Automated Speed Zoning: Reducing Forklift Accidents in Real Time

Automated Speed Zoning: Reducing Forklift Accidents in Real Time

 

In warehouses with many moving parts, being mindful of the speed of motorized vehicles is essential. This article will answer the question "What is automated speed zoning in warehouses?" It will also highlight other forms of forklift safety, discuss common causes of injury and accidents in warehouses, and illustrate exactly how to keep your warehouse free of speed-based collisions, accidents, and injuries.

Safety With ELOKON

ELOKON is dedicated to improving safety in your warehouses and reducing the frequency of forklift accidents through automated systems and innovative solutions. Some of these offerings include impact prevention, forklift speed reduction, and pedestrian safety and detection technologies. We also offer options to set up and manage your entire fleet of vehicles from a central hub. Additionally, we have expert safety consultants who can help you implement solutions when you are looking for added safety in your warehouse.


We are proud to enhance workplace safety and improve forklift operations in all industries, from warehousing to manufacturing and agriculture.

What are the Main Causes of Injuries When Using Forklifts?

Forklift safety is an absolute necessity in any warehouse or industrial site that uses forklifts. To stay safe while operating forklifts or working around them, it is important to know the main causes of injury or accidents that occur when using these machines:

  • Rollovers or Tipovers: The most common causes of these accidents are moving too fast around corners, exceeding a weight limit, or operating on uneven surfaces.
  • Pedestrian Collisions: The most common causes of pedestrian collisions include distracted driving, exceeding speed limits, and poor use of barriers or pedestrian crossing areas.
  • Falling Loads: Unsecured loads, off-centered loads, or already-damaged forks are the most common causes of falling loads.  
  • Personnel Falling from Forks: When people "ride the forks," they are likely to fall and get injured. This is never something that should be done because of how dangerous it can be.
  • Emissions Poisoning: Poorly maintained batteries or forklifts are the most common causes of emissions poisoning.

How To Prevent Forklift Accidents

With so many common causes of injury, what are the best ways to prevent these accidents? A proper forklift safety system can be a game changer when it comes to warehouse safety. At ELOKON, we specialize in safety systems that combine automation and AI with worker-operated skills. The best forklift safety system should be:

  • Simple
  • Specific
  • Compatible

These safety systems can come in the form of fleet management systems, which can help keep track of and maintain all of your forklifts from one central hub. Other systems include proximity detectors to keep track of any sudden hazards appearing near an operating vehicle.


As shown above, some of the most common forklift-related accidents happen because of excessive speed. Some safety systems include speed zoning to prevent these issues. Then, the question becomes, "What is automated speed zoning in warehouses?"

Forklift Pedestrian Safety

Additional forklift safety guidelines include pedestrian safety, which can be integrated into forklift speed reduction solutions. This approach combines different types of training and certifications for forklift operators.


OSHA's guidelines require that all forklift operators have proper training and certifications in order to drive and operate a forklift, as well as follow a proper pre-operational protocol to ensure that the vehicle is ready for work. Additionally, they must have a thorough understanding of the common hazards associated with forklift operation and know the ways to prevent these hazards. This includes speed hazards, which should help with your safety solutions in general.

Guidelines for Forklift Speed and Navigation

As we have discussed, one of the primary causes of injuries when using forklifts is speed. So, what are some of the safety guidelines in place for forklift speed and navigation in warehouses? Here are just a few things your workers should absolutely know.


Speed Limits:

  • Indoor Warehouses: 3-5 mph in confined spaces
  • Outdoor Operations: 5-8 mph to accommodate terrain variations
  • Loading Docks: 2-3 mph for controlled movement

Environmental Conditions:

  • Inclined pathways require careful speed management
  • Rough terrain requires slower speeds to maintain stability

Navigation:

  • Reduce speed when turning corners
  • Travel within designated lanes to avoid collision
  • Maintain awareness of surroundings

Forklift Speed Reduction Solutions

So, to improve forklift safety beyond just these required OSHA regulations, what are some of the best ways to reduce forklift speed in your warehouse? One of the best speed solutions you can bring to your facility is ELOspeed, ELOKON's automatic speed control system.


ELOspeed has a universal interface, which means that it can be used on any vehicle make or model. It has a detector that can sense when your vehicle is outdoors versus in a warehouse. When you drive the vehicle from outside into a roofed building, the detector will automatically reduce the speed of your forklift to a walking speed.


However, another excellent type of speed reduction comes in the form of automated speed zoning.

What Is Automated Speed Zoning In Warehouses? 

Because so many forklift accidents are caused by speed, oftentimes simply because the operator has not registered a change in zone or required speed limit, there are systems you can use to adjust the speed limit of your vehicle automatically. ELOspeed automatically adjusts speed based on whether or not you are driving indoors, but automated speed zoning can detect different zones in the warehouse itself.


In simple terms, you can mark out specific zones in your warehouse with different colored tape or other markers. Cameras on your automated speed system can detect the colors and associate the color with a specific speed of your choosing. Then, your forklift can automatically adjust to the correct speed in any given area.

Speed Solutions With ELOKON

Forklift safety is essential in any industry. With speed being a primary cause of injuries when using forklifts, it is important to understand how to control speed effectively to maintain a safe and productive facility. At ELOKON, our tools, like ELOspeed and automated speed zoning, can help you keep everyone safe. Contact us today to get started.

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