DC Velocity - IdeaBook 2017

visibility because it is offset seven inches to the left of the operator and gets narrower the higher it goes, explains Jim Gaskell, director of global technology business development. Another example is the reach carriage on Crown’s RM series, which is shaped to create a large window at eye level to provide the operator with a better view of the fork tips and load, he says.

Visibility-enhancing attachments and accessories, such as mirrors, brightly painted forks, and fork-mounted video cameras, have also made a notable contribution to forklift safety. One increasingly popular option, says Chuck Leone, vice president of Hyundai Forklift, is a backup camera. Similar to those available in recent-model cars, forklift cameras improve visibility behind the vehicle. Operators still need to turn around and keep watch on what’s going on behind and around them, of course, but the cameras expand their view from the floor up, allowing them to clearly see pedestrians and objects that may be below eye level.

Better visibility is not just for the operator, by the way.
Making pedestrians more aware of the presence and travel
direction of nearby forklifts is also important. One of the
most effective visibility tools in recent years is the “blue
light” accessory, says Max Vome, health, safety, and envi-
ronment manager at Kion North America Corp., parent of
Linde and Baoli brand forklifts. This simple device attaches
to the lift truck’s frame and projects a bright, highly visible
blue light onto the floor behind, in front of, or alongside a
moving forklift, as appropriate for the situation. The light
provides an early warning—by projecting beyond the end
of an aisle, for example, so pedestrians and other lift trucks
know that a truck is coming even though they may not be
able to see it yet.
x Lift truck telematics. Telematics (also known as teleme-
try) refers to the wireless transmission of data to or from a
mobile asset. Telematics for forklifts and the technologies
used for collecting, sharing, and analyzing lift truck-re-
lated data are becoming increasingly sophisticated. Some
systems are offered by independent providers, such as I.D.
Systems and Total Trax, while others are available through
forklift manufacturers, which have either developed their
own software or partnered with an independent developer.

Lift truck telematics systems generate easy-to-access metrics and can be highly effective tools for improving operator safety, say the experts at Toyota. Depending on the application, these systems can help fleet managers monitor operators’ driving habits, track impacts, and collect and store OSHA-required information, among other capabilities. They also analyze the data, which helps companies identify individual operators who need additional training.

For example, telemetry systems equipped with opera-tor-checklist capabilities allow operators to easily perform OSHA-required preshift inspections, identifying possible maintenance issues and potentially locking down units to prevent unsafe operation, says Jay Costello, director, dealer marketing, for Yale Materials Handling Corp. (Yale is part of Hyster-Yale Materials Handling Inc., which also markets products under the Hyster brand name.) Units equipped with an identification-card reader can limit access so only appropriately trained workers are able to operate specific equipment. Telemetry systems can also alert operators and managers when certifications are near expiration, helping to ensure refresher training is provided on a timely basis, he adds.

Impact monitoring is one of the most valuable safety enhancements in fleet telematics systems. Operators understand that impacts can be easily audited to determine frequency, amplitude, and, ultimately, responsibility. As a result, truck damage and injuries from impacts generally decrease when a fleet management system is implemented, says Gaskell.