention strives to do.

“Following our hugely successful awards, the Archies, in 2022, UKMHA will again be showcasing the best in the industry with these awards for excellence with categories including Safety Product, Safe Site, Environmental Product and Innovation. Each year we pay tribute to the companies, teams and individuals who have done so much to innovate, raise standards and help operators work more effectively and safely.

“2023 will also see UKMHA hold physical Regional Meetings once more, following their cancellation during the pandemic. These have always proved very popular with our members as it offers them the opportunity to network with like-minded professionals and receive the latest industry news in a location that is convenient for them.”

“As we move into 2023, it is clear the industry will continue to face new challenges in the economy, technology and the environment. UKMHA will continue to support and update our membership on legislation, best-practice and Health & Safety associated with latest developments.”