Can an AI Based Forklift Safety System Better Protect Temporary Forklift Drivers?
There are approximately 1.5 million forklift operators in the U.S. today which doesn’t include temporary forklift drivers. With shortages and seasonal workers needed, safety training is a necessity, but doesn’t stop forklift accidents from occurring. Temporary worker safety is a broad term that encompasses everything safety. Temporary worker forklift safety pertains just to the forklift where much of the need is today as well as many of the mistakes that result in accidents. If labor shortages for forklift drivers continue and the use of temporary workers grow, the facility is at greater risk for a forklift accident. How can it be controlled? How can temporary worker forklift safety be maximized? Let’s take a further look.
The Track to Temporary Worker Forklift Safety
As we all know, OSHA requires all forklift operators to be certified. However, not all forklift certification is equal. All drivers must have the proper certification to be on a particular asset such as class I needs Class 1 certification, Class 2 forklifts need a Class 2 certification and so on.
The temporary worker forklift safety plan must include written exam and must pass the exam as well as practical, hands-on training for that particular asset class. Once the final evaluation is made, and the operator has been cleared, then the temporary worker can work at any company on that asset class.
This has been a big ask for someone making $15 – $20 per hour. As a company, what can you do to ensure the temporary workers on or off the forklift are safe?
Forklift Safety System
A forklift safety system protects the forklift driver, workers and any pedestrians that come in close proximity to a forklift truck. Not all forklift safety systems are made the same, the most effective are those that are built with AI machine learning technology. That is because each forklift acts as its own entity, free from wearables and can travel capturing information and keeping the area safe from contact with people or objects such as pallets, boxes and more.
What Can the Forklift Safety System Do?
The purpose is to keep the temporary worker safe from harm. The temporary worker forklift safety plan should include a forklift safety system. The forklift safety system includes everything from digital inspection of the forklift checklist to pedestrian detection or also known as proximity detection. Along with these two critical components, the forklift operator must have a PIN number or QR code in order to enter the forklift. The forklift safety system is ensuring that the forklift operator is certified and that the certification has not expired. Once complete, then the temporary worker can move to answering the checklist questions. Once the digital forklift checklist is complete and passes, then the forklift truck will start. Until then, the forklift will NOT be operational.
As the forklift goes about its job duties, then the forklift safety system will begin to scan every 60ms searching for people or objects that can hinder the workflow of the forklift. If there is something within the path, the forklift safety system will provide an audible and visual warning so the forklift operator can take action prior to getting close or near to an accident.
This type of forklift safety system will keep the temporary workers from encountering an accident within the facility.
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