Safe And Productive Deliveries

Of course there are some health and safety considerations. Current manual handling legislation recommends nobody should lift more than 25kg. One way round this is for two or more people to work together so that their “share” is less than the recommended limit. But this is neither practical nor economical in many delivery and collection operations. A better option is to avoid the need for manual handling altogether by providing employees with a simple and effective way to handle loads mechanically. For loading and unloading commercial vehicles the choice often comes down to a crane or platform lift.

For most businesses the cost of installing a crane or platform lift on a new vehicle, or retrofitting to existing vehicles, can easily be justified when compared to the additional costs of employing a driver’s mate. The basic cost, including installation, for the type of unit required to handle loads encountered by many delivery companies will probably be the same as a month’s salary for an employee. Spreading the cost over the likely lifetime of the vehicle makes the investment even easier to justify, and that is before any health and safety and duty of care considerations come into play. Staff become less fatigued during their work which means they remain alert and productive throughout the day.

Vehicle mounted Swing Lift cranes from Penny Hydraulics are suitable for loads weighing up to 2000kg. Lightweight and compact models with maximum loads of 250, 500 or 1000kg are most likely to be popular with suppliers of items such as engineering, industrial or building products. They can be fitted to almost any kind of commercial vehicle including vans, pickups, 4x4s and even trailers to offer flexible and versatile load handling capabilities. A wide range of options including electric winch, full hydraulic operation, remote controls and a selection of attachments ensure users can specify a crane ideally suited to their own requirements. The winch option would be useful if items need to be handled below ground level, for example into a cellar or underground bunker.

Vehicle mounted platform lifts from Penny Hydraulics include models that can be installed at the side or rear of the vehicle for loads up to 550kg. Platform lifts are ideal for delivery and collection applications when the load can be rolled on and off the platform using a trolley, sack barrow or pallet truck including products in boxes and on pallets. Options include a choice of platform size, aluminium, steel or mesh platforms and remote control. No manual lifting is required and the entire process can be completed quickly and easily by a single person.

Side mounted platforms are ideal for busy urban applications because they do not require access to the rear of the vehicle that might be obstructed by short parking spaces. Deliveries can be made quickly and efficiently which can minimise waiting or drop-off times for better overall productivity and less disruption to other road users. Loads are handled directly to the pavement which is safer for staff who do not need to work at the rear of the vehicle in areas where other vehicles may be moving. Using a side mounted platform lift also encourages staff to distribute loads more evenly on the vehicle which can lead to better stability and safety when driving and reduced wear and tear on the suspension and running gear for improved reliability and reduced maintenance costs.