The UK Material Handling Association (UKMHA), a trade body representing all aspects of the UK’s material handling industry, is showcasing its aim to improve safety standards across the sector with the launch of a new Safe Working Area charter. SHP hears more from UKMHA below…
The charter is being launched officially at the association’s annual Safety Convention, which takes place at the Heart of England Conference & Events Centre next month.
The convention, sponsored by Combilift, is the most authoritative event of its kind in the UK material handling calendar and is considered a must-attend summit for anyone with a responsibility for ensuring the safety and well-being of their workers. The conference is attended by hundreds of managers from across the UK who come together to share best practice advice.
The event is part of the association’s drive to deliver change within the material handling industry. Collectively, Safety Convention delegates are responsible for the lives of many thousands of workers across the UK, as such, it is crucial they possess the very best, most practical and valuable information on current safety protocols as they apply to the material handling industry.
The new charter is the latest in a series of guidance notices to be issued by the UKMHA, which was officially formed following the merger of the two most respected trade associations in the UK material handling sector – The British Industrial Truck Association (BITA) and The Fork Lift Truck Association (FLTA).
The Safe Working Area Charter has been written by the UKMHA in conjunction with members who carry out on-site maintenance and repair of their customers’ material handling and plant equipment. The charter stipulates that all engineers must be provided with a safe area in which to carry out their work and outlines the specific requirements of such zones. These requirements will be discussed in further detail at the convention, with members encouraged to give feedback.
UKMHA members and non-members alike who have engineers attending their sites are being encouraged to sign up to the new charter and demonstrate their commitment to helping the Association improve standards.
The new charter comes after the IMHX-launch of the association’s latest Guidance Note, GN70, which is a response to the evolving technology used to power battery electric and hybrid-powered trucks. The higher voltages involved with new functions such as regenerative braking, lithium-ion batteries and electric drives pose a risk to the safety of engineers unless they are fully aware of the hazards and how to avoid them.
David Goss, Technical Director at UKMHA
David Goss, Technical Director, UKMHA said: “Anyone with a stake in this important industry will recognise the importance of keeping workers safe, as such they cannot afford to miss the Safety Convention. The UKMHA firmly believes this is a must-attend event for anyone involved in material handling safety, especially those overseeing the safe operation of material handling equipment.”
The theme of this year’s event is best practice in Operator Training and there will be a series of must-see presentations, all delivered by experts in their fields, on the importance of correct training procedures for anyone operating material handling equipment.
“The UKMHA is all too aware of the pressures businesses are currently facing, and the cost commitments involved in attending such an event. Which is why we are pleased to be offering a special discount on attending this year’s event,” added Mr Goss. “Up until 10th November we are offering 20% off all tickets purchased. This means the price for UKMHA members is just £112 [formerly £140] and for non-members, £153.60 [formerly £192].”
Presentations on the theme of safety and operator training by recognised industry experts will be followed by case studies from leading retailers Homebase and Travis Perkins. In tandem with the presentations, there will also be a break-out exhibition area featuring displays from leading material handling companies including A-Safe, B&B Attachments, Consolidated Fork Truck Services (CFTS), Collective Intelligence Group, Combilift, Elokon, FB Chain Ltd, Flexi Narrow Aisle, Hella, Mentor Training, RTITB and ZoneSafe.
The UKMHA National Safety Convention 2022 takes place on Thursday 17 November at the Heart of England Conference & Events Centre, Meriden Road, Fillongley, Coventry CV7 8DX.
Those wishing to attend can take advantage of the ticket discount by visiting the UKMHA website.
