Do You Know the Difference Between Automatic Slow Down and Speed Control?
SIERA.AI recently took a poll on forklift speed. The poll with our newsletter audience was to find out if they knew the difference between automatic slow down and speed control on a forklift. But there was a second question that was asked… does automatic slow down or speed control slow down the forklift operator’s productivity. Have you decided on those answers?
What is the Difference Between Automatic Slow Down and Speed Control?
Automatic slow down on the forklift is when the forklift safety system warns the operator that danger is imminent and the forklift driver doesn’t change their course of action…forcing the automatic slow down to override the driver and force the machine to slow down and comes to a complete stop. Speed control is when management has enforced a maximum miles per hour within the facility. So, if you are a new forklift driver, the cap forklift speed may be at 5 mph whereas a more experienced driver may be granted an 8 or 10 mph maximum forklift speed.
Why Is It Even Important?
Not everyone will find these forklift technologies critical factors for operating a facility. Companies are under pressure to implement a forklift speed solution due to the cost of a forklift accident be it a pedestrian, object or the infrastructure of the facility such as racking, walls and floors. Many believe they’ve tried everything…from incentives to training and find nothing works. Therefore, implementing these technologies may make the difference.
Oops, We had an Accident
One of the most popular ways a company decides to implement automatic slow down or speed control is when the facility experiences an accident. It doesn’t always have to be a fatality or a serious injury, it could be enough of a scare that the company doesn’t want to take another chance. And who can blame them. Right? But are you putting in these technologies too soon?
What’s the Underlying Problem?
If you are experiencing forklift speed issues within the facility, do you know why? It’s not always ‘the forklift driver drives too fast’ or they need more training, there are other causes for a forklift accident. What if there’s an area within the facility where accidents happen most. Do you know if that area exists? Have you investigated with technology first? Sometimes putting in slow down or speed control is just a band aid and the problem is never confronted or identified to a resolution.
What is Going On?
Sometimes being able to understand the facility from a data perspective can give you answers to questions you didn’t even know existed. So, before you start running with one of these technologies, try collecting data on near misses and forklift impacts. What can this do? It can identify how many near misses and level of impacts. Who is it? How many? Is it the same driver? Is it in the same or similar location? Is it the same forklift each time? Asking these questions can lead you to the answer and avoid the high cost of forklift accidents or purchasing automatic slow down or speed control.
The Results…
If management understands that implementing the S2 Digital Checklist with Impact Detection helps to accomplish (answer these questions above), then you’ll have the justification you need to either purchase and use these technologies or not.
In our recent survey, 85% of the respondents knew the correct difference between automatic slow down and speed control. However, the answer that was most intriguing was on productivity. It was close to a dead even 48% agree and 52% disagree that by implementing either of these two technologies will slow down productivity. What would you answer?
Start your journey with the S2 Digital Checklist for digital OSHA compliance and get the insights you need with impact detection. Contact us today at sales@siera.ai.