Hiab discover the key to safety

Leading hard landscaping, building and roofing products supplier, Marshalls plc, worked closely with Hiab’s technical team to create an innovative and award-winning solution to an industry problem.

After experiencing two incidents involving cranes within their own yard, Marshalls approached Hiab to explore innovative solutions aimed at minimising the potential for human error in similar situations.

The result is an ignition key interlock that has earned national recognition. The key prevents vehicles from being manoeuvred until a crane is correctly stowed.

By the end of next year, Marshalls’ entire fleet of vehicles will be fitted with the Hiab key, which won the Safer Transport & Logistics Award at the MPA Health & Safety Awards.

Gary Lawson, Central Logistics Operations Manager at Marshalls, said: “We worked closely with Hiab’s UK technical team on this project, since it relies on the crane’s sensors to recognise the jib is in the transit position, permanently attaching the crane key to the tractor’s ignition key was a simple but very effective solution.

“We have fitted it to 60 artic vehicles so far and the roll-out means all of them will have this new safety feature by the end of next year.”

The logistics department for Marshalls runs a fleet of approximately 200 HGV vehicles, split between artic cranes and drawbars, delivering mainly to building sites, merchant’s yards or to the general public.

Unlike other truck-mounted cranes that are fully integrated into the cab, there are some artic trailers which have cranes independent to the tractor unit. Wiring the crane into the cab is not possible meaning over-height warnings are removed.

Hiab UK’s technical team of Darren Lloyd and Peter Evans worked in partnership with the logistics team at Marshalls to devise the ignition key interlock which is attached to the truck’s ignition key.

Now the driver must remove the key from a vehicle to start the crane and the same in reverse. The driver must ensure the crane is safely stowed on the trailer otherwise the key can’t be removed from the key barrel.

The solution has eliminated risk of crane incidents due to human error and provided a safer environment for all on site.

Darren Lloyd, After Sales Technical Support Team Leader at Hiab, added: “The interlocking engine key is the ideal solution for removing human error as drivers cannot override the system. The vehicle cannot be moved until the crane is correctly stowed. This system could be used throughout the industry by any operator using the same crane fleet and fitted it is very time effective, taking just four hours to be installed. We look forward to working with other companies who are looking for bespoke solutions to their own safety issues.”

Further information:
Kevin Cooke, Director of Media and Communications, kc@cwa.co.uk 07870982453

About Hiab
Hiab is a leading provider of smart and sustainable load handling solutions. We are committed to delivering the best customer experience every day with the most engaged people and partners. Hiab's premium equipment includes HIAB, EFFER and ARGOS loader cranes, MOFFETT and PRINCETON truck mounted forklifts, LOGLIFT forestry cranes, JONSERED recycling cranes, MULTILIFT skiploaders and hooklifts, GALFAB roll-off cable hoists, and tail lifts under the ZEPRO, DEL and WALTCO brands. As the industry pioneer, Hiab continues to make load handling smarter, safer and more sustainable to build a better tomorrow. www.hiab.com Hiab is part of Cargotec Corporation. Cargotec (Nasdaq Helsinki: CGCBV) sales in 2022 totalled approximately EUR 4 billion and it employs around 11,500 people. www.cargotec.com