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fleet with application-specific solutions. For example, the Dynamic Pedestrian


Awareness Light from Hyster can be mounted to the front or rear of a counterbalance lift truck. The compact blue LEDs project a progressively flashing blue arrow pattern in a straight line on the floor. This eye-catching light gives a visible indication that a truck is approaching, where it is approaching from, and the truck’s direction of travel, helping signal the position of the forklift to pedestrians or other vehicles. This can support safety in certain applications that may have blind corners, cross aisles, high foot traffic, or unloading operations where visibility of working lift trucks is restricted.


The patent-pending Reverse Speed System is also available for selected Hyster lift trucks. It places a sensor next to the rear drive handle on the lift truck, which can detect if there is a hand placed on the handle. If there is, it will allow the lift truck to reach full reverse speed. If the sensor is not activated, the reverse speed is limited to 2km/hr. Holding the handle encourages the operator to look in the direction of travel while reversing, as is standard practice. Wood operations using high numbers of temporary or agency staff may find it particularly helpful for upholding their operating standards.


ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROLS Administrative controls are location-specific and multi-faceted – and they are typically a result of local health and safety authority and government mandates. These regulations, though, are merely the minimal expectation of standards. However, the people who create the standards aren’t on the job day in and day out. Rather, they go on-site only when there is a significant incident.


For administrative controls, such as policies, procedures and training materials to be effective, they should reflect an understanding of an organisation’s own climate. It is important to consider what is done specifically on the wood handling site, which types of trucks are in use, and how they are being used. Certainly, policies and training must follow regulations, but they must also go above and beyond to be site- specific, truck-specific, and operator-specific. Timber businesses should also seek out training resources developed by experts in the materials handling field, including manufacturers, dealers, and those who operate these trucks daily. Training is never a one- and-done activity; instead, it is a recurring cycle of training, evaluation, and follow-up. Moreover, when dangerous actions and/or behaviours are witnessed, operation leaders must take swift action and give immediate consequences, including hands-on mentoring, retraining, or probation. Telematics systems may also play a helpful role here. Hyster Tracker wireless


asset management, for example, can aid in providing best practice operations. Card reader access to equipment will help limit access only to those card holders that are licensed and authorised. Meanwhile, automated pre-shift checklists can help you achieve peak operator compliance. The truck will not operate until the operator has completed a standard pre-shift checklist or a specific industry mandated checklist. Hyster Tracker proactive monitoring systems will send notifications in real time to address events in an effective manner, with instant follow up. For instance, impact detection can help improve site safety measures and aid in reducing avoidable damage through accurate impact monitoring and real time alerts. In critical impact events, the system also enables assets to be shut down to ensure the equipment is inspected before returning to operation. Managers can also measure utilisation by operator to better understand who is causing avoidable damage at the site.


PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT In the hierarchy of controls, the last line of defence is PPE. Wearing hard hats, gloves, and protective eyewear and using on-board safety features fall under this category. This safety aspect also includes proper care and maintenance of PPE. All these components have been engineered for safety and perhaps mandated by administration, but the action to implement them is primarily at operator or individual level.


PEDESTRIAN SAFETY Pedestrian safety is a vital aspect of overall forklift safety in wood handling applications. Everyone working around trucks – employees, vendors, and visitors – must be trained to understand their risks and responsibilities. In addition to a safe facility layout, including the clear marking of pedestrian- only aisles, shared aisles and so on, Hyster


encourages a pedestrian safety best practice called “Wait for the Wave.” It’s a deliberate action between operator and pedestrian to acknowledge, “I see you and I value your safety. I will wait and wave you on.”


CHOOSING SAFETY


Regardless of the level of control, safety is ultimately an individual choice. Every person, every day, should make the correct decision every time. In fact, choice encircles the entire occupational safety environment and has been the primary focus of safety professionals and management for the past decade.


For example, even though a flywheel guard has been engineered for operator safety, that operator must make the decision to keep that guard in place and inspect it regularly. And, although a facility’s pedestrian training programme could be ideal, a visitor may choose not to follow that rule. Moreover, every operator has a personal choice to don a hard hat or eye protection; some will make the correct choice, but others will not. The decision comes down to the personal value one places on their safety – and the safety of those around them. Globally, there are yearly fatalities directly and indirectly related to forklifts. There are also numerous injuries related to forklift operations, which may be severe enough for the impacted persons to lose time at work. Although these numbers have reduced significantly over time, they are still unacceptable. For forklift operations, zero injuries should be the goal. Every single operator should leave work the same way he or she came in.


The bottom-line goal for occupational safety professionals covering materials handling operations (and beyond) may be to develop a true culture of safety recognition and action, where environmental health and safety professionals are needed less and less. ■


Above: Operator Assistance Systems and engineered comfort allow for operators to sit in a truck for several hours


www.ttjonline.com | November/December 2023 | TTJ


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