In the current economic downturn, where companies might delay loading
bay and materials handling equipment renewal or upgrades, it is now even more
vital for regular pre-planned service and maintenance of existing load handling
equipment to be implemented. Failure to do so is a false economy which could
have serious and expensive consequences for both machinery owners and operators,
says John Meale, Managing Director of market-leading loading/unloading equipment
specialists Thorworld Industries
Ltd.
An estimated 25 per cent of
factory and warehouse accidents occur in and around the loading bay. High levels
of personnel and mechanical traffic, often combined with a low appreciation of
the risks involved, mean that loading bays can, potentially, be extremely
hazardous places in which to work.
The British Safety Council has warned
that in the current business climate there is a danger that firms will cut back
on health and safety planning and implementation. This is a short-sighted
approach as it could lead to potential equipment failure, together with a
possible increase in personal injuries at work.
There are a number of
statutory obligations where it is a legal requirement for loading bay and load
handling equipment, including industrial doors, mobile yard ramps, dock
levellers, lifting platforms and scissor lifts, to be subject to Thorough
Examination inspections, in conjunction with regular service and maintenance
programmes.
These include the Health & Safety at Work Act; the
Provision & Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER); Lifting Operations
& Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER) and the Machinery
Directive.
In general terms the PUWER regulations - which cover the use
of mobile loading ramps - require that equipment provided for use at work
is:
- Suitable for the intended use
- Safe for use, maintained in a safe condition and, in certain circumstances,
inspected to ensure this remains the case
- Used only by people who have received adequate information, instruction and
training
- Accompanied by suitable safety measures, e.g. protective devices, markings
and warnings
The new Machinery Directive (effective from 29.12.09) has been introduced
with the aim of reducing the number of accidents relating to machinery use by
setting much stricter safety standards.
There are also additional recommendations from the Federation Europeene de la
Manutention (FEM) – the European Materials Handling Federation – under their
Periodic Inspection of Lifting Tables and Dock Levellers guidelines (see www.fem-eur.com for more information).
Further
information regarding some of the various applicable regulations and statutory
obligations is available on the Thorworld website (www.thorworld.co.uk) or direct from one of our industry
specialists (Tel: 01246 260981. Email:
info@thorworld.co.uk).
However, making sure your loading bay area is
safe is not just about meeting the correct regulations. It shows that as a
responsible employer, you take health and safety issues seriously and are
concerned about the well-being of your employees.
If you fail to meet
the appropriate regulations and do not service and maintain your load handling
equipment properly, it can result in a fine and, if an employee is injured in an
accident due to equipment not being maintained properly, it might also mean you
could be faced with an expensive personal injury claim, as well as possibly
invalidating any manufacturer warranties. Badly maintained equipment can also
lead to expensive downtime with vital work and productivity being badly
disrupted.
Buying equipment from a reputable supplier and implementing a
regular inspection and maintenance schedule as part of a pre-planned service
contract is an extremely cost-effective way of avoiding such problems, whilst
also extending machinery working life.
It’s crucial that all your loading
bay equipment bears the CE mark. This is the manufacturer’s confirmation that
that it meets all the essential health and safety requirements of the Machinery
Directive.
For example, Thorworld is BSI registered with CE mark
certification, it has been ISO 9001 accredited since 1992 and was one of the
first in the industry to achieve the latest ISO 9001:2008 international quality
management standard. As a result, as well as bearing the CE mark, all of our
equipment comes with a 12 month warranty.
To meet the PUWER and LOLER
requirements, checks have to be carried out by a "competent person". Thorworld
service and maintenance contracts are available for all relevant equipment
provided by us (such as mobile container loading ramps, electro-hydraulic dock
levellers, mobile lifting platforms and scissor lifts); this delivers compliance
with all the relevant regulations and also ensures the correct operation of the
equipment so as to maintain the efficiency of your business
operations.
As part of a Thorworld pre-planned service and maintenance
agreement, our team of dedicated service engineers will inspect and maintain all
of the equipment we supply and, additionally, can also advise you about (and
undertake) any essential repairs. All our service and installation staff are
suitably qualified; most are members of the Construction Skill Certification
Scheme (CSCS), holders of the Client/Contractor National Safety Group Safety
Passport (CCNSG) and are highly experienced.
Under the terms of our
service contract we carry out regular annual inspections - although some
customers prefer a six month check; it all depends on the type of equipment and
level of use. Where required, on-site staff training can also be carried out,
with competency certificates issued as appropriate.
The message I want to give is a clear one. Spending a relatively small
amount each year on a pre-planned service and maintenance agreement is a
valuable long-term investment, just like taking out an extended service contract
on a car after the manufacturer’s warranty has expired. It will save money,
increase personnel safety, ensure you keep within the law and, at the same time,
extend the working life of your equipment by keeping it in a tip-top safe and
efficient working condition – providing extra peace of mind for all
concerned.
Thorworld is firmly established as a market-leading designer,
manufacturer and supplier of loading/unloading equipment, together with an
extensive range of accessories and safety aids.
The company provides a
one-stop single source for a wide variety of high quality loading bay and
materials handling products, safety aids and accessories, including dock
shelters & seals, dock levellers, modular loading docks, dock plates &
boards, dock & vehicle bumpers, wheel chocks, vehicle restraints, traffic
lights, wheel guides, alignment curbs and mobile yardramps (available for
purchase or rental), together with the Truckloada mobile yardlift and the
Dockloada scissor lift platform.
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