CeMAT-ASIA 2016, the world’s main trade fair in Intralogistics and Supply Chain, was held a few days ago in China. Claitec is delighted with the reception our stand had amongst visitors.

Greenpack, Claitec’s importer for the Asia, will exhibit its PAS (Pedestrian Alert System) product ranges and latest developments.

Greenpack’s presence at the fair represented an excellent opportunity to promote the CLAITEC brand and products on the Asian market.

The PRÉVENTICA 2016 Health and safety at work Conference, will be celebrated from 4 to 6 October

Tilt-import, Claitec’s importer in France, will be present on the Fenwick stand exhibiting our LSA (Low Speed Area) product ranges and latest developments.

Tilt-import´s presence at the conference represents an excellent opportunity to promote the CLAITEC brand and products on the French market.

Two of the main goals of our safety solutions are to provide a safe environment for our customers’ workers as well as preventing possible accidents on the factory floor.

However, we know a company needs to maximize all its available resources and as such, we want to expand on other advantages that are generated as “side effects” when adopting industrial safety solutions in your company.

1- CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility)

If your company is implementing safety solutions in its industrial plants, your company is already acting in a socially responsible manner.

Many companies go out of their way trying to identify where to apply their CSR efforts, when in fact, they have the opportunity to do so in-house more easily and with an immediate and demonstrable impact.

If your company invests in such solutions, it is already making an effort not all companies make and, therefore it is worth communicating it. Perhaps you might even spread your concern for your workers’ safety to other companies.

Our recommendation is to leave the “cold” and corporate aspect of CSR aside.

Don’t publish memos or reports that eliminate the human factor from your CSR efforts. Instead, tell stories and examples of workers in your company. Leverage Social Media and Newsletters to highlight how your employees work a lot more relaxed and happier.

You can read more about the relationship between innovation and environmental care in our post Innovating in the industry to better take care for our planet and also get some fresh ideas about how to apply your CSR efforts on the environment.
2- Operations / Production

Industrial safety solutions – through their devices and operating systems – have a process standardization effect. Consequently, it makes life easier for operators, who no longer have to focus their attention on preventing accidents, but can rely on technology to do so.

As an example, the PAS solution (Pedestrian Alert System) alerts forklift drivers when a pedestrian is nearby. In addition to fulfilling its main task – providing safety for workers -, it also has an effect on the operational productivity of each of them: instead of thinking where the risk areas are, the person can focus on doing his or her job.
3- Marketing and HR

Everyone likes to work and to do business with people with whom they share certain values. While it is true that often business decisions respond to a more rational and convenient logic, there is also an emotional factor in which we seek products or services that transmit values and virtues which we identify with.

In the area of HR, investing in workers’ safety and health sends a clear message of concern for the people in our company. If these precautions are implemented, and are properly leveraged through communications, activities, etc., they can have a very positive impact on the employees’ motivation levels and sense of belonging.

As far as marketing efforts are concerned, there is a noticeable trend in which public opinion expects companies to not only be engaged in making money, but to also show a “human” side. In fact, this has increasingly impacted on consumers’ decision processes when selecting one or another company/supplier.

Recommended reading: A new model of workplace safety

4- Finances

Companies that are responsible for industrial safety understand that “spending” in safety solutions in the factory floor is not just any other expense, but it is, in fact, an investment.

They prefer to invest money in this area, thus reducing the risk of an unfortunate events from happening in the future because they also know that the costs of accidents end up being a lot higher – we are talking about both the direct costs of accidents (which, hopefully will never happen to you!), Including legal costs, fines, etc., but also about indirect costs, such as the total demise of your company’s reputation.

Both governments and the general population are gradually becoming aware of the new risks that have arisen as a result of the habits brought about by the new technologies. In 2014, the National Security Council warned that about 26% of traffic accidents in the United States were caused by mobile phone use.

The Seoul government in South Korea has also taken a series of steps by installing traffic signs alerting pedestrians of the existing risk. The aim is to educate people about the emergence of these new type of hazards.

Meanwhile, industrial warehouses, where pedestrian also converge with various modes of transport, are not alien to this reality. It is increasingly common to hear about an accident or collision triggered by a mobile phone distraction. The risks cover both pedestrians and machine operators.

The risks are many – from collision between forklifts, to forklifts running over pedestrians, accidents in unloading areas, or high risk falls. In addition, distraction is not only a risk in as much as it can directly lead to serious accidents, but it can also trigger them indirectly. For example, a mobile phone can make an operator forget to properly use the fall protection system or the personal tag.

Warehouses should react to these changes in habits

Both companies and workers must be aware of the impact that this type of changes has in people’s everyday behaviour and take action accordingly.

Of course, we are not implying that mobile phones are not a good technology, but there is no denying that these can become dangerous depending on how they are used. The problem is that it is a habit that is established increasingly in new generations, making them less aware of the risks.

Similar to the warning signs posted by the Seoul government, is it not time for warehouses to do something similar? Given that warehouse are much smaller spaces than a city like Seoul, we could even go a step further and establish strict and clear rules regarding the use of mobile devices in warehouses and factories.

Keen to learn more about how to reduce the risk of accidents in a warehouse or factory?

Don’t hesitate to get in touch with the Claitec team and we will be more than happy to share our expertise in this matter.

On this day three years ago, we launched Claitec.

We didn’t know what the future held for us but we had a vision, and we had the push to implement it.

That day, Claitec’s founders met and toasted with champagne for this new path that was opening before us.

Three years later, we are once again enjoying a good bottle of sparkly, but this time, we do it in the company of the many Claitec team members that have joined our project since day one.

Without them, Claitec would not be today one of the most respected suppliers of work safety solutions in both the national and international stage.

Plus this year there’s also double cause for celebration – we have been granted the ISO 9001 i 14001, cementing the levels of quality assurance that the whole Claitec team strives for.

What a gift for those who play a part on this effort every single day!

They definitely deserve this and many other celebrations!

Thanks to you, Claitec is continually innovating to improve the safety of workers worldwide

That jovial atmosphere we all felt on the launched day and again today on our third anniversary, is part of Claitec’s DNA.

We are a big family that comes to the office every day wanting to innovate and make a difference for businesses, entrepreneurs and workers worldwide.

And according to our clients, it seems we are doing a good job of it.

But without them, without our customers, the willingness to improve constantly of the Claitec team will not go very far.

That’s why we’d like to take this opportunity to thank each of the clients who trusts the safety of their workers in our hands.

Our great partners are also part of the Claitec machinery.

Thanks to them, our ideas become quality products and reach our clientes always on time, wherever they are.

And, of course, thanks to our families.

Thanks for the coffee that wakes us up in the morning after a long night of meetings.

Thanks for supporting us in our projects, journeys and visions.

Without all of you, there would not be a party at Claitec today.

And without all of you, the future would not be so promising.

So, we thank you once again for walking with us, and we invite you to do it for many more years so that, together, we can create a safer environment for companies and workers around the world.

And now yes, go ahead and open that bottle of bubbly and celebrate with us!

The ASSE SAFETY 2016 Professional Development Conference & Exposition for OSH professionals, will be celebrated from 26 to 29 June

MRes Imports LLC, Claitec’s importer for the United States of America, will exhibit its PAS (Pedestrian Alert System) product ranges and latest developments.

MRES Imports LLC ´s presence at the conference represents an excellent opportunity to promote the CLAITEC brand and products on the American market.

The National Safety Council of the United States of America has published a safety guide on the implementation and operation of mobilised vehicles, including forklifts, pallet trucks, rider trucks, fork trucks or lift trucks.

The document explains that pedestrian safety is often overlooked in lift trucks safety programs and yet, the number one cause of lift truck related work fatalities is pedestrians being struck by the vehicle.

In this document we analyse the main points dealt with in the above mentioned safety guide, highlighting the responsibilities of the different persons involved:

Employers:

• Ensure that aisles are wide enough.
• Mark aisle ways for equipment and pedestrian walkways.
• Keep walkways free from obstructions such as hand trucks and carts.
• Mark slow-down locations: intersections, aisle ways, blind corners where doors open to an aisle, loading docks and where lighting is impaired.
• Install and instruct operators on how to use convex mirrors where appropriate.
• Ensure that only authorised and trained operators operate a forklift. Employers must certify that operators have been trained and evaluated in accordance with the OSHA standard.
• Educate workers about the dangers associated with mobile phone distraction while driving and establish a policy for the use of wireless devices and mobile phones in the workplace.
• Solutions such as Pedestrian Alert Systems (PAS) and Pedestrian Crossing Safety (PCS) are ideal to ensure total safety in plants where workers coexist with machines.

Forklift operators:

• Use warning devices, such as lights, horns and backup alarms. The NAS solution is an example of device that minimises the risk of forklift collision in tight areas.
• Slow down, stop and sound the horn at intersections, corners, and where vision is obstructed. The Blind Spot Solution (BS) is ideal for this type of situations while the Low Speed Area Solution is ideally suited to reduce speed.
• Do not move the truck if there is no clear view of travel. Use a spotter for blind spots.
• When possible, make eye contact with pedestrians.
• Do not talk or text on a mobile phone while operating a forklift.

Pedestrians:

• Never stop in front of a forklift or a piece of powered equipment.
• Never stop in front of a loaded truck to attempt to swerve to avoid being struck. A load being carried could easily tip over or slide off of the lift truck and strike the pedestrian.
• Stop and look when approaching a corner before proceeding – look both ways.
• Walk on the right side of aisles.
• Keep well away from the lift truck and other motorised machine to avoid being pinned by the swing.
• Never ride as a passenger on a piece of powered equipment.
• Stay away off the tilt mechanism.
• Keep hands away from the mast and pulleys on a forklift.
• Never walk or stand under the mast or load of a lift truck.
• Be aware that the forks of a parked forklift pose a tripping hazard. Raised forks pose a strike-against or spearing hazard.
• If on a ramp, be cautious of the hoisting machine. You could be pinned or hit by a load.
• Be aware of the stacking procedures. You could be struck by falling loads-on both sides of the racking.
• Be aware that a backing lift poses a hazard.

CeMAT 2016, the world’s main trade fair in Intralogistics[1] and Supply Chain[2], was held a few days ago in Germany. Claitec is delighted with the reception our stand had amongst visitors.

All four days were extremely intense – Hall 26, where Claitec’s stand was located, witnessed a stream of visitors from 36 different countries speaking in a variety of languages and accents. Many of those came to the stand and talked to us about our solutions and the potential benefits for their companies. Most of them gifted us with their business cards with the intention of keeping in contact in the near future.

Staying on the fascinating topic of international visitors, we had the pleasure of welcoming to the Claitec stand representatives from the United States, the Netherlands, Belgium, Israel, France and the Czech Republic. Every one of them helped us significantly in understanding the problems our customers face worldwide. Among those who approached us, we had the pleasure of talking to leading forklift manufacturers worldwide, including Linde, Still, Junghenreich, Toyota, Nissan and Clark.

CeMAT was a great opportunity to display our new solutions and show these live. There was special interest during our demonstrations of TCS Traffic Control System, the demonstration briefcases of the PAS and LSA solutions[3], and the new Tag T10R with rechargeable battery. Witnessing the LSA life also helped visitors understand the true value of the product.

However, one of the most positive outcomes of the fair were the conversations we held with our visitors. Their comments, questions and contributions allowed us to gain insight into their needs in relations to our products. It was particularly positive to learn from the potential users themselves, what are the potential improvements they’ll be interested to see in our solutions as this opened the door for many new opportunities.

But this did not end in Germany!

We are currently swamped with a flood of queries, information requests and greetings exchanges that emerged from CeMAT. And the messages keep on coming!

We’d like to share a video about our presence at the event. We take this opportunity to thank all those who joined us before, during and after the event.

We hope to see you in the forthcoming edition of CeMAT 2018!

[1] The concept of internal logistics refers to the movement of goods in manufacturing facilities, distribution centres or warehouses. In practice, it is the flow of reception, storage and shipment of goods from the time they arrive until the moment they leave the premises.

[2] A supply chain consists of all processes involved directly or indirectly in meeting the customer’s needs.

[3]    Briefcases with all items required to implement each of the solutions.

CEMAT 2016, a new edition of the international world fair on logistics and supply chain management, will be celebrated from May 31 to June 3.

Claitec, a technology-based company specialising in implementing solutions for industrial safety and prevention of accidents, will exhibit at stand E07 Hall 26, introducing its product ranges and latest developments.

CLAITEC´s presence at the fair represents an excellent opportunity to promote the CLAITEC brand and products on the market, establish contact with distributors and arrange meetings with stakeholders.

Our sales and technical teams will be delighted to see you at CEMAT 2016.

The International Labour Organization (ILO) celebrates today the World Day for Safety and Health at Work.

This year, “Workplace Stress: a collective challenge” is the theme of the campaign of the World Day for Safety and Health at Work.

WHAT IS WORK-RELATED STRESS?

Stress is the harmful physical and emotional response caused by an imbalance between the perceived demands and the perceived resources and abilities of individuals to cope with those demands.

Work-related stress is determined by work organization, work design and labour relations and occurs when the demands of the job do not match or exceed the capabilities, resources, or needs of the worker, or when the knowledge or abilities of an individual worker or group to cope are not matched with the expectations of the organizational culture of an enterprise.

A COLLECTIVE APPROACH TO PREVENTING AND CONTROLLING THE CAUSES OF WORK-RELATED STRESS

• Implement collective risk assessment and management measures for psychosocial risks as it will be done with other workplace risks.
• Adopt collective and individual preventive and control measures and engage workers and their representatives in their implementation.
• Improve the coping ability of workers by increasing their control over their tasks;
• Enhance organizational communication.
• Allow workers’ participation in decision making.
• Build up social support systems for workers within the workplace.
• Take into account the interrelation between working and living conditions.
• Assess the needs of the organization by taking into consideration organizational, individual and individual/organizational interactions when evaluating workers’ health requirements.

The team at Claitec wants to join the ILO in celebrating the World Day for Safety and Health at Work. We also want to encourage all businesses to take care of their most valuable asset – people. And if profitability levels improve as a consequence, well, that’s just good news for everyone!