Pedestrian Safety and Automotive Industry GuidelinesThis article addresses the nature of industrial safety equipment and how it might (or might not) comply with industry guidelines. While there are many industry groups, some of which provide safety guidelines, one of the most common is the AIAG (Automotive Industry Action Group). Their guidelines are specific to plant safety, and the interaction between pedestrians and forklifts or other in plant vehicles. If you are considering a solution that involves third party equipment, this article may be helpful in terms of how your proposed solution integrates with AIGA standards.

Forklift Safety: Why Training isn’t EnoughI agree with most security experts that forklift operators need safety training.But is it enough?In recent decades, forklift accidents have not been reduced.According to OSHA, training is the key to forklift safety and a consensus has been reached.Safety training can really reduce accidents, but there is also a problem worthy of reflection:Why has training failed to move the needle when it comes to serious forklift related injuries?In the past ten years, forklift accidents have reached almost 100 people per year, and there is no trend of reduction.OSHA’s Comprehensive Powered Industrial Truck ResourcesThere are many types of power industrial trucks and each type has a different operational risk.For example, a sit-down, counterbalanced high-lift rider truck is more likely than a motorized hand truck to be involved in a falling load accident because the sit-down rider truck can lift a load much higher than a hand truck. At the same time, workplace types and conditions are also a risk factor commonly associated with power industrial trucks.For example, retail establishments often face greater challenges in maintaining pedestrian safety than in other workplaces.

Forklifts: The Nature of the BeastPower industry trucks have special hazards that are not normally encountered outside of production facilities, warehouses or distribution centers. The functions performed by these types of devices are characteristic hazardous activities, not to mention the fact that the device itself has inherent properties that make it harmful to the operation.So it’s important to understand what the limits are, and how drivers and plant personnel must behave around them.Seeing Around Corners in Warehouses and Manufacturing FacilitiesIn fact, in many workplaces, one of the more dangerous areas is the humble corner, where lift trucks might collide either with each other or people.This often causes serious equipment damage and personal accidents.There are methods to help drivers and plant personnel negotiate the corner, blind intersection, or rack row.