Safer in the long run
January 1st 2006 BT Rolatruc explains how safety has shaped materials handling over the last sixty years, resulting in today's ergonomically focused market.
Industrial Safety standards have come a long way over the last 60 years. In the materials handling industry, this has led to a number of significant advancements and dramatic changes.
As companies developed more efficient ways of manufacturing and consumers demanded a higher quality and quantity of goods, there came the need to handle goods in a more efficient way.
One of the first steps was the introduction of the palletised system during the early 1940's. With companies now benefiting from efficient containment and stacking of goods they needed more effective methods of moving the palletised loads.
In 1948, one of the first hand pallet trucks was introduced to the market, by BT, enabling easier horizontal movements of unit loads.
As technology and knowledge within the industry developed, the market was presented with a host of ever changing multifaceted machines that gave increased opportunities for businesses to improve their efficiency and productivity. Companies embarking on the materials handling trend now benefited from machinery that could not only move the pallets from side to side, but also lift to considerable heights, and where once material handling equipment had been seen as a threat to the industrial worker it was now seen as a benefit.
However, these early designs where restricted by the available technology, large electrical components and basic control systems gave little space and comfort to the driver. Though compared to the alternative method of manual handling it was a leap forward.
With demand and expectation in the consumer market continuing to grow, companies were placed under increasing pressure to deliver. As a result they demanded more efficient equipment to meet these ever changing needs.
Manufacturers soon found themselves a victim of their own success. No longer did they dictate to the industry, the industry now dictated to them.
While the market continued to develop at a rapid pace, standards were introduced to ensure optimum health and safety for all materials handling users. Previously employers had duties under the Health & Safety at Work Act to protect their staff.
However, equipment operator standards were not always clear, particularly with regard to training and materials handling equipment legislation. In the early 1990s information become more available to companies and during 1992 more definitive information regarding safe working practices was published.
As health and safety moved to the forefront of employer's agendas, a high focus was put on the ergonomics of the machines to provide a safer, more comfortable environment for the operator.
Manufacturers now had to ensure that their machines not only increased efficiency and productivity but also complied with the new regulations.
Today health and safety shapes a large part of any organisation's business plan, failure to put an appropriate policy in place can be an expensive mistake.
Using a manufacturer that has developed several ergonomic solutions and places ergonomics in many of its product designs right from the start provides a good working environment and is essential when considering the well being of your employees and customers.
Equally, it is also important to ensure that your supplier fully understands your business.
Sixty years ago companies simply wanted trucks that helped move their product. Today productivity, efficiency and health and safety are highly dependant on material handling equipment - the wrong product may cost your company thousands. As a supplier of materials handling equipment, BT has been committed to innovation over the last 60 years. From the production of its first hand-truck in 1948 to the more recent pro-lifter M - the motorised hand-truck - BT has always aimed to produce machines with a high focus on efficiency, ergonomics and safety, designed to suit individual business needs.
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