In order to transfer roll cages safely from delivery vehicles to its retail stores in the UK, Somerfield Stores has invested in more than 50 SmartMover manual and power-operated pedestrian tugs from MasterMover
As a result, roll cage-related accidents have been reduced to zero and a single employee, rather than two, can now unload a delivery wagon. “In our stores that use the SmartMover pedestrian tugs, the number of roll cage topple accidents at the delivery point has been reduced to zero,” says David Maloney, risk management advisor at Somerfield Stores. “In addition, now only one member of staff is needed to unload roll cages from the delivery vehicle. Previously, it took two people to carry out this task. In that sense, our unloading process is now very efficient.”
As a risk management advisor across more than 800 Somerfield retail stores in the UK, Maloney is responsible for ensuring that the organisation meets all current health and safety-related legislation and regulations. This includes advising the business and individual stores on best practice procedures and ways in which the business can decrease accidents and improve the safety of its employees.
Roll cages are used to transport goods within a factory, or to move goods from a delivery lorry to a warehouse or retail store. However, when loaded with goods a single roll cage can weigh up to 500kg or more and can create certain difficulties when being manouvred outside or on and off delivery vehicles.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) believes that roll cage-related injuries and accidents are so important that it has issued guidance on how UK businesses can reduce such accidents.
HSE provides advice on reducing musculoskeletal and other injuries that frequently occur when workers push or pull cages or racks, particularly up slopes or on uneven ground. According to HSE, some companies that use roll cages have found up to a third of accidents in their workplace are roll cage-related. Roll cage injuries often occur because staff try to prevent a roll cage from overbalancing. Also, repetitive loading and unloading can be a problem, as well as trapping hands or feet. Roll cages falling off a lorry’s tail lift is another cause of accidents.
“Some of our stores were having problems moving roll cages from delivery vehicles up steep slopes,” says Maloney. “We therefore decided to invest in some kind of power-operated tug to improve safety, reduce injuries to staff, and prevent roll cage-related accidents.”
At any one Somerfield store, an average of 30 roll cages might be delivered in a single day and so safety of staff is a major factor in deciding which tugs to invest in. “Based on our formal feedback process after purchasing the SmartMover tugs, the investment has certainly paid off and the tugs have performed as we expected them to do. Manual handling risks have been reduced, particularly at those stores that suffer from steep slopes, and the employees expend less effort in moving the roll cages,” says Maloney.
Maloney explains: “Before investing in the SmartMover, we trialled the tug in what we deemed to be our ‘higher risk’ stores. The feedback from users was very good and the SM60 passed with flying colours. The manual version proved particularly popular with our older members of staff, who are perhaps more wary of electric-operated controls.”
In total, Somerfield uses 57 Smart Mover SM60 units, of which 39 are leased and 18 owned. The units are a mix of manual and power-operated versions. The company benefits from a service and maintenance contract with MasterMover for all SM60 units.
The SM60 is a versatile machine designed for moving wheeled loads such as roll cages from vehicle tail lifts and across uneven surfaces and slopes, and can turn through 90°. By clamping to the base of the roll cage, the tug ensures that the cage cannot be tipped onto the operator. MasterMover says this reduces serious injury to employees and makes unloading a single-person procedure. Efficiency and safety are further improved by allowing the movement of multiple roll cages using the towing links. Sealed batteries, variable speed and auto braking are also standard.
Where the load is relatively light and where manoeuvrability, safety and control are critical, the SM60 ensures the timely delivery of components to a supermarket warehouse, for example, or it can eliminate the need for time-consuming manual handling.
The machine is also very easy to use, according to MasterMover. A simple throttle paddle on the headset enables the user to vary the speed according to the conditions. There is also a twin speed button that enables the operator to place a cap on the speed, which is useful for busy retail environments.
Maloney concludes: “We also liked the SM60 because it’s so compact and fits easily into confined spaces in the back storage room or warehouse. However, the unit is also powerful enough to move heavy loads and unload a complete delivery.”
