One of the questions we most frequently get asked by our customers pertains to the maximum speed forklifts should be circulating to prevent work accidents. This is a natural concern given that the daily work dynamics increasingly involves the coexistence of operators with several of these heavy vehicles in the same space. This forces us to establish parameters and general operating regulations to improve occupational safety and prevent workplace accidents.

There is no regulation establishing a specific speed range, although many safety managers rely on the technical notes published by INSHT institutes in each country. In general, it is considered acceptable to maintain a speed circulation of 20 km/h in open outdoor spaces, and a limit of 10 km/h in indoor spaces where pedestrians coexist regularly.

At Claitec we have also developed a range of solutions that keep forklift operators safe at all times.

Solutions like the Pedestrian Alert System (PAS), a tool that alerts drivers when it detects a person at adjustable distances from 1 to 6.5 meters. It is a unique system capable of differentiating people from objects, and even detecting operators behind walls or shelves!

The PAS System minimises the number of accidents, reduces the risk of being run over, and generates safer and more efficient work environments. It can be easily complemented with other safety systems.

Another option is the LSA Solution, an electronic safety device which limits the circulation speed of forklifts. It is specially designed to complement the safety tools of the vehicle and to reduce its speed in areas where there are operators on foot. This solution is a great ally to help you reduce accidents and collisions between vehicles, often caused by speeding.

Once the LSA Solution is installed, its operation is remarkably simple, and it does not require any action from the operator. The forklift that is equipped with this system reacts when entering an area in which its use was determined, and it activates a signal that forces it to adapt to the established limit, which can be selected as either “slow” or “fast”.

Beyond the above, our safety technician – a professional with extensive experience in the matter and in constant contact with factories and warehouses -, recommends analysing each specific case to adopt the most appropriate safety measures in each company.

In addition, there are some factors to consider to ensure you are making an appropriate decision:

1. Forklifts of different types or manufacturers differ in size, weight, and construction materials. These characteristics must be taken into account to establish the proper speed of the vehicle – the heavier the vehicle, the lower the speed should be.
   
   
2. The condition of the aisles through which the trucks circulate must also be taken into account. The surface resistance and its anti-slip ability will determine the distance necessary to brake the vehicle.
   
   
3. Another element of essential importance is the visibility of the driver. Driving speed should be slower in areas of poor visibility.
   
   
4. Ramps, curves, and road obstacles should be considered. The speed of the truck must be lower as the inclination of a ramp increases. Also, quick turns should be avoided at all times.
   
   
5. Once the appropriate speed limit has been determined in each case, it will be necessary to guarantee its compliance by all operators. Effective communication with employees is essential to achieve this goal. And it is advisable to sign at appropriate intervals and places the agreed speed limit, as a reminder for drivers.
   
   

If you have any questions or are interested in applying any of our solutions to your work environment, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

The safe, agile and efficient circulation of operators is of vital importance in our industries. Guaranteeing the integrity of the people who are part of our teams and achieving safe spaces is key as it will not only provide us with better results, but it will also decrease the number of accidents at work.

In this post we’ll discuss three systems that allow for a safer pedestrian circulation in our industries.

1) VAS System:

Firstly, our Visual Alert System, an innovative development that warns pedestrians and/or forklifts of any risk situations by projecting signals on the ground. Such signals are very visible to operators and easy to detect. They are extremely useful in spaces with highly frequent pedestrian traffic. The floor signs are a lot more effective than the  panoramic mirrors and the posters that are traditionally used in industries as these are generally placed too high to be seen or end up becoming part of the general landscape of the site, and people stop paying attention to them.

2) PAS System:

One of the most sought-after systems at Claitec, the Pedestrian Alert System (PAS) warns forklift drivers when a person is detected at adjustable distances of 1 to 6.5 meters. It is a unique system capable of discriminating between people and objects. It even detects operators who are behind a wall or a shelf! The PAS System minimises the number of accidents at work and reduces the very real risk of being run over in our industries. It generates a much safer and more efficient working environment for all. It also complements, in a very simple way, other safety systems.

3) PCS Solution:

A very useful and easy to deploy system, the Pedestrial Cross Safety Solution is designed to ensure the physical integrity of pedestrians in crossing spaces, and it can easily be applied throughout the industry. This tool signals the forklift through a system of traffic lights previously installed in a workspace of the presence and the eventual crossing of pedestrians in their area. It’s remarkable how easy the PCS Solution is to implement – apart from the traffic lights, pedestrians circulating in the workspace must carry small tags – similar to a key chain -, which will emit light signals when detected by a previously installed activator. That same activator sends the signal to the traffic lights, which then indicate the presence of the person.

If you would like to find out more about these three solutions, or any of our products, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

This June 5 commemorates World Environment Day, an important date in a special and challenging year for our society. A year when we feel it’s more important than ever to emphasise the need to act responsibly towards our environment at every step we take in our industries. We must understand that the ecological factor should be a key element in our vision and a fundamental element to help us take better care of health and safety in our work spaces.

Claitec is 100% committed to the environment and we view businesses as key pieces to global environmental responsibility. For this reason, our quality and environmental management systems are certified in accordance with the requirements of ISO 9001: 2015 and 14001: 2015 for the activities of design, development and commercialisation of security systems for the protection of people.

We cannot conceive of a solution if it is not a truly environmentally responsible tool. And we cannot conceive it without generating a sustainability plan both for its manufacture and use and for its subsequent disposal. This is how we talk about it daily with suppliers, customers and the general public, and how we explain it in this earlier post about the life cycle of our products.

By way of summary, it should be remembered that the analysis of the life cycle of a product consists of the detailed analysis of each of its phases in order to detect whether or not it generates an environmental impact. In a typical product, the phases that are analysed are: Composition (chemical products and raw materials), Manufacturing (chemical products and process), Distribution, Use of the product and End of life.

In addition, we also feel it’s very important for all industries to have their own environmental management and environmental responsibility plans, and we invite all of us to be aware and take action in this regard.

There are simple steps that we can take in each of our routines, and that can undoubtedly generate a contribution of enormous value. Responsible energy consumption, recycling policies and efficiency and impact reduction policies are just some of the issues to consider, as we also discussed in this other post.

If you have any questions about this topic or any other query and require our advice, don’t hesitate to contact us, we are here to help!

It goes without saying that we live challenging times. We found ourselves in a context unimaginable until recently overwhelmed by great many fears and pressures, trying to keep everyone around us safe, our families and the community at large. In this context – in a world full of tension – it’s important to remember the core principles of our industries. We should not forget the importance of keeping within the parameters that govern our work in order to guarantee safety and health in our work spaces.

For this reason, we would like to make use of this space to remind everyone involved in our industries to stay safe at work. Your safety is essential, so please take care of yourselves – that is the message we need to emphasise, over and over again.

The pressures, the difficulties, the added distractions cannot make us forget something as important as respecting workers’ safety norms. If we neglect ourselves, we risk the most important thing.

Obviously, work dynamics are changing all around us these days: mandatory distances, work shifts in smaller teams, more complete protective equipment – everything is different and we must adapt. But beyond that, the usual safety parameters cannot be altered. We must continue to provide greater access to safety tools and protocols which give operators the possibility of carrying out their task without facing great risks or jeopardising their integrity.

Safety tools – such as those developed here at Claitec – fulfill a fundamental task, always providing support to our operators.

Let’s not forget that technology can play a key role right now and help us make the task easier and safer.

Do you have any questions about this topic? About any other issue? Do you need our advice on matters pertaining to safety at work?

Do you have any questions about this topic? About any other issue? Do you need our advice on matters pertaining to safety at work?

Don’t hesitate to contact us! We are here to help!

Governments, employers, workers and societies worldwide face a huge challenge in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, which is why the World Health and Safety at Work Day (which is commemorated every year on April 28) will focus this year on addressing infectious disease outbreaks at work, with special attention to the current coronavirus pandemic.

The continued increase in COVID-19 infections in some countries and the presence of Illness throughout the world generates fear and great uncertainty. Industries have been hard hit and from different perspectives by this reality. Beyond the immediate crisis, there is also a concern to resume activity, so progress made in the suppression of transmission is maintained.

In this framework, and as we reach the World Day for Safety and Health at Work on April 28, we should all call ourselves to accept a new reality and incorporate new habits and routines that protect us against infectious diseases.

This year the goal of the International Labor Organization (ILO) is to stimulate the National Tripartite Dialogue on Occupational Health and Safety and take advantage of this day to raise awareness of the adoption of safe practices in the workplace, while showing the role that health and safety services play in the workplace (SST).

This day will also focus on the medium and long term efforts, including recovery and future-proof, in particular the integration of measures into systems and OSH management policies at national and business level.

More information on this topic can be found on the International Labor Organization’s website where it is also outlined that the earlier announced 2020 theme of the World Day – on violence and harassment at work – has now been replaced in view of the current global health crisis.

Clearly this reality calls us to be responsible in our work in the industry, and to adopt measures that are up to the circumstances, being aware that occupational safety and health can really save lives, and that only with a collective effort can we end this pandemic.

Do you have any questions on this topic? Any other query or require our advice?

Please, do not hesitate to contact us, we are here to help you.

Businesses are called these days to attain maximum leves of responsibility and protection before the very complex Covid-19 pandemic we live in. Since at Claitec we want to think one step ahead and focus on the aftermath of this health emergency, in this post we would like to share 7 helpful recommendations to ensure hygiene in your workplace at anytime.

1. Perform hand hygiene routines frequently (wash with soap and water or alcoholic solutions).
   
   
2. Avoid close personal contact and keep a distance of more than two meters with people with flu-like symptoms (runny nose, nasal or conjunctival congestion, dry or productive cough, tearing, feverish appearance, etc.).
   
   
3. Cover your mouth and nose with disposable tissues when you cough or sneeze, and then wash your hands.
   
   
4. Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth as your hands facilitate the transmission of the disease.
   
   
5. Carry out frequent cleaning and disinfection of working facilities such as: surfaces, door knobs, furniture, sinks, floors, telephones, etc. To maximise your protective measures you can use household bleach and other chemical agents.
   
   
6. Ensure the adequate ventilation of all premises and frequent emptying of garbage deposits.
   
   
7. Wear vinyl / acrylonitrile gloves in all cleaning tasks. If you use latex gloves we recommend using them over a pair of cotton gloves.

In this space we often talk about “innovation” …

About the need to be “innovative” with any solution designed to improve safety in workspaces and reduce occupational accidents…

However, today we feel the need to dig deeper.

That’s why in this post we’d like to examine why it’s so important to open the doors of our industries to innovation and to start incorporating it into our way of seeing and addressing work and facing new challenges.

Here are three key reasons to incorporate innovation in our industries:

1) A vision of the future.

A company that is really open to innovation is a company that looks beyond the day to day. It seeks to renew itself and to incorporate new processes and tools that help it progress in its tasks and achieve better results. Taking this step implies understanding that innovation is not an isolated idea or a sudden burst of creativity, but the fact that innovation is directly associated with a conscious work mindset and process, with effort and conviction, in the search for knowledge, new ways of doing different things and getting results. Innovation is applicable to any industry or process, but it will not bear results if we are not really sure about questioning what we do, questioning the dogmas we’ve always assumed in our work, and if we don’t really aim towards taking a step forward and incorporating new techniques and new strategies.

2) Differentiation.

We work in markets that are increasingly full of products and services. There is a constant bombardment of commercial, advertising and global competition proposals in the same areas. In this sort of environment, innovation allows companies to differentiate themselves, improve their processes and progress. An innovative company will be able to achieve – after consolidating a working methodology -, its own identity, a differentiating image that will be key and that will end up positioning it differently in the eyes of its public. Today, this could be key to survival and success.

3) Cost reduction.

Similarly, well understood and applied innovation it greatly helps to generate savings in industry costs. Innovation allows companies to be more efficient and help optimise resources. Logically, all this results in better ROI for companies and lower costs for the final buyer.

Do you have any questions for us?

Any doubts about what we’ve talked about here today?

Do you need our advice?

Please, don’t hesitate to contact us, we are here to help!