The Human Element: How ELOKON's Systems Protect Workers in Industrial Settings
An industrial and intralogistics workplace has so many hazards. From lifting ergonomics to falling objects, it’s difficult to protect workers. One hazard is especially dangerous – forklifts and forklift accidents. Forklifts are critical parts of a successful intralogistics warehouse, leaving companies to grapple with protecting their workers while still relying on forklifts. However, we at ELOKON have developed a portfolio of safety and assistance systems that protect workers in industrial settings.
Following OSHA forklift rules and OSHA forklift safety rules are critical in ensuring workers’ safety, but employers can always go the extra step and install extra safety measures for their workforce. We’ll explore common OSHA forklift rules and how ELOKON exceeds safety standards. At ELOKON, we prioritize sharing the latest applications of our safety and assistance technology in order to keep workforces safe worldwide.
OSHA Forklift Rules
There are many OSHA forklift rules to protect workers in warehouse environments. Following OSHA forklift rules and guidelines helps to prevent forklift accidents. For example, forklift operators must be over 18 years old and trained and certified. OSHA forklift rules also mandate that operators complete a pre-ops checklist to check the status of the vehicle and test the operator’s knowledge of the vehicle. These rules also require that operators wear seatbelts when possible. Furthermore, OSHA requires that workers undergo company safety training as an extra safety measure.
Following these OSHA guidelines (or your government’s safety guidelines) is critical in increasing worker safety. However, even with mandatory training and required safety measures in place, forklift-related accidents and collisions can still occur. That’s why at ELOKON, we’ve developed a portfolio of safety and assistance systems to further protect workers, both forklift operators and pedestrian employees. More on OSHA forklift safety rules and ELOKON solutions is next.
OSHA Forklift Safety Rules and ELOKON Solutions
ELOKON’s safety and assistance systems efficiently complement OSHA forklift safety rules. When a company enforces OSHA guidelines and implements other safety measures, forklift-related accidents, and collisions are much less likely to occur. Now, let’s focus on how our systems protect workers in industrial settings.
ELOfleet
Managing forklift fleets is the first step in worker safety. Features of ELOfleet include access control, recording of damage and collisions, evaluations of fleet, and fleet performance data. ELOfleet may also include employee badge sign-on and pre-ops checklist for operators. Managing forklift fleets on a connected cloud system helps to ensure that your operators are ready to drive forklifts and that the forklifts are in good condition. ELOfleet, our cloud-based fleet management system, protects workers even before forklifts are on the floor.
ELOshield
- ELOshield is our proximity detection system, which includes the following possibilities:
- ELOshieldGO – Personnel Detection, Vehicle to Pedestrian
- ELOshieldDrive – Collision Warning, Vehicle to Vehicle
- ELOshieldZONE – Proximity Detection, Zoning
- ELOshieldSPEED – Speed Adaptation, Zoning.
Each of these ELOshield options protects workers in the warehouse and intralogistics environment because they use UWB technology between modules, which have customizable danger zones. By sensing a nearing wearer or vehicle, the system can sound alarms and slow and stop vehicle speed to prevent forklift-related accidents. The response of the system to proximity detection is customizable. For ELOshieldZONE, the stationary modules signal danger zones that are typically low-visibility and/or blindspots or high-traffic. For ELOsheildSPEED, predefined zones restrict vehicle speed to prevent collisions.
ELOspeed
While there are no OSHA forklift speed regulations, it’s critical to maintain safe speeds both inside and outside the industrial setting. ELOspeed makes this possible. The ELOspeed module on a forklift detects overhead superstructures, like warehouse roofs, and reduces the forklift speed when it senses these structures. ELOspeed has a customizable detection range so your company can change it to work with your warehouse roof height. When the forklift is outside, the sensitivity of the module prevents bridges, tree canopies, and pipelines from triggering the system. ELOspeed is designed to keep inside/outside transition areas safe from speed-related forklift accidents.
Incorporating any one of these systems immediately protects workers and improves warehouse-wide safety. Beyond working with OSHA forklift safety rules, our ELOKON safety portfolio also improves forklift loading safety.
Forklift Loading Safety with ELOKON
Forklift loading presents its own hazards in industrial settings. With very narrow aisles and low visibility, driving forklifts and loading them can be challenging, increasing the chances of an accident or collision between vehicles and pedestrians. This is why we’ve designed assurance systems for forklift loading safety as well. These solutions include ELOprotect and ELOassist.
ELOprotect
ELOprotect is our VNA (very narrow aisle) Pedestrian Safety System. ELOprotect includes two laser scanners fitted onto the VNA forklift which scans a danger zone. If a pedestrian or other obstacle is detected, the module sounds both an acoustic and visual alarm while stopping the vehicle. ELOprotect only works when the forklift is inside a very narrow aisle so it doesn’t sense pedestrians in normal areas. ELOprotect Anti Collision System (ACS) prevents forklifts from colliding with each other in very narrow aisles. ELOprotect and ELOprotect ACS improve forklift loading safety within very narrow aisles by preventing collisions within challenging aisle grids.
ELOassist
ELOassist is our VNA Driver Warning System that prevents forklift collisions with objects in very narrow aisles. ELOassist uses laser technology to detect objects in the aisle. When the system senses an object within the set range, it sounds an audio and visual alarm and optionally stops the forklift. ELOassist protects workers and prevents unnecessary collisions with warehouse objects in industrial settings.
Going above and beyond required safety standards significantly improves worker safety. Implementing any of ELOKON’s safety and assurance systems creates a safer working environment and shows your team that the company cares about their safety. At ELOKON, we’ve simplified safety technology for industrial and intralogistic settings so companies can easily incorporate these safety measures.
Improve Worker Safety with ELOKON
At ELOKON, we’ve created safety and assurance systems to improve worker safety in industrial and intralogistic workplaces. Our portfolio of safety solutions is trusted by thousands of companies worldwide. ELOKON prioritizes developing the technology needed to keep workers safe and prevent forklift accidents. Contact us today to find out which of our safety and assurance solutions can work for your working environment.