Every year in the UK, around 1,300 employees are hospitalised due to serious injuries following a forklift incident.¹ In fact, accident figures based on RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations) over the last three years show that 43% of incidents involving a forklift truck were impacts with
As a small or large business owner, buying used forklift truck can be an amazing and cost-effective way to be able to meet up with order requirements. Read more here. But these second-hand machines has its very own problems which might cost you, clients, later on when they malfunction. Below,
Hiab, part of Cargotec, has won a coveted ‘Archie’ trophy at the Fork Lift Truck Association (FLTA) Annual Awards for Excellence for its industry-leading approach to reducing the noise associated with out-of-hours deliveries. The award recognised the benefits achieved when Hiab’s customer Pets at Home switched to a fleet of
Every year in the UK, around 1,300 employees are hospitalised due to serious injuries following a forklift incident.¹ In fact, accident figures based on RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations) over the last three years show that 43% of incidents involving a forklift truck were impacts with a third person.2 Of these, around 65% were pedestrians, 20% co-workers and 15% delivery drivers watching or assisting with loading or unloading their vehicle. Whether using a forklift in a warehouse, at a distribution centre, an airport or seaport, the dangers to others are clear. The HSE (Health and Safety Executive) stipulates that there must be adequate segregation of forklift trucks and pedestrians within the workplace. But how do you ensure these areas aren’t breached inadvertently? Emily Hardy, a vehicle safety expert and marketing manager at Brigade Electronics UK, says: “Approximately 70% of incidents on sites happen during initial machine start-up and low speed movement because of poor visibility. Warehouses, distribution centres, seaports and airports can all be extremely challenging environments with numerous hazards to navigate. The presence of ground staff and pedestrians makes these areas particularly difficult in terms of ensuring safety is maintained at all times.” Smart technology is helping to address the problem of restricted visibility and blind spots in handling areas. These include the very latest RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology, such as Brigade’s ZoneSafe proximity warning system. Designed for use in areas such as warehouses, construction sites, manufacturing sites, waste sites, airports and distribution centres, ZoneSafe uses vehicle-mounted antennas that communicate with detection tags, which can be worn by workers, set up in restricted areas or placed on objects or property. When a tag enters a detection zone, the vehicle operator will automatically receive a visual and audible alert via the in-cab control unit, which will enable them to take the necessary action. Tags worn by workers on foot will also vibrate to warn of an approaching vehicle. Due to the RFID technology, which does not require line-of-sight, tags will be detected regardless of obstructions, blind spots, adverse weather conditions or poor visibility. Each tag can be uniquely identified and linked to individual people. Emily continued: “This technology is ideal for vehicles, like forklift trucks, that frequently operate within close proximity of workers and other machines. It provides fast, reliable and accurate data exchange without any limitation on the number of tags or antennas in operation, making it perfect for large areas like warehouses and distribution centres.” According to RIDDOR, as the number of forklift truck injuries is on the rise, more will need to be done to address the issue of enhancing safety in areas where forklifts are in use. Emily added: “Driver training is obviously key to ensuring safety standards are adhered to. However, vehicle safety technology can add an additional layer of security and peace of mind for operators who are keen to ensure that their workplaces remain hazard free.”
As a small or large business owner, buying used forklift truck can be an amazing and cost-effective way to be able to meet up with order requirements. Read more here. But these second-hand machines has its very own problems which might cost you, clients, later on when they malfunction. Below, you will find our best tips that will enable you to explore the potential problems that might be hidden on the trucks or by sellers. Ensure the truck will be able to meet your lifting needs Forklift trucks may appear to be pretty the same to a novice. But, they are actually so different based on the model and intended uses. What will you use the forklift truck for – heavy or light loads? How big should the truck be? Will you need to use it on a routine basis? Is your truck going to work outside or inside? Do you need to abide by any rules on fumes and noise in the environment? Does it have long poles that can reach high platforms and shelves? You have to think of all this while picking the appropriate truck. A trustworthy seller will only sell the truck to you after examining your site in order to determine if the truck will be suitable for your business needs. Do note that most online retailers are less likely to do this. To be on the safe side, you should ask a certified Virginia dealer like to visit your business and provide a quotation for both used and new trucks. Then you will get a clear idea on the exact equipment that you need and costs. Do visual assessment Having to depend on the pictures and description of the seller is one of the unmistakable detriments of purchasing online. Ensure that you check for leaks, welding, rust or any other damages that might indicate underlying problems. This is easier to do if the dealer is in your local area. Otherwise, just ask for more pictures or even a video of the truck. Scrutinize the warranty It is essential to have a decent warranty when purchasing a used truck. Check carefully to see how long it lasts, what it covers and what isn’t covered. Even if the truck still has a warranty from the manufacturers, call them to confirm if the warranty can be transferred or not. Test drive it It is harder to buy a used truck than a used car. The reason is that forklift trucks are regulated and substantially more dangerous. Never pay anyone for a truck that you are yet to test drive. If you are unavailable or unfit to drive it, hire an operator to do that. The operator will be able to test all the functions and check for exhaust fumes and hydraulic leaks. Ask for Thorough Examination Certificate All trucks are legally required to have one. This guarantees that the vehicles conform to PUWER and LOLER directions. But it is similar to a vehicle MoT, you should depend entirely on it since it does not check the complete condition of the truck. Ensure the truck is certified and not illegally imported In the used forklift market, there is a developing trend of imports by rogue dealers. It is recommended that you stay away from them. Though there are still many trustworthy suppliers. You can check out Sun Equipment used forklifts, and lift trucks from other companies which provides registered trucks. If you buy from rogue dealers, you will find it almost impossible to move it to your location and find parts for the truck in the future. In case of a mishap, it might even make your insurance invalid. Always check that the truck has an authentic CE mark. Also, ensure that the CE Certificate, user manual, identity plate, and other labels, comes in the right language. Ensure the battery life is good if you are buying an electric truck The battery for forklift trucks can be very expensive – worth over 40% of the truck’s value. It is extremely vital that there’s a lot of mileage remaining in the battery cells. As a standard guideline, the normal FLT battery last for about 1200 charges and each charge will run for 5 hours. Get a rough estimate by dividing clocked hours by 5. Assess the battery for any damage or leaks. Consider getting extra insurance cover for the battery. Visit here for more info: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352152X17304437. These few tips will ensure that you don’t buy a dud. Also, make sure that you check the truck mileage versus the one in the service history. Don’t forget to also verify the suitability of the mast and ensure it extends smoothly. When leasing a forklift, always make sure you research.
Hiab, part of Cargotec, has won a coveted ‘Archie’ trophy at the Fork Lift Truck Association (FLTA) Annual Awards for Excellence for its industry-leading approach to reducing the noise associated with out-of-hours deliveries. The award recognised the benefits achieved when Hiab’s customer Pets at Home switched to a fleet of Hiab’s MOFFETT E-Series forklifts, the world’s first electric-powered truck-mounted fork lift trucks. This recognition by the FLTA follows hot on the heels of the project winning a Quiet Logistics accolade at the Noise Abatement Society’s John Connell Awards. With 80% of Pets at Home’s weekly 1,400 store deliveries being carried out after 8pm, the retailer needed to find a solution to noise complaints that it was receiving from residents located close to some of its stores across England. Working with Hiab, Pets at Home began a six-month trial of a MOFFETT E-Series as it was the noise from the retailer’s diesel-powered forklifts that residents were complaining about. Steve Travis, General Manager for Transport at Pets at Home, described the MOFFETT E-Series as a “total game-changer” as it enabled the retailer to return to scheduling its fleet at the most economic time of day, “saving money on fuel, reducing our carbon footprint, and no longer being a nuisance to our neighbours”. During the trial, the drivers reported that that MOFFETT was just as “up-to-the-job” and just as “user-friendly” as its diesel counterpart, and there was plenty of charge-time to enable through-the-night multi-drop deliveries. “Demands from our customers and technology advancements are driving Hiab to provide environmentally-friendly emission-free products,” said Barry McGrane, Sales Director, Truck Mounted Forklifts, Hiab. Hiab’s desire to ‘become the number one partner, shaping and inspiring the industry’ is highlighted in the development of the MOFFETT E-Series. “By working closely with our customers, we know they are facing a tougher and more demanding load-handling environment with tougher emission regulations. Legislation is demanding it, and our customers’ customers want it. Our MOFFETT E-Series range of truck-mounted forklifts go a long way to solving this problem.” Rogier van der Linde, Managing Director, Hiab UK & Ireland, added: “More and more people are moving to the cities – urbanisation is happening at a fast pace, so we all have a role to play in thinking in a more sustainable way and finding solutions to the challenges of delivering in urban environments. At Hiab, we respond to these needs with solutions like the MOFFETT E-series and HIAB loader cranes that are powered electrically by a plug-in-system (ePTO), which means that they can be operated when the truck engine is switched off. These solutions make our customers more productive, eco efficient and increase the window of opportunity for their business.”
