What’s the Responsibility of Forklift Risk?

Anytime something is moving…there’s a risk of an accident. One of the biggest risks that may have been lowered, but never controlled or eliminated is reducing forklift risks. That’s because reducing forklift risks is an uphill battle. There are numerous ways problems can occur that increases the risk of a forklift injury or fatality. We’ll take a look at some of these hazards.

What is Reducing Forklift Risks?

Reducing forklift risks can be defined by implementing numerous safety measures in order to be proactive against any type or form of forklift accidents that results in damages, injuries or fatalities. This is a tough challenge as OSHA has been protecting against forklift accidents since 1971. Here we are, over 50 years later and EHS and safety managers continue to work on reducing forklift risks.

Employers Can Reduce Risk

Employers are responsible for reducing forklift risks as well as other safety measures in the facility. It is up to the employer to provide a safe work environment, safety systems where possible, as well as training and supervision. These are great ways to reduce risk, but doesn’t guarantee that an accident won’t happen. The other half is the employee.

Employees Can Also Reduce Risk

Employers could be hundreds of safety measures in place, but if they are not used or followed, the amount of risk increases. This includes employees maintaining their education and training, certification and hands on practice with such things as a new type of lift truck or attachments. It takes time, skill and practice to get better so product doesn’t get damaged or injuries to yourself or others don’t occur.

Manufacturer’s Responsibility to Risk

Forklift manufacturers have a responsibility to reducing forklift risk. Manufacturer’s go through hours of testing to identify hazards, optimal conditions, and the best way to use a forklift or its attachments. This is why they provide a manual and proper operating procedures. This is all to keep the lift truck operator safe and help the company reduce their risk when the lift trucks are in operation.

Advancement in Technologies

There have been many technologies that have been released in more recent years with the goal of reducing forklift risk. It’s made a dent in the path to zero forklift accidents, but hasn’t quite gotten there yet. Now, with the continued development and testing, AI or artificial intelligence has made its way into the forklift safety systems industry. The benefit of machine learning and AI together as one is the ability to learn and apply its learning to better keep people, forklift operators and the contents inside the facility…safe.

S3 Pedestrian Detection System

The S3 Pedestrian Detection System is the ultimate technology in the forklift safety system industry. It utilizes the AI machine learning technology in order to determine if it’s an object or a pedestrian approaching the customer set distance. Meaning, you tell the forklift safety system how far away you want the system to begin notifying the forklift operator that a person or an object is near. With the S3, it reads as far as 33 feet. Do you need that distance, odds are no, but nice to know if you need 33 feet, you got it.

Finally…

Now that you know a bit more about how risk is averted or minimized by all parties involved, it’s now time to do your part and purchase the S3 PDS so you can get even closer to zero forklift accidents. Contact us today at sales@siera.ai