Proximity Detection Meets AI: The New Gold Standard in Forklift Safety

 

Do you manage a warehouse, material handling company, or industrial site that uses forklifts? If so, you need to invest in proximity detection systems for improved workplace safety.

Forklifts are a necessary part of many industries, but they can also create significant safety risks. That is why forklift safety needs to be a priority, as reducing forklift collisions will help you retain employees, reduce expenses, and prevent unexpected downtime.

In this article, we will discuss the role of proximity detection systems in forklift safety and how ELOKON safety solutions can help with this.

The Benefits of Forklift Safety and Warehouse Safety Systems

If you haven't updated your material handling safety systems, you may be wondering why you should make this investment. Even though this is a significant investment in money and time, it is a necessary step to take to improve workplace safety.

As a material handling company manager, it is also your responsibility to ensure you have taken every step possible to keep your workers safe.

Here are some of the benefits you will see when you invest in an up-to-date safety system that uses proximity detection technology:

• Employee Retention: Repeated forklift accidents will have a negative impact on team morale. Not only will this create a less pleasant work atmosphere, but it can negatively impact your ability to hold onto employees. Reducing collisions and improving workplace safety with the right technology will improve employee retention and give your employees more confidence when working.
• Reduced Downtimes: Safety systems can also help reduce downtime by reducing forklift collisions. Unexpected downtime due to accidents can put you behind schedule by several days or even weeks. This is especially true if an employee is seriously injured or the forklift is no longer operational.
• Fewer Expenses: Forklift accidents can be surprisingly expensive for a variety of reasons. Employees may file lawsuits, you may have to pay workers' compensation benefits, or you may have to pay for forklift repairs or a replacement. Safety systems reduce these expenses by preventing accidents, ultimately paying for themselves in the long run.
• Automated Tasks: Forklift and warehouse safety involve many tasks. Automated safety systems automate these tasks, ensuring they are done regularly and correctly. This reduces the strain on your team as well as the risk of human error.
• Information Tracking: When you use the latest safety systems for your warehouse, you get the additional benefit of information and data tracking. This is because everything is done online and is integrated with other warehouse systems and all of your forklift models. You can use this data to better understand how your warehouse is operating and if there are any areas that could be improved upon.
• Integration: Another benefit of using the latest AI detection technology is integration. At ELOKON, our AI detection systems are integrated with a variety of forklift models as well as safety systems you may already have in place. This makes integration simple and allows for better information and data tracking across your fleet.

Keep in mind that safety systems alone are not enough to keep your employees safe. You still need to strongly encourage personal responsibility, teamwork, and communication when it comes to preventing accidents.

After all, workplace safety is not a one-person job; it is a team effort.

How a Proximity Detector Works

Now that you know why having a safety system is so beneficial, how does a proximity detector system work? After all, this is not your standard warehouse safety system, as it uses advanced technology that outdated safety systems may not have.

Here is a breakdown of the features this forklift vehicle safety system provides.

Object Recognition

Proximity detector systems that use AI come with the additional benefit of visual intelligence. This allows the system to recognize objects that could be a collision risk, such as items on the warehouse floor, pedestrians, or other vehicles.

Improved Visibility

Depending on the proximity detection system your warehouse uses, you may receive visual insights. This is real-time visual footage taken from various angles and provided for the forklift operator.

Visual insights act as a second pair of eyes, which reduces blind spots and the risk of human error.

Automatic Warnings and Prevention

Not only does proximity detection technology detect risks and hazards, but it can also issue warnings. At ELOKON, our safety systems can be programmed to alert drivers and pedestrians with vibration, visual, or audible alerts. Some of our systems even automatically react to risks, such as by slowing down the forklift or stopping it without any action needed from the driver.

AI Impact Detection Systems: Find ELOKON Safety Solutions

At ELOKON, we provide a variety of proximity detection systems specifically designed to meet the safety needs of material handling companies. One of our most popular and advanced systems is our AI impact detection system. Our ELOvision AI camera-based forklift safety and collision avoidance system recognizes collision risks in real time and automatically reacts.

Because it is an AI camera-based system, it provides the driver with better visibility, especially in tight or cluttered areas of the warehouse.

At ELOKON, we also provide other proximity detection systems that work similarly. For instance, our ELOprotect system is an automatic safety system for VNA lift trucks that use advanced laser technology.

Another popular option is our ELOshield proximity detection system, which uses ultra-wideband wireless sensors with a warning and protection zone. The zones are configurable in size and shape and are also available with our ELOvision system.

Improve Warehouse Safety With ELOKON

Whether your company uses just a few forklift vehicles or you manage an entire fleet, accidents are always a risk. Human error is a significant contributor to this, as even the best forklift driver is going to have difficulty spotting every risk. That is where proximity detection systems help.

At ELOKON, we provide AI impact detection systems that aren't just a good safety option but a necessity. These safety systems give you more control over how your forklifts operate, improving forklift and warehouse safety.

Contact our team today to schedule a call to learn more about how our customizable safety options can help you.