Material Handling

Scissor lifts are frequently used as work platforms — and anytime you’re asking workers to use heavy equipment, you need to think about compliance with relevant standards from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

Operating forklifts — or even working around them — can be dangerous. In 2021, 70 workers lost their lives in forklift accidents. The previous year, more than 7,000 people were injured. According to the National Safety Council, more than half of these forklift injuries were the result of “transportation incidents.”

Vertical reciprocating conveyors (VRCs) are a type of material handling infrastructure designed to move loads between levels. They serve the same function as freight elevators, with one key difference: People can ride freight elevators, whereas VRCs are intended only for materials.

Specialized electrical carts from BHS making moving light fixtures around the jobsite quicker, easier, and safer. But what about your tools and equipment? New features like equipment hooks and compartment trays make BHS Light Fixture Carts (LFCs) into all-purpose material handling solutions for lighting installations.

In 2021, the federal government devoted more than $300 million to the electrification of airport ground vehicle fleets. That effort continues with the roll-out of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which promises $15 billion for improving airports — including sustainability projects like switching to electric vehicles (EVs) and installing charging infrastructure

Typical loading docks have a 4-foot drop-off, which can be dangerous to workers and equipment. This is not hypothetical: Forklift operators have been fatally injured by falls from loading docks, and it’s difficult to overstate the hazard posed by an open dock door.

Custom industrial equipment can optimize space, improve throughput, and save money — but to enjoy the benefits, you’ll need to work with an experienced partner that understands how your facility works.

When material handling professionals need new equipment, it’s easy to miss the forest for the trees. Challenges tend to show up in specific ways, which encourages us to reach for specific solutions: A new Conveyor here, a replacement Lift Table there.

These days, many types of organizations may invest in electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. Utility companies operate public EV charging stations. Fleet owners may install a whole system to keep their EVs ready to roll. But increasingly, owners of commercial properties — and the businesses they rent to — are installing EV charging stations, too.

When you mix forklift traffic with unguarded, elevated surfaces, you face a serious risk of injury or worse. You can’t operate a busy loading dock without forklifts, but you can design docks to reduce the risk for forklift operators — and the industry could always improve its safety record.