BITA • Lifting industry standards
October 17th 2006 The purpose of the British Industrial Truck Association is to represent the common interests of the UK materials handling industry. This includes maintaining strong representation in the creation of European legislation and technical standards by working closely with all relevant bodies (particularly the FEM), and by driving an effective two-way communication programme with suppliers and users of materials handling equipment in the UK.
BITA strives to improve standards of product quality and operating efficiency by implementing effective industry-wide initiatives, all of which should be funded by the Association from income generated by subscription from members, and commercial activities developed on behalf of the members, with all financial records being fully disclosed.
What is BITA?
BITA is the key industry body for the materials handling industry. An association of UK companies that have an interest in the use of industrial trucks, the ‘British Industrial Truck Association’ was established over fifty years ago. Since then, we have become the established point of reference in the UK for best practice in the use of fork-lift trucks and are actively engaged in improving the status of the industrial truck as an essential tool of industry by promoting efficiency and safety in truck design, manufacture, and use.
Membership
We have three types of member:
• Truck Suppliers Group (TSG)—UK truck manufacturers and importers
• Component and Services Group (CSG)—suppliers of equipment and services to UK truck manufacturers and importers
• Truck User Group (TUG)—UK truck users
We have many objectives as an Association. Foremost is always to consider, and when necessary take action, on all matters of interest to the UK’s industrial truck industry. We aim to promote and extend the use of our members’ products both at home and abroad, and to improve the way industrial trucks are used in the UK, with a particular emphasis on safety and efficiency.
IMHX 2007
We promote the contribution of our members to the UK economy at every opportunity, and pursue their best interests in matters of publicity, including exhibitions; we are a co-owner (in partnership with Quartz Publishing and Exhibitions Ltd) of the UK’s big handling and storage show, the International Materials Handling Exhibition (IMHX). The next event is taking place from 13–16 March 2007 at the NEC, Birmingham.
IMHX is the UK’s largest comprehensive event for the handling and storage industry and is held every three years in a cycle coordinated with CeMAT in Germany and Manutention in France. IMHX showcases state-of-the-art products and solutions and is a must for anyone involved in any aspect of the materials handling and distribution industries.
Technical work
In the last year we have published two revisions to important Guidance Notes: GN57 rev1 Industrial Trucks on public roads and GN49 rev1 Engineers working at heights. BITA is developing and will shortly be announcing a major project that will affect many UK industries—PAS 90. Standing for ‘Publicly Available Specification’, PAS 90 is a new BSi document, developed jointly with BITA and other bodies, to provide a specification for safe working practice for on-site maintenance and repair of industrial trucks. When implemented, PAS 90 will make it easier for user companies to accept visiting on-site engineers knowing they are registered to this standard. This should also benefit and help the personal safety of all concerned.
As well as our co-operation with the BSi, we work with kindred organisations abroad, such as the Federation Européenne de la Manutention (FEM) and the ITA in the USA, recognising the importance of increasingly global standards in a unifying marketplace. In such negotiations we will always work to achieve the goals of our members. In the FEM we work in close cooperation with 14 other member countries to establish standards and produce technical data to the benefit of the industry. BITA is a member of FEM through its membership of the British Materials Handling Federation (BMHF). We are also represented at the British Standards Institution (BSi), the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN), the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardisation (CENELEC), the International Standards Organisation (ISO), and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). We maintain close contact with the Department of Trade and Industry, the Department for Transport, the Health and Safety Executive, and several other organisations, associations, boards, and institutions.
Our technical helpline is open to all members and is an invaluable source of information and advice on how to comply with current and pending legislation and standards, for both truck suppliers and users alike.
Publications
As part of this we act as a forum for cooperation between relevant companies and bodies in the establishment of technical standards, by the promotion of research, and by the publication of comprehensive operator safety codes and authoritative guidance notes. These documents are written by our Technical Policy Committee (TPC), which is formed from senior engineers from the TSG and CSG. The committee decides BITA’s technical policy, and hears reports by, and allocates work to, its sub-committees, working groups, and BITA representatives on external committees.
Thorough Examination
According to figures published by the Health and Safety Executive, fork-lift trucks are involved in over 8,000 accidents each year. A proportion of these are due to unsafe trucks. No matter how well maintained a machine may be, its safe condition still depends on rigorous and regular inspection.
The new national Thorough Examination procedure meets the requirements of both LOLER 98 and PUWER 98 legislation. In many ways it is like an automotive MOT, but it is much more rigorous. It is a legal requirement that applies to every fork-lift truck—including trucks that are just one year old. Crucially, as an owner or user, you are responsible.
The new national Thorough Examination procedure can only be carried out by a competent person from an accredited company. These companies have proved themselves capable of—and committed to—meeting the strict Quality Assurance Procedural Code. The new national procedure has been set up by Consolidated Fork Truck Services (CFTS), a joint venture between the Fork Lift Truck Association (FLTA) and BITA. As the acknowledged experts on Thorough Examination, CFTS carries the authority of the whole industry.
For more information on Thorough Examination and CFTS tel. 01628 475600 or e-mail: mail@thoroughexamination.org
Careers
We also aim to expand knowledge of the industry and encourage training for those who work in it, and promote the industry to people looking for a rewarding career. In order to attract students to the materials handling industry and maintain a qualified workforce, BITA is running an on-going programme of activities to raise awareness of the wide range of career opportunities available to school and college leavers. We have established links with some 450 careers advisers and have produced promotional material to back the campaign. Members are encouraged to get involved with the Student Connection Service, which allows students to submit their CVs for circulation with BITA members. Students receive a bulletin with careers information, job vacancies, and further advice on how to get into the industry.
For more information check out our website at www.bita.org.uk
Statistics
We also collect and disseminate information on trade opportunities for our members and provide comprehensive statistical data on the UK’s industrial truck market each month.
All these things are not merely ambitions but form our continuous day-to-day work on behalf of our members. More articles from BITA: | 
