Manual handling is simply an act whereby somebody lifts, moves or transports a load by hand or by use of another part of the body. This act can be applicable to goods, tools or materials between points A to B.

Selecting the right shelving unit involves a comprehensive evaluation of various factors, not just cost. Important considerations include the type of assembly, mobility requirements, intended use, aesthetic appeal, size and load capacity. By assessing all these elements, you're able to narrow down your options, ensuring the chosen shelves perfectly meet your needs.

As the leaves on the trees change to their magic autumnal colours, we need to be aware of the dangers that the season can bring.

When asked which type of trolley or truck is better for moving goods, the answer isn’t that straightforward. There are several things that need consideration before choosing equipment and by answering a short set of questions, this can hopefully lead you to a simple answer.

Order picking has become a huge process in UK industry over the last 10 years. Distribution hubs and logistics warehouses have sprung up all over the country and we are now very reliant on the immediacy of deliveries, to all corners of Britain. Most of these hubs and warehouses use highly sophisticated order picking equipment with automated systems being affordable through the economy of scales that mass storage has provided.

Hazardous storage cabinets play a critical role in keeping your workplace safe. They are designed to store hazardous materials and chemicals securely, preventing any potential hazards that could harm employees, the environment and the public.

Plastic bins are one of the most popular types of small part storage bin. They are lightweight, durable and affordable. Plastic bins are available in many different sizes and colours, which make them easy to customise to fit the needs of any organisation. Additionally, plastic bins are easy to clean and maintain, which makes them ideal for use in all industrial environments.

Whilst the government has made it law to push towards zero emission vehicles by 2035, just how realistic is this target? With many car manufacturers currently turning to hybrid production in favour of 100% electric vehicles, is the net zero target truly achievable?

Business owners beware, if your employees fall and injure themselves whilst working at height, unless you can prove that you have provided the correct access safety equipment, staff training and regular maintenance of that equipment, you could be in line for an expensive outcome!

UK companies should view the traditional summer shutdown as a period where there are great benefits that can be derived with some careful advanced planning.

In the fast paced, frenetic world that we live in, time is usually of the essence. Some of our customers look to sourcing appropriate equipment for their needs, with the minimum of time or fuss.

Many organisations run fleets of lifting equipment and some have multi sites throughout the UK to consider. These sites usually have pallet trucks, hydraulic stackers, scissor lift tables and many other types of materials handling lifting equipment.

Two prevalent issues plague businesses nationwide: accidents potentially causing injuries to employees and visitors and theft within the premises. Despite the reduction in theft from a peak of 17,700 offences in 2002/03 to 6,558 in 2022/23, any level of theft remains unacceptable.

Sometimes, businesses tend to opt for second best when investing in new equipment, which isn't necessary. Decisions are frequently based on browsing for standard products without discussing the best cost-effective alternatives with the supplier or thinking slightly 'outside the box'.

Most businesses often use a member of their staff to access something that is beyond a safe reaching height. Whether that might be reaching for a file that has been shoved up on top of a cupboard, changing a light bulb or carrying out a regular order picking task. How many times have you seen colleagues standing on chairs and desks to reach something or climbing up on machinery to gain better access? Please don’t, there is a better way.

Effective waste management is crucial for maintaining a sustainable and environmentally responsible society. Industrial waste bins play a vital role in that waste disposal processes, particularly for paper, general or recycling waste.

Action Handling Equipment Ltd has been a proud sponsor of the annual charity event at Haverhill Golf Club for four consecutive years. This year the benefactor is The New Croft Foundation.

The aim of this project was to design and manufacture an aesthetically pleasing method of storing plastic container bins. The idea needed to be something that was both highly mobile and able to move around in very tight spaces, often with corners of the rooms being a normal resting place.

The world of warehousing and logistics has a crucial element of efficiency and productivity. The use of electric order picking equipment has revolutionised the order picking process and has offered a much more convenient and user-friendly solution for UK businesses.

The date for net zero emissions is set for 2050 and it will take all of those 25 years to achieve it, so lets get started.

There are many unloved, rusty-around-the-edges pallet trucks lurking in corners or out the back of company premises. Have you got any? Would you consider resurrecting them or perhaps you think they are beyond repair?

The Victoria and Albert Museum in Kensington opened in 1852 and is home to one of the world’s largest collections of art and design. It houses a permanent collection of over 2.2 million individual artefacts.

Our fast-paced industrial world often means that long hours of standing are becoming commonplace. Business owners should be aware that the well-being of their employees is always paramount. Studies have shown that prolonged standing at benches, workstations or assembly points can lead to many health issues, including backaches, knee problems and general fatigue. However, there is a simple yet effective solution that can significantly improve the health and comfort of industrial workers and that is the use of anti-fatigue matting.

No matter how much we try to avoid spillages within the workplace or in public areas, unfortunately they can still happen! Common spills involve substances such as diesel, oil, solvents and cleaning chemicals. While small, in-house spills might be easy to clean up quickly, some fluids can be toxic when ingested or exposed to skin and can be very hazardous to the environment.

Unlocking efficiency combined with safety in today's fast paced business world is critical for the transportation of heavy loads when negotiating stairways and other challenging terrains.

There are many dangers around the workplace to consider, but one that seems to be continually overlooked is the safe storage of hazardous substances. What are deemed to be hazardous and how do you identify the risks? It's not just flammable material or noxious gases, it's far more encompassing than that.

Sometimes it's not so much about 'how cheap' but more about 'how good' an item of safety equipment is! We were recently contacted by a regular customer who told us that they had two irritating and not to mention expensive problems occurring around their business premises in North London. The first being random thefts from site and the second being damage to expensive plant on the premises.

Welcome to the ultimate guide to Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWPs)! If you're looking to ensure safety and efficiency in your elevated work tasks, you've come to the right place.

Regular servicing and Thorough Examinations are essential for maintaining the safety and efficiency of lifting equipment, such as stackers, pallet trucks, forklift trucks, scissor lift tables and indeed all hydraulic lifting equipment.

One of the UK's leading racing car manufacturers turned to Action Handling when they needed a safe method of storing carbon fibre sheets. Carbon fibre is used extensively in the construction of modern 21st century racing cars.

In today's fast-paced work environments, maintaining a safe workplace is paramount. The one key aspect of this that is often overlooked, is the proper handling and use of safety equipment. Whether it's protective goggles, helmets, gloves or respiratory masks, these all play a crucial role in safeguarding employees from potential hazards.

When it comes to efficiently storing and transporting goods, stillages and pallets are essential tools for many businesses.

Can you guess who this wheel belongs to?

Manhole covers are an essential component of the UK’s drainage and sewerage infrastructure, providing access to underground systems for maintenance and repair.

Maintenance and safety are critical aspects of managing material handling equipment. By prioritising maintenance and implementing safety measures, you can ensure smooth operations and minimise the risk of accidents.

When awkward becomes easy, you know that you are using the best equipment for the job! This was part of the remit from one of our favourite customers up in the Midlands. They have a very efficient logistics operation handling tens of thousands of packages, parcels and products a week.

Investing in material handling equipment offers numerous benefits for warehouse operations. From increased safety and reduced labour costs to improved inventory management and faster order fulfilment, these tools can transform your warehouse into a well-oiled machine.

In today's fast-paced business world, efficiency and productivity are key to staying ahead of the competition. When it comes to warehouse operations, streamlining processes is essential for meeting customer demands and maximising profits. One effective way to achieve this is by investing in top-of-the-line material handling equipment. From fork stackers and pallet trucks to conveyors and automated systems, these tools can revolutionise your warehouse operations and take them to new heights.

One of our local council offices contacted us about coming up with a solution to provide a safe and dry rest room environment for their outdoor workers who often have to deal with adverse weather conditions.

Whether a forced relocation or by choice, moving business premises can be a fraught enough task in itself, so why not take advantage of the upheaval with floor layout improvements and equipment upgrades.

We all love seeing and hearing the wonderful array of birds that reside in the UK, with many of us putting out food daily in our gardens for them. As a nation we spend £250m a year on wild bird food, such as seeds, peanuts and fats. However, the cost and disruption to industry from our feathered friends is often disregarded.

One-in-three accidents at work are caused by manual handling. In 2022 out of the 1.8 million working people suffering from a work-related illness, 477,000 of them experienced problems from a job-related musculoskeletal disorder according to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Furthermore, 300,000 people in the UK were troubled with back pain caused by manual handling incidents!

If you thought that planning boards just hung above your desk or on the back of a door, then think again!

One of our regular pharmaceutical customers had recently launched their newest range of products online, thus allowing consumers to place orders 24/7 and all backed up with the benefit of express delivery.

The British Heart Foundation (BHF) spells out the plain facts of how important it is for us to look after the health of our hearts. However sadly, heart disease will still kill around one in four people in the UK.

This tote has absolutely nothing to do with 'The Tote' that was founded in 1928 by Winston Churchill when the Racecourse Betting Control Board was set up.

More than ever before, employers have the safety of their employees at the forefront of their businesses. Gone are the days of the most senior member of staff ‘showing the ropes’ to the latest recruits. Providing proper training for the handling and movement of goods is seen as a worthwhile investment which ensures the workforce are safer when using handling lifting equipment.

When we think of lockers, we tend to visualise clothes lockers as those used in schools, swimming pools, cloakrooms and changing rooms up and down the country. These basic types are usually low-cost mild steel construction with a choice of individual compartments, either single, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 doors fitted.

Particularly as we move into the winter months, we should consider our health and wellbeing as a means of safeguarding against many of the things that are no doubt on the way: bad weather with colder temperatures, long dark nights and of course the seemingly ever-increasing pressures of the cost-of-living crisis. Some simple adjustments can make a big difference though.

The two things about the British weather that we all know, is that first off it is not predictable and the second is that we never seem to be prepared for it! Snow in November right through to March or beyond is a distinct possibility and yet businesses across the UK systematically fail to be ready to deal with what should be an inconvenience rather than a complete disaster. Companies would fair better by assessing the risks and then order the equipment and supplies needed in advance so they will be better prepared for what is coming!

Is there a definitive origin for the art of queueing? The word queue comes from the 12th century Old French word 'cue' meaning tail of an animal, which originates from the Latin word 'cauda'. So when did queueing start in Britain? During the early 19th century queues had become common occurrences as masses of people had migrated from the countryside to the towns to find work during the Industrial Revolution.

The World Cup in Qatar kicks off on Sunday November 20th and it's the first time that the tournament has been played in the mid-season winter months of the European Leagues. This has all come about to play the matches on relatively milder days of middle eastern weather as opposed to the normal scorching hot days of their summer.

One of our long-standing customers wanted to revamp their export department. They asked us to put forward some ideas on how they could speed up the packing and despatch process which seemed to be taking longer than was preferable. We sent along our man Jon Ball, with a stop clock, tape measure and 25 years plus of knowledge in the materials handling industry to have a look.

It is a well known fact that unhappy employees leave companies. So what can be done to help prevent that from happening?

Sack trucks have been around since the industrial revolution and were used to move large sacks of spices around the docks. As this was usually the job of young boys, the simple L-shaped sack truck with two wheels was invented to allow the children single handedly move goods much heavier than they could carry. That design has survived and is still in use today. There have also been further design developments resulting in numerous material handling trucks more suited to specific tasks.

Sports stadiums and event venues are big business in the UK and indeed across the world. Gone are the days of the stadium managers using manual labour to lug equipment around. Instead of which we now have fully mechanised systems in place to handle everything, even right up to hydraulically controlled roll out football pitches!

Recent events have shown how vulnerable we can be to fires when the temperature rises. Bonfires, BBQs, electrical faults or even a simply discarded cigarette stub can start what can turn out to be a catastrophe.

While the stadiums, gymnasiums and sports venues are filled with 4500 athletes from 72 nations vying for medals, consider the amount of work required behind the scenes to make the Friendly Games a success for the thousands of spectators visiting the 15 venues in the West Midlands over the 12 days of sporting events.

It is always gratifying to hear that some of your products are being used at very important places around the country. The HM Passport Office Headquarters is at 2 Marsham Street, London, SW1P 4DF, but has seven other regional offices and over 50 other interview offices dotted around the UK.

The UEFA Women's 2022 Football Euro kicked off at Old Trafford on Wednesday 6th July with an England 1 – 0 win over Austria in front of a record 70,000 ecstatic fans. Sixteen teams will be battling it out until the final is held at Wembley on Sunday 31st July.

When your customers demand the very highest quality, then you can leave absolutely nothing to chance. As you can no doubt imagine, the aircraft industry have some of the highest standards of any industry and there’s perhaps no more exacting than those in the military and executive sectors.

The simple scale and the ability to weigh things with it, is something most of us largely take for granted. However, you may not be fully aware just how sophisticated modern scales have become.

Based in Haverhill, Suffolk are a European company that provides top quality products for conveying varying types of sports equipment on vehicles, camping vehicle accessories, backpacks and luggage plus all types of strollers and bike trailers to enable family holidays and days out.

Working at height with mobile safety steps, podium steps or step ladders requires a good level of assessment of the risks involved. When it comes to choosing the correct product, several factors need to be assessed first.

There are many things in life that are both annoying and frustrating and perhaps one of the most common are those issues that arise from parking. It appears that while there’s an ever increasing number of vehicles, there’s an ever decreasing number of parking places available in which to put them.

There are 113 new products that have been launched onto the market this month. We have a section on our website where all these products are showcased.

When Clarity Pharma opened their new centre in 2018, they quickly identified the need for a new labelling system. By positioning the labels on the racking beams, it meant that identifying pallets within their warehouse became an easy task.

England’s longest zip line runs for 720m and is based at Bluewater Shopping and Leisure Centre in Kent. Safety is of prime importance on this 60mph high rise adrenalin thrill activity!

As everyone knows, pallet trucks are used to move pallets around warehouses, loading bays and factories all over the world. As building construction projects have seen an increase in activity since the relaxing of pandemic restrictions during late 2021, full steam ahead seems to be the mantra for many large projects around the UK.

Business owners generally know that they have an obvious responsibility to ensure health and safety in the workplace and to keep their employees wellbeing at the forefront of any decision making. But do they know how to implement best practises and put processes in place for continued safety?

A water company in the south of England has been having some security issues for several years which has resulted in the theft of expensive plant and equipment. Apparently this problem is a reasonably common issue faced by big land owning companies, who find it difficult to secure their equipment when stored on large sites covering sizeable areas.