Vision-Based MHE Safety Solutions
If your company uses material handling equipment, otherwise known as MHE, you need to prioritize vision-based MHE safety solutions. Common MHE includes vehicles, such as forklifts, which pose a variety of risks in the workplace. For instance, forklift accidents are quite common and can result in extensive injuries and even employee fatalities.
Vision-based MHE safety solutions are designed to help mitigate some of these risks, especially when it comes to things like a lack of awareness and operator blind spots.
In this article, we will discuss why equipment safety is so important for fleet management and the different types of forklift collision avoidance systems you can use. We will also discuss forklift vision safety solutions that utilize the most advanced technology to improve the safety of your fleet.
Why MHE Safety is So Important
Anyone who uses material handling equipment is exposed to a variety of risks and dangers in the workplace. This applies to those who are operating the vehicles themselves as well as the people on the floor, otherwise known as pedestrians.
When you have MHEs in your fleet, there are certain things you need to be aware of so that you know what precautions to take. Here are some examples of things that can make material handling equipment hazardous and potentially lead to accidents in the workplace:
Improper Use: Forklift operators need to go through extensive training in order to operate forklifts safely and correctly. This will help to reduce risks associated with unsecured loads, improper loading, and general negligence. Operators need to understand that forklifts are dangerous pieces of equipment and are only to be used for work and not horseplay.
Blind Spots: Another significant risk associated with MHEs is the potential for blind spots. Even if drivers maintain awareness of their surroundings, they are still going to have blind spots where they have limited visibility or no visibility at all. This is where forklift collision avoidance safety solutions come in handy as they monitor the space around the forklift, alerting the driver if there is anything nearby.
Malfunctions: Not maintaining material handling equipment can lead to possible malfunctions, which can ultimately cause accidents. That is why you need to have a regular maintenance schedule, and drivers need to do pre-operation safety checks.
Floor Conditions: The workplace itself can also create risks when material handling equipment is in use if there are spills or objects in the way. Also, the workplace may not have enough room to accommodate multiple vehicles at one time, which can lead to collisions or downtime. You need to keep an eye on the floor condition and ensure it is safe, as well as use safety systems like the ones we provide at ELOKON to improve visibility for drivers.
Forklift Collision Avoidance: The Human Element
Aside from things like blind spots and equipment malfunctions, many forklift accidents can be linked to human error. For instance, OSHA shows that 70% of forklift accidents could have been prevented through things like standardized training and enforced safety procedures.
Because so many risks can come down to human error and negligence, there are certain things you need to do to try to prevent this. The first thing is to enforce standardized training as well as refresher training so that operators stay aware of what their job entails. This should include specific training based on the type of material handling equipment they operate.
Drivers should also be monitored on a consistent basis to see how their performance is and if there are any repeat issues. For instance, if one operator is consistently caught speeding or operating the forklift unsafely, you may need to take action.
Keep in mind that not all human error comes down to drivers not paying attention when they are operating equipment. Some human error is to be expected and cannot be completely prevented, which is why you also need to install vision-based MHE safety solutions to make up for this.
Forklift Vision Safety Solutions
Even the most efficient and well-kept workplace is going to have some visibility issues when material handling equipment is in use. Because of this, you need to find vision-based MHE safety solutions that fit the safety needs of your fleet.
ELOshield
At ELOKON, one of the forklift vision safety solutions we provide is ELOshield proximity detection system. ELOshield works by detecting nearby pedestrians, vehicles, and objects that are within the forklift's warning zone. One of the benefits of using ELOKON safety systems is that they come with customizable features, which allow you to customize the size and shape of the two safety zones.
ELOshield helps to make drivers aware of any potential dangers, especially when it comes to potential blind spots. It can even detect pedestrians through obstacles or more than one pedestrian at a time.
ELOprotect
Another option we provide at ELOKON for better forklift safety is our ELOprotect automated safety system for VNA lift trucks. Narrow aisles pose a serious visibility problem, which can increase the risk of collisions.
ELOprotect is an automatic pedestrian system that uses advanced laser technology to activate and monitor high-risk areas in both directions automatically. ELOprotect can also automatically slow the forklift, so the driver will have to reset the system once the danger has passed, providing a more foolproof way of avoiding collisions. No matter what your workplace safety needs are, ELOKON provides a variety of innovative safety systems that can help you spot and prevent risks.