DC Velocity - May 2017

IT WASN’T ALL THAT LONG AGO that lift truck operators were largely on their own when it came to safety, relying almost entirely on their eyes, ears, and best judgment to prevent accidents. But as warehouse and DC operations got bigger and faster-paced, it became harder to maintain forklift safety. Fleet managers and operators needed help, and lift truck makers responded, taking advantage of new technologies and engineering methods to design an array of safety features into their trucks. As a result, today’s forklifts are more stable, provide greater visibility, and offer more protection to operators than ever before.

As part of our special coverage of National Forklift Safety Day 2017, we asked manufacturers why they think it’s important to incorporate safety features into their trucks, and how they decide which ones to add. Along with addressing those questions, they provided some recent examples of safety-related enhancements to their products. Finally, they offered their thoughts about the continuing responsibility of operators and fleet managers to maintain a safe work environment.

COMMITMENT TO SAFETY

When it comes to safety, lift truck operators have their
work cut out for them. “Today’s warehouses and man-
ufacturing facilities are dynamic, at times unstructured
environments,” notes Mick McCormick, vice president
of warehouse solutions for Yale Materials Handling
Corp. “Operators must be aware of co-workers, foot
traffic, other vehicles, and infrastructure like racking and
walls—all while remaining focused on the task at hand.”
Accordingly, the OEMs take their role in supporting
operator safety very seriously. A focus on safety “is
a given” in his company, says Mark Porwit, director,
corporate planning, for UniCarriers Americas. “It is a
part of any new product development, and it’s always
a top priority,” he says. But safety is not just about the
product itself, he adds. It’s important to design trucks
with safety-focused features that “not only assist the
operators in their daily tasks, but also assist customers
in creating optimal work environments,” he says.

Lift truck manufacturers have many new tools at their disposal, and they believe it’s their responsibility to fully utilize them in the service of safety. “As more technology is introduced to lift trucks—whether that’s advancements in electronics or the mechanical aspects of the truck—it would not be consistent with our commitment to looking out for operators’ safety if we didn’t incorporate that to protect the operator as much as we can,” says Mark Koffarnus, director of business development for Hyster Co.

SAFER BY DESIGN
Today’s lift trucks boast more
designed-in safety features than ever.
Operators will get the greatest
benefit from these advances if they’re
paired with proper training.