A business leader has called for effective surveillance of the Materials
Handling Industry to safeguard jobs and protect workers from injury and even
death.
John Meale, Vice President of Fédération Européenne de la
Manutention (FEM), the European Materials Handling Federation, and Managing
Director of UK-based Thorworld Industries Ltd,
has said that unless regular inspections are introduced EU Directives and
Regulations will continue to be undermined as counterfeit and non-compliant
machinery floods the market from both inside and, more particularly, outside of
the EU.
"There are 17 EU Directives and Regulations that apply to the
Materials Handling Industry. These help to ensure the design and construction
of safe, sustainable, energy-efficient, environmentally friendly and ergonomic
materials handling equipment.
"FEM prioritises safety and has a long
tradition of drafting technical recommendations, which are complementary to
these Directives and Regulations and their guidelines. Most recently, FEM has
worked with the EU Commission to draw up the first edition guidelines on the new
EU Machinery Directive, which came into force in December 2009 and now sets
stricter safety standards to help reduce accidents relating to the use of
machinery.
"Adhering to these directives is law for any EU-based
manufacturer, but, naturally, this comes at a cost to both the manufacturer and
the customer.
"For example, my company, Thorworld Industries,
manufactures a wide range of high quality materials handling equipment to
increase efficiency and safety in and around the loading bay, such as dock
shelters and seals, dock levellers, modular loading docks, mobile yardramps, and
a variety of safety aids and accessories. We invest a considerable amount of
time, expertise and, of course, money, developing appropriate technology and
engineering products to the highest standards. This ensures that our products
fully comply with all the EU Directives and Regulations and are safe to use and
meet environmental considerations.
"However, many products are imported
from countries where regulations are less stringent and whilst those destined
for EU countries are legally required to meet its legislative standards, some
unfortunately do not. What we therefore need is a level playing
field.
"Counterfeiting – products purporting to meet the standards when
they do not – is also a growing problem. These non-conforming products can be
manufactured – and sold - for significantly less than their European
counterparts, making them a very appealing prospect to customers. And this
unfair competition is putting jobs at risk right across the UK and the rest of
Europe.
"But, more importantly, many don’t meet even basic health and
safety requirements, endangering the lives of workers using them on a daily
basis.
"Examples can be found throughout the Materials Handling
Industry. There are imported mobile elevating work platforms in Ireland that
don’t comply with the Machinery Directive. There are tower cranes with imported
girder mast elements from China, where poor welding has affected the stability
or where bolts have sheared off, posing a significant threat to workers,
individuals and property in the vicinity.
"And I have seen imported ramps
that aren’t made from the appropriate grade of steel and don’t feature the
correct support structures and have therefore just buckled under the weight of a
forklift truck – putting the operator at risk of serious injury or even
death.
"At the moment, these breaches are only identified when something
goes wrong, by which time it’s too late. There has been a huge amount of
legislation applicable to the Materials Handling Industry introduced over the
last decade and we at FEM now feel that the time has come to focus on its
implementation and proper application rather than the creation of new
requirements. And this must be done through the introduction of effective
surveillance and enforcement.
"Naturally, we understand this will
require significant investment and a high level of expertise and training. As a
result, FEM is proposing that a solution could lie in the financing and
appointment of industry experts who could assist competent
authorities.
"It is also important for end-users to understand that they
are responsible for ensuring products they purchase comply with the regulations
– if a worker is hurt due to non-compliant products the company directors could
be subject to a fine or even jail. So what can they do?
"When buying a
product, it is essential to not only look at whether it meets your needs but
check the credentials of the company that has manufactured it. For instance,
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, meaning our customers can be safe in the knowledge our products are
fully compliant.
"And, finally, compare the specification of the product
you’re looking at against standard market rates - like anything, if the deal
seems too good to be true, then it probably is," concluded John Meale.
In
addition to his role as Vice President of FEM, John is President of its
Elevating Equipment Product Group. He is also a Fellow of the Chartered
Institute of Logistics and Transport (FCILT), a member of the Institution of
Engineering and Technology (IET), a former President of the British Materials
Handling Federation (BMHF), and past President of the Association of Loading
& Elevating Equipment Manufacturers (ALEM).
Thorworld is firmly
established as one of the foremost designers, manufacturers and suppliers to the
loading bay and materials handling sectors and is recognised as both a
market-leader and innovator in the provision of quality engineered
equipment.
The company provides a one-stop, single source for the UK’s
most extensive range of high quality loading and unloading equipment, loading
bay accessories and safety aids, such as: dock shelters and seals, dock
levellers, modular loading docks, dock plates and boards, dock and vehicle
bumpers, wheel chocks, vehicle restraints, traffic lights, wheel guides,
alignment curbs and mobile loading ramps (for purchase or rental, on a sale or
return basis, from the company’s RentARamp® division), as well as the
Truckloada® mobile loading platform and the Dockloada® scissor lift platform.
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