As every year, this April 8th marks World Day for Safety and Health at Work. In 2023 the International Labour Organization (ILO) wants to explore the topic of: a safer and healthier workspace as a fundamental right of all.

It is important to remember that the International Labor Conference (CIT) that took place in June 2022 decided to include “a safe and healthy working environment” in the ILO’s framework of fundamental principles and rights at work. As a result of that decision, all member states have the obligation – derived from the very fact of their membership in the Organization -, to respect, promote and implement, in good faith and in accordance with the Constitution, the principles relating to fundamental rights that are the object of the agreements on these principles and rights.

For the team at Claitec, April 28 is a key day in the calendar – a moment to question our working methods, our contribution to the improvement of both safety and health at work, and to identify the main challenges that are yet to be addressed.

In fact, achieving safer and healthier environments is something that constantly motivates us, encouraging us to always put people at the centre and to think and to develop innovative, creative, practical, and modern solutions to eliminate risks, prevent accidents and create safer and healthier environments for everyone.

This is demonstrated by some of our most recent innovations, such as the Radar Crossing Guard designed to improve safety at intersections -, the LSA Solution or Low Speed Area Solutions for the limitation of speed per zones, or even the VAS System, which, in a very simple and practical way controls traffic in workspaces and prevents work accidents.

So, on this important day, we invite you to reflect and to contribute from your work environment to achieve safer and healthier workplaces. And most importantly, to count on us to continue making improvements in your industrial working environments!

Should you require further information about our solutions or should you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact-us.

At Claitec, we are convinced that a product speaks for itself once it is installed and producing positive results in the industrial space for which it has been designed. Claitec’s VAS System has provided ample evidence of being a simple, but very efficient solution to organise traffic and prevent workplace accidents.

The VAS (Safety Alert Visualisation) systems is designed to warn pedestrians and/or forklift drivers of a potentially risky situation by projecting signals on the ground. These signals are highly visible to operators and easy to detect, which is why they become extremely useful in spaces with high pedestrian volume and loading machines, such as forklifts.

This system stands out from other signalling options for several reasons, including the following:

1. Highly effective visible system. The VAS System’s signals stand out before the panoramic mirrors and other signs traditionally used in warehouses many of which end up becoming part of the general landscape of the site, and people stop paying attention to them.
   
   
2. More visible and long lasting. The projections on the ground attract more attention and achieve better visibility than the warning signs located at a certain height – usually placed too high to be seen during the daily operations. In addition, compared to images painted on the floor or walls, there is no wear or tear from daily work or the passage of time, and it has very little maintenance, providing about 30,000 hours of operation.
   
   
3. Recommended complement. Besides all of the above, the VAS System can also be used as a complement to the PAS System, the CAS-G2 and the LSA – just to mention a few of other solutions – thus generating safer work environments for all.
   
   
4. Possibility to change the lenses. The VAS’ projector lenses come in up to three different colours, and the projected symbols are customisable. Some of the possible projections include a forklift or pedestrian signal, a “stop” sign, a pedestrian crossing, a speed limit warning, a “non-smoking” sign or “mobile phone use” notice, among many other options.
   
   

Should you be interested in finding out more about our range of industrial safety solutions, please do not hesitate to contact us, we are here to help!

Needless to say that working at temperatures below zero is one of the most difficult tasks in our industries. We must take care of teams working in such conditions, we must be vigilant of the ways cold temperatures decrease safety and the many ways cold and humid conditions can affect our equipment.

We have received numerous enquiries recently on this subject and that´s why we´ve decided to clearly explain in this post the many possible ways Claitec´s tools can be applied to achieve safer work spaces at low temperatures, as low as -30° C.

First, prevention is key. The consequences of an accident that happens at temperatures below zero are a lot more serious and the time we have to react a lot less.

The PAS System (Pedestrian Alert System) is a very helpful tool to protect teams working under this type of conditions. Easily adapted to any situation, this solution warns forklift drivers when there is an operator in distances between 1 and 6.5 meters. The system is capable of identifying people and objects, and it even detects operators located behind a bookshelf, a wall or a pile of merchandise.

The Low Speed Areas System is used to reduce forklifts speed inside cold rooms, for example, thus achieving much safer environments, and greatly reducing the probability of work accidents. This solution complements very well with other systems – such as the aforementioned PAS – and it stands out for being easy to install, practical and very resistant.

We have also tailor-made specific systems for our clients which, get activated when a forklift approaches a door, notifying the driver whether it is closed or ajar. This is especially useful in contexts with low visibility, and in very low temperature climates, where doors must remain open as little as possible.

This system is achieved by combining a two-way Tz2 tag installed on the door and the PAS Solution installed on the forklift. That way, if the door is closed or half open, the Tz2 tag sends a signal through the PAS system to the approaching vehicle, and the system immediately turns on the light beacon and/or the audible alarm warning the driver about the situation. When the door is completely open the TZ2 tag doesn´t send the signal, thus avoiding accidents or possible crashes.

Remember that the PAS and LSA devices can be easily adapted to work at -30°  C, since the only requirements are a heating resistance and a pressure balancing system, which can both be done very easily and economically.

Keen to learn more about these solutions?

Do you have a question for us?

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

The constant flow of personnel, forklifts and other vehicles found in warehouses, factories and product distribution areas generates a very high risk of accidents. People, goods and even buildings can be damaged when transport systems are handled improperly and at excessive speeds. Injuries and economic losses for the company tend to be severe and as such, increasing the security controls in danger zones must be a priority.

Setting up a maximum speed limit for forklifts is one of the best ways to promote safety in these facilities.

What is the Low Speed Areas Solution?

The Low Speed Areas Solution provided by Claitec is intended to meet our customers’ safety needs during the transportation of products, ensuring maximum convenience and easy handling.

The LSA solution involves maintaining the forklift’s speed within a limit depending on the area it is located (Speed Zoning).

Thus, in areas where the personnel density is highest, or where there is a considerable number of vehicles, or where the space for maneuvering is minimal, forklifts should travel at low speeds.

Likewise, outer areas that have enough space or that are not usually too busy can accommodate faster speeds.

The LSA solution works through a reflective panel located on the ceiling of the areas that need regulating and which, sends the forklift a signal indicating the appropriate speed limit.

Vehicle sensors receive this information when positioned under the corresponding device, signaling the change in area and indicating the variation in speed.

The selection of the areas which are at greatest risk of accidents is fully customisable and versatile, allowing for the differentiation of various areas within the same building. This represents an improvement with respect to the now obsolete radar devices that focus on detecting the roof of the store, limiting the speed of the forklift in any interior regardless of its characteristics.

Why does your company need the LSA Solution?

1. The LSA solution increases the level of industrial safety of your company by improving the way your forklifts are driven.

2. Accidents caused by excessive speeding will be significantly reduced, if not completely eradicated. This will improve the quality of the work areas you offer your employees, giving them the security they need.

3. At the same time, it will help you prevent major economic losses generally caused by the costly replacement of materials and the reconstruction of damaged infrastructure.

4. By preventing collisions, you can also increase the lifetime of the vehicles.

5. Finally, you will be able to optimize business productivity by limiting the speed of the forklifts only in risk areas.

The LSA Solution is easy to set up in your warehouse and in the corresponding forklifts. It is manufactured with cutting-edge technology, using materials of the highest quality and highly durable. Its usage and handling is of an unmatched simplicity so it is not necessary to rely on specialised personnel.

Claitec always offers customers the best possible devices to ensure the welfare of workers and the durability of the equipment found in any industrial environment, making available to them the best technology available in the market today.

It is often mistakenly believed that industrial work is inevitably associated with high accident risks at work. Without ignoring the nature of the work in industrial or manufacturing areas and without knowing the power or qualities of the machinery and the substances that are handled in those spaces, we can safely affirm that risk control is increasingly becoming more sophisticated. Every day we are better prepared to make our work space a safe area, where prevention prevails over the unforeseen.

In this context, today we want to discuss the concept of “Near Miss”.

This idea arises precisely from the observation of the work routine in industrial spaces. Very often, workers “almost” have an accident or “almost” suffer from some type of injury or fatality without the company even being aware of these potentially dangerous incidents. These situations are not recorded, nor are there any actions taken in response or to prevent them from happening again – Just a “very lucky, mate!” or a thanks to the universe for not having to endure a very serious misfortune.

However, it’s our responsibility to act as soon as we see any of these signs.

We must react when “potential accidents” situations start to occur because these “near misses” are, precisely, risk indicators. These “near misses” are warning lights forewarning us about the location of a potential accident.

That’s exactly what “Near Miss” is all about – registering “potentials” and acting swiftly.

Some of our clients are already applying a methodology of work based on the Near Miss scenario, and report very good results, as do other industries that have shown important international advances in this area. Even the US National Occupational Safety Council is working hard on this concept, stating that for every 300 “almost” work-related accidents, 1 ends up in a serious injury.

The same institution defines a “near-miss” as “an unplanned event that did not result in injury or damage but had the potential to cause them.” Therefore, we must encourage all employees to report on the risky situations that may have arisen in the industry, and train our area managers to pay special attention to those aspects. In addition, we must be professionals in recording, monitoring and acting against such events – the benefits we can expect from applying this system to our safety measures will be broad and of pivotal importance for all teams.

Applying the Near Miss system is certainly a way to listen to the risk signals that occur.

We encourage you to do so and we believe – as some of our customers are already confirming – that this method complements perfectly well with the systems already we develop and offer at Claitec: https://claitec.com/en/products/

Narrow aisles are a challenging component of our workspaces. Operations must be agile and efficient in these spaces, and yet, we must never neglect human safety and care. After listening to some of our clients’ most frequent concerns, the team at Claitec has developed a range of solutions – by taking into account the dynamics operator-machinery – that considerably improve safety in these areas and prevent accidents at work.

What issues do our solutions resolve?

1) Detection of machines. Our tools detect whether a machine enters or leaves a narrow aisle. After the detection takes place, we alert drivers of the presence of other machines by means of a traffic light, a pilot light or a projection on the ground, warning them that the aisle is occupied and there’s a risk of collision.

2) Detection of pedestrians. We have also developed products that are not only capable of detecting people in aisles, but also the exact number of people. If more than two operators have entered an aisle, a traffic light, indicator light or projection on the ground will warn of a potential risk until they all leave, preventing machines from entering and potentially colliding with others.

3) Detection of machines and pedestrians. In those common areas where machines and people tend to interact, our solutions are capable of identifying if a person or vehicle has entered a narrow aisle, warning others by means of ground warning projections. Once the aisle is free, the projector stops displaying the alert signals.

Which Claitec solutions are designed to provide safety in aisles?

• VSG Solution: A virtual safety gate is activated when passage is prohibited in a certain sector or intersection by projecting a red alert line on the ground. The VSG solution can be easily placed at each entrance to alert forklift drivers when other vehicles or operators are moving along the same aisle.

•  VAS Solution: Our Safety Alert Visualisation warns pedestrians and/or forklifts in risky situations by projecting alert signals on the ground. It is very easy to install, and it is extremely effective in preventing accidents.
  
• Traffic lights: A simple and effective tool designed to keep traffic in our workspaces in order. It can be adapted to multiple other safety solutions, and it can be of great help in different areas of any industry – from warehouses or loading docks, to aisles, entrances and exits.
  
  

Would you like to find out more about Claitec’s safety systems?
Do you have a specific question or need more information about any of our solutions?
Please, do not hesitate to contact us, we are here to help!

India Warehousing and Logistics Show (IWLS) is the region’s largest and the most successful exhibition where the warehousing and logistics community of western and southern India come together to meet, network and establish business partnerships.

Claitec was delighted to be part of this event thanks to Troax India, one of over 50 exhibitors who have attended the show for the first time.

The event, scheduled to take place on 1-2-3 December 2022, offered a gamut of products and live demonstrations, and Troax India had the opportunity to actively participate, demonstrating once again the functionality of Claitec’s safety solutions in front of all the people from around the country who visited its booth and wanted to be informed.

PAS, CAS-G2, LSA and VAS were some of the products they were able to show at their Booth:

• PAS Pedestrian Alert System is a solution designed to warn forklift drivers when detecting a person at adjustable distances of 1 to 11 meters.
• CAS-G2 Collision Avoidance System warns forklift drivers as it detects other loading vehicles in proximity and risk zones
• LSA Low Speed Area places a limit on the speed at which a forklift circulates through different areas of the warehouse.
• VAS Visual Alert System is an innovative development which warns pedestrians and/or forklifts in situations of risk by projecting signals on the ground.

If you have any doubts about the event, please don’t hesitate to contact us, we are always happy to help!

When it comes to safety, pedestrian crossings are one of the more challenging areas in our industries. Traffic tends to be intense and, in some cases, neither operators on foot nor forklift drivers take the necessary precautions, creating risky situations or directly causing minor or major occupational accidents.

To achieve a level of absolute safety in pedestrian crossing, Claitec has developed a new solution that combines two gates and two vehicle barriers with the PSG Pedestrian Safety Gate Solution.

When this new system is in operation the forklift barriers is raised, the pedestrian doors blocked and the pedestrian traffic lights turn red, warning of imminent danger and preventing the crossing.

What if a person wants to cross the pedestrian crossing? They simply need to press a button next to the gate. The system – by means of the two MT50 sensors, each one located a few meters before the pedestrian crossing – will verify that there is no forklift in the proximity, and it will lower the barriers, turning on the red lights at the same time on the barriers.

And once it’s safe for the pedestrians to walk, the system will turn the pedestrian traffic lights green and unlock the pedestrian gates, remaining in this (adjustable) setting for a few seconds until the person has had enough time to cross safely.

After that time, the pedestrian gates will be blocked again, the traffic lights will turn red and the barriers will open, once again enabling forklift traffic through the area. If someone presses the button to cross when there is a forklift nearby, the system will continue as before until it detects the forklift.

Usually, pedestrian crossings without barriers ensure the safe passage of a person by installing manual pushbuttons, offering him or her a risk-free exit route at the crossing. However, with our gated solution, manual pushbuttons are not necessary as our application has a set time to cross, which is precisely designed to prevent people from pressing an emergency button and unlocking the pedestrian doors without having allowed for the important safety step of lowering the barriers.

Would you like to find out more about Claitec’s safety systems? Do you have a specific question or need more information about any of our solutions? Please, do not hesitate to contact us, we are here to help!