What are the benefits of a custom made materials handling solution?  At Advanced Handling, we understand that in todays economic climate there is a need to cut costs as much as possible.  However, one area where you needn’t compromise is your materials handling equipment.

In an industry steeped in tradition, here you will find a unique team of people who are not bound by convention.  Always looking beyond the brief, we are dedicated to providing bespoke solutions for customers with specific materials handling problems, turning “me-too products” into “just for you products”.  We approach our work from a different angle, a little off the wall, but nothing off the peg.

From concept to design, to implementation, the results of this advanced thinking can be seen working for leading manufacturers and retailers throughout the world. Following a brief one to one consultation on site, we will put together a bespoke report for your consideration - at least a day of quality consultancy time, including input from our engineering and technical teams, at our expense.

It costs nothing to find out how you can improve the performance, efficiency and safety of your manual handling equipment, but it could benefit you greatly in the long run.

Advanced Handling are members of ALEM  - Association of Loading amd Elevating equipment manufacturers.

One of the main aims of the Association is to make industry and the end user aware of the standards and regulations that need to be complied with in order to ensure that all products supplied meet the current UK and European legislation.

The Association represents companies involved in providing equipment and services for the safe handling of loads, whether they be products, vehicles, equipment or personnel.

ALEM is a member of the British Materials HAndling Federation (BMHF) and provides the Presidency on a rotational basis.  This allows members access to two important areas of activity.  In the UK members are represented on the Exhibition Committee which organises the International Materials Handling Exhibition (IMHX) held every three years.

If you are looking for the ultimate ergonomic tool, our automatic pallet positioner  could be just what you need.  Advanced Handling’s EZ Loaders are designed to eliminate the worker having to bend down by automatically raising and lowering pallets during loading or unloading without the use of mechanical springs.  They allow easy pallet rotation so the worker does not have to reach or strain.  As the load weight changes, the EZ Loader automatically adjusts - keeping the top of the load at a convenient working height.

The patented pneumatic operating system found only in the EZ Loader has proven to be the top choice of industry professionals worldwide.

Design Features and Benefits include:

• Self-levelling design automatically keeps the top of the load at a convenient working height to help eliminate bending and improve productivity.  Integral rotator ring helps eliminate bending and improve productivity
• Captive air operation eliminates cumbersome mechanical springs and gives more controlled (dampened) movement to the platform
• Infinitely adjustable for varied loads by simply adding or bleeding air - no changing of springs required
• Secured, ball-bearing cetnre pivot of the 430 diameter rotator ring provides smooth, even rotation
• Pressure relief valve prevents excess presure build up
• Heavy duty structural steel construction to handle though industrial environments
• Rollers are entrapped in the base frame and platform, for added stability
• Safety finger guards under the rotator ring are standard on all EZ Loaders
• EZ Loaders arrive at your premises fully assembled - just add air!

1. Assess - how will you use the Scissor Lift Table safely
2. Train - those who are using the Scissor Lift table to do so safely
3. Service - have your Scissor Lift Table serviced to keep it safe and reliable
4. Examine - get a thorough examination report every 12 months (six months for person carrying lifts such as Loading Bay lifts)
5. Record - keep record of all the above

What is a LOLER thorough examination?

This is a detailed examination of the Scissor Lift Table components to ensure that the Scissor Lift Table is safe for continued use.

Who enforces LOLER?

Health & Safety Inspectors from the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) and Local Authorities enforce these Regulations.

What is the difference between a LOLER examination and a Statutory Thorough Examination?

There is none, just a use of different terminology. LOLER is the actual legislation, a Statutory Thorough Examination (which we will abbreviate to STE) is an examination referred to within LOLER.

What happens if I don’t carry our LOLER examinations?

You could be subject to enforcement action including being fined in a court of law.  It is a legal requirement that you have a current report of thorough examination (STE) for Scissor Lift Tables.

How often does my Scissor Lift Table need an STE?

If it is a requirement of legislation that Scissor Lift Tables are regularly examined at a frequency of no more than 12 months apart for goods only lifts and six months for lifts elevating persons such as Loading Bay lifts.

Who can carry out a thorough examination?

The thorough examination should be carried out by a person who is competent and impartial i.e. who has appropriate practical and theoretical knowledge as well as experience of lifting equipment and can recognise potential defects that might be a safety risk to people if the Scissor Lift table continues to be used.

Who decides if a person is competent?

It is your responsibility to ensure that the person carrying out the STE is competent.

As the operator with no technical knowledge how am I supposed to make that decision?

Regardless of your knowledge, it is your legal responsibility to ensure that the competent person has the appropriate practical and theoretical knowledge.  Assistance in finding a suitable competent person can be sought via your lift supplier or ALEM (Association of Loading and Elevating Equipment Manufacturers - www.alem.org.uk)

Does that mean I do not need to get my Scissor Lift Table serviced?

No, you still need to have your Scissor Lift Table maintained.  Scissor Lift Table maintenance and LOLER thorough examinations are not the same.  The easiest way to understand the difference between the two is to compare the LOLER thorough examination to a vehicle MOT inspection.

How does an STE differ from a service?

The competent person assesses the rate of deterioration of the equipment, identifies any defects, and certifies that the equipment is safe for continued use till the next inspection.  No maintenance or repair work is done during an STE.

Can I carry out a service at the same time as an STE?

The STE must be independent of the service. It would normally be carried out by a different person at a different time.

Who can maintain and repair my Scissor Lift table?

Repairs should only be undertaken by suitably qualified persons using appropriate repair techniques and procedures. One way of doing this is to use a repairer approved by the manufacturer to ensure the Scissor Lift Table is maintained to a reliable standard i.e. is in a sound mechanical and electrical state, safe to use and has all the safety features to ensure that accident risk is minimised.

How often does my Scissor Lift Table need servicing?

Generally at least every six months, although this timescale may need to be reduced if the Scissor Lift Table is heavily used or damaged.  Your Scissor Lift Table manufacturer should be able to advise.

Does my Scissor Lift Table need weight testing?

The competent person should decide whether a weight test is required as part of the thorough examination.

Do I need to carry our Risk Assessments?

Yes - the law requires operators to carry out risk assessments on the use of Scissor Lift Tables.  This should be documented and cover all aspects of the use of Scissor Lift Tables.

What if I do not service and maintain my Scissor Lift Table?

It is your legal duty to maintain the Scissor Lift table in a good, safe and workable condition.  You should be able to demonstrate this to the enforcement authorities if required.  If you do not then you could be subject to enforcement action, including being prosecuted even if you have not had an accident.

Our guide provides an explanation of statutory legislation and recommendations that apply to scissor lift tables. Our article is aimed at providing basic information on your legal responsibilities in the use, maintenance and examination of scissor lift tables.

Now that I have a Scissor Lift Table what does the law require me to do?

• You should decide and record how you are to use the Scissor Lift Table safely
• Train the people who are to operate the Scissor Lift Table in its safe use
• You should maintain the Scissor Lift Table so it is always safe to use.  One way of doing this is to follow the manufacturers instructions
• You should have regular thorough examinations performed by a competent person and keep the reports for two years.
• You should keep records

These are all legal requirements.

What records should I keep?

Enforcement authorities may ask for any of the following records:

• The manufacturer’s handbook including the Declaration of Conformity
• Maintenance work and any repairs
• A record of the past two years’ thorough examinations
• Records of staff training

You should also keep your risk assessments and any other documentation including your Safe System of Work.

What is my legal responsibility?

If you are an employer or self employed person providing lifting equipment for use at work, or you have control of the use of lifting equipment, then the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER) will apply to you.

LOLER requires lifting equipment, including Scissor Lift Tables, provided for use at work, to be strong and stable enough for the particular use and marked to indicate safe working loads, as well as being installed and positioned to minimise any risk.

The work should be planned, organised and performed by properly trained people.  Scissor Lift Tables should be subject to ongoing thorough examination by a competent person. Records should be kept.

To complete our series on safety in the materials handling workplace we have There are certain things to look out for when assessing  risk of injury such as bad posture, cramped work areas, awkward or heavy loads etc.  In some cases a detailed assessment may be required particualry if any of the following apply:

• The conditions given for using the guidelines (e.g that the load can be readily grasped with both hands) are not met
• The person doing the lifting has reduced capacity e.g through ill health or pregnancy
• The handling operation must take place with the hands beyond the boxes in the diagram
• The guideline figures in the diagram are exceeded

For pushing and pulling, you should make a more detailed assessment if:

• There are extra risk factors like uneven floors or confined spaces
• The worker can’t push or pull the load with their hands between knuckle and shoulder height
• The load has to be moved for more than about 20m without a break
• The guideline figures in the table are likely to be exceeded

Your main duty is to avoid lifting operations that involve a risk of injury.  Where it is not practial to do this you should assess each lifting operation and reduce the risk of injury to the lowest level reasonably practical.  As the risk of injury goes up you must look at the operation increasingly closely to make sure it has been properly assessed and the risk of injury has been reduced.

Here are our practical tips, suitable for use in training people in safe manual handling. 

Lifting

• Think before lifting/handling.  Plan the lift.  Can handling aids be used? Where is the load going to be placed? Will help be needed with the load? Remove obstructions such as discarded wrapping materials.  For a long lift, consider resting the load midway on a table or bench to change grip.
• Keep the load close to the waist . Keep the load close to the body for as long as possible while lifting.  Keep the heaviest side of the load next to the body.  If a close approach to the load is not possible, try to slide it towards the body before attempting to lift it.
• Adopt a stable position.  The feet should be apart with on leg slightly forward to maintain balance (alongside the load, if it is on the ground).  The worker should be prepared to move their feet during the lift to maintain their stability.  Avoid tight clothing or unsuitable footwear, which may make this difficult.
• Get a good hold.  Where possible the load should be hugged as close as possible to the body.  This may be better than gripping it tightly with hands only.
• Start in a good posture.  At the start of the lift, slight bending of the back, hips and knees is preferable to fully flexing the back or fully flexing the hips and knees.
• Dont flex the back any further while lifting. This can happen if the legs begin to straighten before starting to raise the load
• Avoid twisting the back or leaning sideways. This should especially be avoided while the back is bent.  Shoulders should be kept level and facing in the same direction as the hips.  Turning by moving the feet is better than twisting and lifting at the same time.
• Keep the head up when handling. Look ahead, not down at the load, once it has been held securely.
• Move smoothly. The load should not be jerked or snatched as this can make it harder to keep control and can increase the risk of injury.
• Dont lift or handle more than can be easily managed.There is a diference between what people can lift and what they can safely lift.  If in doubt, seek advice or get help.
• Put down, then adjust. If precise positioning of the load is necessary, put it down first, then slide into the desired position.

Pushing & Pulling

• Handling Devices.  Aids such as barrows and trolleys should have handle heights that are between the shoulder and waist.  Devices should be well-maintained with wheels that run smoothly ( the law requires that equipment is maintained).  When purchasing new trolleys etc, ensure that they are of good quality with large diameter wheels made of suitable material and with castors, bearings etc which will last with minimum maintenance. Consultation with your eomployees and safety representatives will help, as they know what works and what doesn’t.
• Force.As a rough guide the amount of force that needs to be applied to move a load over a flat, level surface using a well-maintained handling aid is at least 2% of the load weight.  For example, if the load weight is 400kg then the force needed to move the load is 8kg.  The force needed will be larger, perhaps a lot larger, if conditions are not perfect (eg wheels not in the right position or a device that is poorly maintained).  The operator whould try to push rather than pull when moving a load, provided they can see over it and control steering and stopping.
• Slopes.Employees should enlist help from another worker whenever necessary if they have to negotiate a slope or ramp, as pushing and pulling forces can be very high. 
• Uneven surfaces. Moving an object over soft or uneven surfaces requires higher forces.  On an uneven surface, the force needed to start the load moving could increase by 10% of the load weight, although this might be offset to some extent by using larger wheels.  Soft ground may be even worse.
• Stance and pace.  To make it easier to push or pull, employees should keep their feet well away from the load and go no faster than walking speed.  This will stop them becoming too tired too quickly.

As an employer you need to reduce the risk to the lowest level ‘reasonably practical’.  That means reducing the risk until the cost of any further precautions - time, effort or money, would be far too great in proportion to the benefits.

You should provide mechanical aids if it is reasonably practical to do so and the risks identified in your risk assessment can be reduced or eliminated by this means.  But you should consider mechanical aids in other situations as well - they can improve productivity as well as safety.  Even something as simple as a pallet truck can make a big improvement.

Training

Training is important but remember that, on its own, it can’t overcome:

• A lack of mechanical aids
• Unsuitable loads
• Bad working conditions

Training should cover:

• Manual handling risk factors and how injuries can occur
• How to carry out safe manual handling including good handling technique
• Appropriate systems of work for the individual’s tasks and environment
• Use of mechanical aids
• Practical work to allow the trainer to identify and put right anything the trainee is not doing safely

Keeping in line with our Health & Safety articles, we have some helpful points on assessing your manual handling work environment.

1. Problems to look for when making an assessment:

Do daily tasks involve any of the following?

• Holding loads away from the body
• Twisting, stooping or reaching upwards
• Large vertical movement
• Long carrying distances
• Strenuous pushing or pulling
• Repetitive handling
• Insufficient rest or recovery time
• A work rate imposed by a process

Are the loads any of the following:

• Heavy, bulky or unwieldy
• Difficult to grasp
• Unstable or likely to move unpredictably
• Harmful e.g sharp or hot
• Awkwardly stacked
• Too large for the handler to see over

Within the working environment are there:

• Constraints on posture
• Bumpy, obstructed or slippery floors
• Variations in levels
• Hot/cold/humid conditions
• Gusts of wind or other strong air movements
• Poor lighting conditions
• Restrictions on movements or posture from clothes or personal protective equipment (PPE)

Individual capacity - does the job:

• Require unusual capability e.g. above average strength or agility
• Endanger those with a health problem or learning/physical disability
• Endanger pregnant women
• Call for special information or training

Handling aids and equipment:

• Is the device the correct type for the job
• Is it well maintained
• Are the wheels on the device suited to the floor surface
• Do the wheels run freely
• Is the handle height between the waist and shoulders
• Are the handle grips in good order and comfortable
• Are there any brakes? If so, do they work?

Work organisation factors:

• Is the work repetitive or boring
• Is the work machine or system paced
• Do workers feels the demands of the work are excessive
• Have workers little control of the work and working methods
• is there poor communication between managers and employees

Ways of reducing the risk of injury:

Can you:

• Use a lifting aid
• Improve workplace layout to improve efficiency
• REduce the amount of twisting and stooping
• Avoid lifting from floor level or above shoulder height, esepcially heavy loads
• REduce carrying distances
• Avoid repetitive hanlding
• Vary the work, allowing one set of muscles to rest while another is used
• Push rather than pull

Can you make the load:

• Lighter or less bulky
• Easier to grasp
• More stable
• Less damaging to hold
• If the load comes in from elsewhere, have you asked the supplier to help e.g. provide handles or smaller packages

Can you:

• Remove obstructions to free movement
• Provide better flooring
• Avoid steps and steep ramps
• Prevent extremes of hot and cold
• Improve lighting
• Provide protective clothing or PPE that is less restrictive
• Ensure your employees’ clothing and footwear is suitable for work

Can you:

• Pay particular attention to those who have a physical weakness
• Take extra care of pregnant workers
• Give your employees more information e.g. about the range of tasks they are likely to face
• Provide training

Can you:

• Provide equipment that is more suitable for the task
• Carry out planned preventative maintenance to prevent problems
• Change the wheels, tyres and/or flooring so that equipment moves easily
• Provide better handles and handle grips
• Make the brakes easier to use, reliable and effective

Can you:

• Change tasks to reduce the monotony
• Make more use of workers’ skills
• Make workloads and deadlines more achievable
• Encourage good communication and teamwork
• Involve workers in decisions
• Provide better training and information