Minimize Worker Comp Claims with a Forklift Safety System

Are you concerned about workers comp forklift safety in the workplace? As the investors and creators of a forklift safety system, we are constantly advocating for the safety manager, plant manager and the forklift driver to balance pedestrian safety and forklift safety as one. Work accidents, in general, are going to happen, but workers comp forklift safety can be managed to significantly reduce the number of incidents.

OSHA and Industrial Trucks

OSHA estimates that overturn forklifts are about 25% of all forklift related fatalities. However, let’s not forget that injuries can also occur with overturned forklifts, forklifts hitting another piece of equipment, impacts with the facility itself, but let’s not forget a frequent forklift accident and that’s with a pedestrian or worker.

What Happens if a Worker Gets Hurt in a Forklift Accident?

If a worker in the facility, pedestrian or guest gets hurt in the facility because safety measures were ignored or not followed, then workers comp will need to pay for the hurt individual. Worker’s comp will pay for the worker or pedestrian’s lost wages equal to 80% of the worker’s after-tax weekly wage or salary. The company not only pays out for worker’s comp, but also need to bring in a temporary worker to keep fulfilling orders. However, because there is a temporary worker, the risk of the temporary worker having an accident is greater as they are unfamiliar with the facility, the forklift itself and others within the working environment.

Can a Lawsuit be Next if Forklift Safety Guidelines Wasn’t Followed?

If a forklift driver accidently hits a worker or pedestrian, then worker’s comp is considered the answer to the situation. This means that if they ignored the safety rules and accidently hit a pedestrian as a result, then usually you cannot sue for any additional damages. However, if the forklift driver intentionally hit the pedestrian or worker, then this can be a different situation and a lawsuit can occur.

Someone..or Something Needs to Watch at All Times

You can’t expect the forklift driver to constantly watch for pedestrians. Let’s take, for example, a person driving a car. We’re constantly watching the front, side and rear. What happens? An accident. So if we’re constantly watching with all sorts of mirrors, how can we expect a forklift driver to be at 100%? They need help.

That’s where the S3 PDS or S3 Pedestrian Detection System comes in. It constantly monitors in the front and/or back direction collecting information, analyzing it and giving the warning all in a fraction of a second. Isn’t that what you want and need when the human eyes can’t detect the person bending, or 90% hidden behind boxes?

What Does the Forklift Driver See?

The forklift driver will get an audio warning with a loud beeping sound. To go along with the audio warning, is a visual warning. The S3 sits on the side of the forklift and provides a flashing warning sign. Now the benefit of the product is that it will provide the warning with intelligence. If there is a person in the path, a symbol of a person is shown. If an object is in its path, a flashing symbol of a box is shown to get the drivers attention.

Reports

Now let’s get some reports on how the forklift driver is doing. The SIERA.AI telemetry Dashboard tells all. You’ll know who is working, their safety score, and if they had any impacts or near misses. Now if they do, you can get notified for everything or just some of the things like high impacts and medium impacts. Your call. All you need to do is indicate as such in the telemetry Dashboard.

Next Steps

Okay, it’s time to get started. Contact us now to get a demo and find out how you can get it working in your facility today. Contact us at sales@siera.ai.