The Hawthorne Effect and an AI Forklift Safety System
Have you ever heard of the Hawthorne Effect? It was first identified sometime in the 1920’s in Cicero, IL at Western Electric. This was a very large employer within Illinois. They conducted an experiment to determine if changing work conditions, such as better lighting within the facility, could improve productivity. However, it can also be where the employee or worker is aware. In this case, the question is, does the worker, who knows they are being observed or watched, change their behavior? Can the same be said for the Hawthorne Effect and an AI forklift safety system?
What is the Hawthorne Effect Trying to Accomplish?
We’ve defined what the Hawthorne effect is. Now let’s state what research has shown it can accomplish.
- It can result in workers improving behavior and / or productivity
- Their behaviors can be improved that is above their normal manners
The Addition of New Technologies
When new technologies are introduced, it usually means processes change, but also people or worker behaviors change as well. Now that we’re talking about safety in the workplace, specifically, forklift safety, what are the benefits that can be realized because of an AI based forklift safety system. Let’s take a look.
Digital Forklift Inspection Checklist
As we all know, the forklift checklist is notorious for pencil whipping. Hurry up and get it done, and just slash that pencil from top to bottom with a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ and get on with it. With our Digital Forklift Inspection Checklist, that won’t happen anymore. The behavior will immediately need to adapt because if they don’t, the inspection will fail bringing attention to management. Our system helps combat falsifying answers by giving you the option to randomize the questions, and change up the question to ensure they read and answer accurately. This will change the behavior of the forklift operator as the driver knows that management will immediately know of the failure. If it is not a ligament failure, they will know who, and now know why. This accurate information can be better used by maintenance professionals that can better manage the health and life of the lift trucks.
Impacts
Impacts on a forklift can be with people, equipment or the facility itself. The forklift safety system can measure the impact (based on what you want) and notify you according to your settings. However, if an impact is made, you have the option of turning on the ‘pictures’, meaning as soon as an impact is made, the forklift safety system takes a picture of the driver. Now you know exactly what the driver was doing during the time of impact: looking away, at a phone, or at the actual accident. This will change a behavior of the operator very quickly, to one that is more desired by the safety professional.
Forklift Access Control
There are many aspects to forklift access control. We’ll only discuss one here and it is this… If you are not authorized to be on a forklift, nor certified to be on a particular forklift, the lift truck will not start. If you keep trying to access it, you have the option for the system to take a picture so you will know ‘who’ is attempting to access the truck.
Are you ready to change forklift driver behaviors? Great contact us today.
Contact Us!
Contact us today at sales@siera.ai or call us at (512) 817 0702.