BMWT-Keur sets record with over 350,000 safety inspections

With this, this label reached another milestone, having passed the 300,000 mark for the first time in 2019. In comparison, in 2016, "only" 261,500 machines received the distinctive BMWT-Keur sticker.

Safety is one of the core values for this trade association for suppliers of (road) construction machinery, warehouse racking and (internal) transport equipment. "A safe working environment starts with management. There lies the task of providing employees with safe equipment they can rely on," states BMWT Director Jan Hommes. "The growth of BMWT-Keur shows that more and more companies are taking their responsibility and have the condition of their machines checked every year by expert inspectors. In doing so, BMWT-Keur makes a substantial contribution to improving safety on construction projects."

The ambition is clear; to help users achieve zero fatalities with work equipment. To achieve this, BMWT is focusing on three focal points: safety, sustainability and craftsmanship. Hommes: "Safety starts with product liability and the knowledge that essential modifications to machines require new CE certification. But there is also a technical link to sustainability, such as not messing around with emission systems. Our job is to provide clear information about this, so that companies can make the right choices. BMWT-Keur is concrete proof that our sector is serious about the technical safety of machinery. The strength of this label is that the inspection is often combined with a maintenance service." In most cases, any defects can be fixed immediately by an expert mechanic, thus preventing machine downtime.

THE NEW TURNING

In the area of craftsmanship and sustainability, BMWT is one of the initiators of The New Turning, which offers practical instruction on how to use work equipment in an energy-efficient manner. "This saves costs, works more comfortably and is better for the environment. So it's a win-win-win situation," Hommes believes. "Our members provide operator training to link optimal use of a machine to sustainability. That way, cost savings and emission reduction go hand in hand. More efficiency easily leads to 10 to 15% fuel savings and also less wear, so less maintenance. That works through within the total machine cost."

The fact that more and more users attach importance to safe and sustainable work is reflected in numerous partnerships within and outside the industry. "It is becoming more and more a matter of course, which we as a trade association very much welcome." According to Hommes, both issues require intensive cooperation with the market. A good example of this is De Groene Koers, a cooperation between Bouwend Nederland, Cumela and BMWT to bring together knowledge in the field of sustainability in the earth-moving sector. "In this way, big steps can be taken fairly easily. Working safely is also finer work. It leads not only to less damage and accidents, but also to less downtime and more focus on the work. That is at the core of what BMWT stands for. All our activities must have a direct relationship with the machines in the market."