How Can You Improve Warehouse Operations with Forklift Safety Tech?
Remember how cool it was when you used a backup camera for the very first time? No more backing into walls or close calls with other cars or, even worse, pedestrians. Current vehicles take safety steps further by adding a beep as you near an obstacle, and some even stop automatically if you don’t respond. Similar forklift safety tech makes lift trucks exponentially safer than they were just ten years ago. But before we dive in…
A Reminder of Forklift Safety Basics
All forklift operators should always be thoroughly trained on the forklifts they use on-site. You also need to ensure that your forklifts are equipped with all the standard safety bells and whistles–a horn, a seat belt, headlights, a backup alarm, and a strobe light to alert pedestrians of an oncoming vehicle. Your driver SOP should include a pre-shift checklist to confirm that all those systems are working properly before starting each shift. Operators must wear the proper safety equipment: safety shoes, gloves, hard hats, and high visibility clothing.
From a safety standpoint, the most successful companies invest in a dedicated Safety Department or Safety Director, whose role is to ensure compliance with all safety regulations.
Safety needs to be part of your company culture. Forklifts are one of the leading causes of industrial accidents, so your safety department must be well versed in the inherent dangers of forklift operation. A thorough program of safety meetings, safety training, and regular reviews of previous and potential accidents should be firmly in place.
Now that you have the essential safety protocols baked into your facility’s operating procedure, let’s look at how emerging technology can further enhance the safety of the tasks performed by your forklifts.
What’s New?
Telematics and internet connectivity have propelled forklift safety and efficiency to a level not imagined years ago. Thanks to the sensor revolution, many physical and mechanical events can be converted into electrical signals for alerts, recordings, and control systems.
Do you think you’d have to replace your existing forklifts to take advantage of these high-tech forklift safety innovations? NOPE! Many forklift safety tech products are available as add-ons for your current forklifts.
Forklift safety tech falls into two broad categories:
- Technology to improve operator safety and prevent tip-overs
- Technology to protect workers in the vicinity of moving forklifts
Operator Safety Tech
Interactive vehicle management systems – Available from a host of technology providers, these systems provide a range of components designed to improve forklift safety and optimize the efficiency of your fleet.
Ask About Interactive Dash Features on CLARK Vehicles
From a safety perspective, vehicle management systems can:
- Prevent unauthorized use of forklifts by requiring operators to log in with an alphanumeric or biometric code and go through a pre-shift checklist.
- Lock the forklift unless the seatbelt is engaged.
- Take the guesswork out of wondering if your load exceeds the forklift’s weight-bearing capacity by employing weight sensors on the mast structure
- Receive input from sensors on the vehicle that detect collisions and send an alarm to the monitoring station to determine the cause of the collision immediately.
- Include forklift-mounted cameras aimed both outwardly and at the operator to document events leading up to a collision event.
- Be customized to allow managers to set up parameters for each forklift and even for individual operators. They can be programmed to slow down in areas of high pedestrian traffic.
Forklift management systems also measure vehicle operating parameters, such as hours of service, fluid levels, and battery condition, allowing fleet operators to optimize the efficiency and productivity of their vehicles.
Look Out for Pedestrians!
Many new safety technology innovations are designed to prevent accidents between forklifts and pedestrians. Take a look at pedestrian-focused forklift safety technology.
Forklift-mounted cameras – The most sophisticated systems combine forklift-mounted 360° cameras with artificial intelligence to detect whether an obstacle is a pedestrian or a rack. If a pedestrian is detected, audible and visible alerts are triggered. You can also program the system to slow or stop the vehicle.- Ceiling-mounted sensors – Extend safety throughout your facility to prevent the accidental meeting of pedestrians and forklifts. Ceiling-mounted sensors above an intersection can alert pedestrians to an oncoming forklift and warn forklift operators of pedestrians in the vicinity. Some systems project a lighted image on the warehouse floor to indicate an oncoming forklift, while others offer flashing signs to get pedestrians’ attention.
- Automatic Safety Gate – Lift gates provide an essential barrier between active forklifts and pedestrians. Gates installed at busy intersections and around valuable equipment or processing areas will open for a pedestrian if no forklift traffic is detected and close after the pedestrian has passed through safety.
- Proximity Sensor Systems – Forklifts and pedestrians are fitted with sensors that sound an alarm when near each other. Most systems contain two zones – warning and danger. Signals can penetrate through obstacles such as loaded racks or equipment.
Speaking of technology, don’t forget the Apex Rack Repair App, for situations when your forklifts have an untimely rendezvous with your rack system. The app will quickly help you assess the damage and order replacement parts.
Call the Apex Team for a warehouse safety audit. We will provide cost-effective solutions tailored to the needs of your operation –and we will work with you to ensure the forklift safety tech and warehouse tools are expertly installed. And, don’t forget to call Apex to schedule your group operator training for new forklift certifications and recertifications and to learn how to apply these new technologies.
When it comes to forklift and warehouse safety in Chicago, Apex is your #1 choice.