Equipment Design Plays a Key Role in Your Forklift Safety Program

A successful safety program considers several key elements that can positively contribute to employee safety. One such element is the design of the forklift. Unfortunately, equipment design can often be overlooked as a vital component of safety programs. It is important to understand how forklift design has evolved to enhance today’s safety programs.

To help establish a solid foundation for your safety program, audit your existing fleet to identify lift trucks that lack key safety features and develop a plan for phasing in new forklifts with features that encourage safer operation.

In the U.S., forklifts must comply with ANSI/Industrial Truck Standards Development Foundation (ITSDF) standards and meet the requirements of OSHA 29 CFR Section 1910.178. Other countries have similar standards and regulations. These standards and regulations provide a threshold for forklift safety; however, some manufacturers, such as Crown Equipment, have gone beyond simple compliance.

Taken from our e-book “An Integrated Approach to Forklift Safety,” the following are important safety-related features to consider when evaluating operator and safety-centric forklifts.

1.     Curbing Operator Fatigue

Some manufacturers have directly integrated Human Factors & Ergonomics (HF&E) logic into product development. The HF&E expert focuses on the forklift operator, helping ensure forklifts are designed around the way operators work rather than forcing them to adapt their work habits to the vehicle’s design. The more operators have to compensate for poor design, the more they are likely to experience unnecessary fatigue. The most common result of this approach is ergonomic features, especially in the operator compartment.

2.     Assisting Forklift and Operator Performance

Several operator assist technologies are available today that can work passively or actively to reinforce training and guide operators to consistently employ best practices. Advanced sensors and software can alter forklift performance parameters based on the load, task, location and environment to promote safe, productive operations. Crown’s Proximity Assist system uses Lidar sensors installed on the lift truck that scan for objects, pedestrians and other forklifts to alert the operator of their presence and actively slow the vehicle. Solutions incorporating Crown’s Geo Assist technology utilize location-based tracking to automatically decrease travel speed of the lift truck and help avoid overhead obstructions.

3.     Enhancing Visibility

Manufacturers have enhanced operator sightlines in a variety of applications, helping reduce the risk of accidents that can be caused by obstructed views. For instance, the MonoLift^® Mast found on certain Crown forklifts enhances visibility without compromising mast strength and stability.

4.     Maintaining Focus

Using interactive, customizable on-screen displays, forklift manufacturers are creating a more informative and personalized experience for operators. Intuitive and easy-to-read menus and configurable widgets enable operators to customize their digital user experience and receive contextual alerts to increase engagement. These features are especially important for creating a positive experience for existing employees, as well as helping new employees become more confident operators.

For more information on how forklift design can help you create and maintain a culture of safety, visit the Safety page at crown.com and download the Crown e-book.