Forklifts and other lifting machinery are commonplace amongst the warehouses and depots of Britain. Their ease of use and relative cost make them a no-brainer when it comes to warehouse management, allowing for easier stacking of items with minimal effort. However, 1 in 6 deaths in the workplace involve a forklift meaning they aren’t always the safest choice, whether it be hitting someone, dropping their load or crashing into other equipment. Whenever pedestrians and commercial vehicles share the same workspace ensuring the correct procedures are followed can prevent injuries and even fatalities.
Safety in the workplace is of prime importance for any manager looking to maintain a record free of claims and fines against them. Whether working in a fleet, warehouse or depot, safety is key in maintaining an efficient workplace that operates to its full potential. However, whenever pedestrians and commercial vehicles share the same workspace ensuring the correct procedures are followed can prevent injuries and even fatalities.
There are many ways to ensure the safety of employees and equipment when co-existing in confined areas. Ensuring employees not only follow the rules but also have the correct qualifications and training for equipment such as forklifts, trucks and pallet lifts along with making sure all vehicles are speed limited when indoors are just some methods managers can take to ensure their vehicles are safe to be used amongst pedestrian workers.
Another method is to kit your warehouse vehicles in the latest safety technology to ensure the operators receive all the maximum visibility possible to prevent an accident. Such as attaching work lights to a vehicle to make it more visible to other workers. The SL-BL-10-80 – Blue Linear Work Lamp for example is an innovative safety lamp that emits a straight blue light that is projected onto the floor around vehicles such as forklifts and similar machinery operating in high-traffic areas in order to provide a visual ‘safe-space’ around the vehicle.
Another fantastic addition to vehicles used in smaller environments would be the MMA-1 – Multi-input Warning Alarm. The MMA-1 is a Robust Multi-Input Safety Warning Alarm providing external warnings when the vehicle is manoeuvring. The alarm has inputs for left and right turn (spoken warnings) and for either a spoken or beeping reversing alarm along with an IP68 Water/Debris-proof Rating.
Ultimately increasing the amount of visibility a driver has when manoeuvring a warehouse can significantly improve safety by allowing them to see certain obstacles before they come into contact with them. The MCK-7-WIFI-MAG is excellent for this, and is specially designed for use on Forklifts, reach stackers and other large construction or agricultural machinery. The 720P Wireless Magnetic Camera & 7” Dash Mount Digital Monitor Kit increases safety and improves visibility when installation is difficult or where hard-wired solutions aren’t possible. The robust IP67 rated camera comes with an adjustable viewing angle and ultra-strong magnetic adhesion making it ideal for a number of different applications. The high-quality, rechargeable built-in camera battery pack provides up to 24 hours of continuous operation on a single charge and together with night vision functionality allows for all-day use in both low-light and adverse weather conditions.
To reiterate safety is key in maintaining an efficient workplace that operates to its full potential. Adding safety to smaller vehicles is just as important as adding safety to larger vehicles within a fleet. Some would say more important due to the close proximity this machinery has with pedestrians and buildings. EchoMaster are determined to supply high-quality safety solutions throughout the industry to elevate safety and efficiency levels and create a quality working environment capable of providing the best possible service.
For more information on any of our vehicle safety solutions and products please get in touch with our team.