32 | Plant & Works Engineering www.pwemag.co.uk June/July 2024 Handling & Safety Matters Focus on: Handling & Storage Looking to source automation, power transmission and motion engineering equipment? www.drives-guide.com Drives&Controls Interactive Buyer’s Guide website Smart, compact, safe – door locking mechanism CTM XXX FVDIOFS DP VL Machine Safety section sponsored by EUCHNER for forklift trucks, immediately reducing the risk to employees. Instead of taking 45 minutes of highly physical activity to unload, the automated approach takes less than three minutes. Additional automation, such as connecting automated loading and unloading systems with conveyors or Autonomous Guided Vehicles (AGVS), further reduces the need for manual intervention. Automation to safeguard well-being By using automation to remove hazardous, unpopular tasks, companies can improve the workforce experience, enhance safety, and reduce the deadline pressures that can affect mental well-being. Indeed, while the physical risks associated with manual unloading and loading are clear, companies must also consider the knock-on effect of manual process failures on other departments. For example, goods that arrive damaged at the production line can lead to both delays and internal conflict, especially within industries such as automotive that depend upon incredibly specific and sophisticated just-in-time processes. Automating manual processes and integrating activities such as loading and unloading into the rest of the business provides complete, endto-end visibility. It allows employees to identify and address problems, minimising the stress associated with a lack of control that can contribute to ill health. An automated unloading and loading process makes the whole operation safer and more reliable. Goods move quickly through the loading docks, with no need for forklift trucks. Processes are more efficient, ensuring deadlines are hit and reducing pressure on staff. Space can be better optimised throughout the facility and the noise associated with manual processes is eradicated, creating a far calmer, low stress environment. Furthermore, with the entire process requiring far fewer people, scarce resources can be relocated to other, more interesting jobs, improving well-being and, as a result, improving retention. Companies globally are facing up to a new employee reality. People are scarce and labour is hard to find, so why expect individuals to undertake hard, dangerous yet boring manual tasks that can be more efficiently completed by automation? Employees have more choice and higher expectations. Few want to work in a hot, dark, noisy loading area, lifting heavy loads repeatedly or handling dangerous items. Reliance on manual processes in this part of the supply chain is surely becoming harder to justify for any company truly committed to safety and its duty of care to employees. Automation is the foundation for a better way of treating employees, and a chance to highlight a commitment to their physical and mental wellbeing. Wouter Satijn, Sales Director at Joloda Hydraroll
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