What is a workplace risk assessment?

It’s a comprehensive study of all factors that pose a threat to the physical well-being of employees, supervisors and visitors in the areas where they transit.

A workplace risk assessment allows the implementation of security measures that eliminate or reduce risks, promoting the care and integrity of the workers’ health.

Protecting its employees is one of the most important aspects of a company, being a legal obligation in many countries.

Even when not imposed by legislation, a company that implements a number of safety procedures in order to keep its staff protected will obtain a number of significant benefits, including better work organization and increased productivity.

Similarly, it’ll be able to prevent the secondary consequences that often result from accidents such as damages, payment of penalties and loss of production.

In order to conduct a workplace risk assessment easily, we recommend following these five simple steps:

1. Hazard identification.

It is vital to determine all possible ways an accident could occur in all work areas. To do this, you must perform a thorough inspection of the company’s facilities.

Take into consideration your staff’s suggestions as they are familiar with the environment and working procedures, and they might have already identified specific risks in their activities. The manufacturers of the equipment, tools and products used in the company would probably also have safety recommendations which should not be neglected.
If need be, seek professional advice to correctly identify your workplace’s hazards.

2. Identification of potential victims.

While identifying potential hazards, you can also determine who could be affected and what kind of potential damage could suffer. This will help later to better establish priorities and find optimal solutions for each risk. Besides the magnitude of the possible injury, be sure to take into account the vulnerability of people who are in each workspace: consider the inexperienced personnel, the elderly, pregnant women and persons having disabilities.

3. Establishment of risk control measures.

After analyzing the hazards encountered, it will be time to define the security measures that will avoid as far as possible. There is a hierarchy of activities that will help you prioritize the procedures performed. If you are able to completely eliminate the hazard, apply. When this is not possible, prevent access to the danger zone when not needed. Develop safer working methods, minimizing exposure to any risk. Set first aid facilities and dispensaries if applicable. Finally, provide your personal protective equipment. Applying these measures, you will eliminate risks, reduce the probability or its impact minimized.

4. Assignment of responsibilities.

To ensure that the security measures in place are properly implemented, it is appropriate to assign responsibility accordingly. Those selected will be responsible for the implementation, monitoring and recording the progress made on security. Likewise, the time limits to be completed the work of implementing these measures will be defined. Rely on your team to plan the strategy to follow, defining priority activities for their risk and establishing the improvements that can be made immediately by its low cost and simplicity. They should also schedule a training course to inform workers about the security measures taken.

5. Scorekeeping, monitoring and periodic updating.

Written record all activities performed in the previous steps. After implementing risk control measures must monitor its effectiveness through regular inspections, worrying about update procedures as necessary. Try to be at all times at the forefront of security measures for optimal results.

The method presented is one of the most used by companies worldwide to implement its security measures, although there are other equally effective. The important thing is to carry out these procedures in the shortest possible time, with rigor and diligence, with the commitment of the entire company. Although those responsible for the implementation of security measures are employers, a risk assessment in the workspace is a task that must involve all stakeholders.

Workers are the engine of a company.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), they represent half the world’s population and are the major contributors to economic and social development.

That’s why security in the workplace is essential to ensure the welfare of workers and, therefore, the quality of service or end product that reaches the market.

It is important to consider the following:

1.“If you respect the importance of their work, they will probably return the favour,” said American writer Mark Twain. A company that cares about the health of its employees is a company that nurses its own subsistence. It is a causal relationship – the performance of its workers has a direct impact on productivity – since at the end of the day, without employees there is no business.

2. Accidents cause absenteeism. Every 15 Seconds, 153 workers have an accident around the world. Annually, there are more than 317 million accidents at work. These data from the WHO also reflect the cost involved in these adversities. The company not only faces the problem of having one less worker on the ground but it must also face legal consequences and potential damage to the reputation of its brand.

3. Prevention is key. Paying for a worker’s recovery or facing the costs of a lawsuit is a lot less profitable than a protection plan – the company will save on bonuses, compensations, lawyers, etc. Thus the employer must take steps to ensure the safety and health (OSH) of its workers. Ideally each occupational hazard -that is each potentially harmful event – have a plan of action to prevent accidents or reduce their implications.

4. Adequate safety measures also improve relationships in the company. A safe working environment – and an effective communication about the importance of creating a culture of prevention among all members of the company – will make them feel more comfortable and motivated when performing their tasks. This also leads to a lower staff turnover.

5. Positive reputation. Companies that invest in the safety of their employees enjoy a more positive public image. This is a determining factor when being compared to the competition for differentiation and it creates a good positioning in the market and in the mind of the consumer.

Looking after the safety of your workers is an investment, not an expense!

Claitec is committed to help our customers succeed in their goals and understands the importance that a safe environment has for worker’s performance. That’s why we develop innovative solutions that protect and improve their work environment.

There is no doubt that a company improves its performance when employees feel comfortable and at ease.

Safety and accident prevention are a key factor to guarantee employee comfort. As pedestrians are exposed to different risks – and Claitec is always one step ahead of the needs of our customers -, we have developed the following guidelines to improve their protection.

1. Sorting out warehouse traffic

First, the essentials.

The areas where pedestrians circulate must be clearly marked.

If possible, it is recommended that signals and crosswalks be painted on the floor or even better -that the space is enclosed by fences.

The premise is to improve the security of persons and buildings without increasing the complexities of everyday life.

Another simple way is to always separate vehicles from pedestrians.

How?

If the structure of the warehouse allows it, by simply placing separation barriers. Otherwise, this can be achieved by trying to prevent forklifts from going through areas where there is a high pedestrian activity.

2. Safety Equipment

Claitec’s range of products and solutions for industrial safety are made to match the demands of current technologies and the expectations of our customers.

Take the Pedestrian Alert System (PAS). When using forklifts, installing this system will help alert the driver of pedestrian proximity. This solution differs from others that do not discriminate between obstacles and people.

Another option is to use the Blue Safety Light.

The Blue Safety Light tackles a very frequent problem in factories and plants – poor visibility areas.

These device acts as a high luminosity beacon that alert workers circulating on foot before the arrival of the forklift.

It increases the level of prevention in these high-risk areas by equipping pedestrians with the T-10 warning system and reflective vests.

Other solutions include installing warning lights and using systems like the Blind Spot (BS).

The staff working at the warehouse also plays an important role in preventing accidents.

It is necessary to limit the speed of forklifts depending on the area in which they are in order to avoid the risk of collision with a pedestrian.

It helps to install curved mirrors in poorly lit areas.

3. Informing and teaching

As much as 16.7% of accidents that occur in the industry are caused by forklifts.

Both pedestrians and forklift operators must be informed about the risks involved in using these machines.

We therefore recommend doing a training course that enables them to avoid unnecessary problems in the future.

Last June 18 was held at the Camp Nou in Barcelona, the III Linde Safety Open Day.

The Claitec’s team, presented at the II Symposium on Occupational Safety Linde Forklifts, the range of solutions to improve safety on forklifts;

• PAS (Pedestrian Alert System)
• LSA (Reduce the speed of the trucks in areas / zones with pedestrian activity)
• HA (Hazardous Areas, Safety on Belt Conveyors)

The attendees were able to test the effectiveness of our PAS (Pedestrian Alert System) and LSA (Low Speed Area) solutions through demonstration equipment installed on trucks exposure.

At Claitec we are committed to constantly monitor the needs and expectations of our customers. We want to be able to offer a wide range of products to suit their specific needs. In line with this philosophy, we continuously add solutions to our inventory that complement our product range. One such incorporation is the Blue Safety Light.

What is the Blue Safety light?

The Blue Safety Light is a warning device that is installed on forklifts.

This device emits a warning light when a potential danger is detected in poor visibility walkways and work areas. It increases safety in the hallways and areas where workers circulate on foot.

How does it work?

This device incorporates two bright LED low power consumption long lasting lights which, are placed at the rear of the cabin or on the mast. These lights project a large beam on the floor, a few meters ahead of the direction of travel, warning pedestrians of the presence of the forklift.

It complements the PAS System

The Blue Safety Light complements the PAS solution (Pedestrian Alert System). When the PAS system detects a pedestrian in the forklift’s safety area, it activates the Blue Safety Light.

Being in permanent contact with our customers helps us find out any new questions they might have about the optimal use of Claitec’s products. Today, we’d like to answer a particular concern one of our customers has raised with regards the PAS system.

To review, Claitec’s Pedestrian Alert System (PAS) issues a warning that alerts forklift drivers when it detects pedestrians at adjustable distances from 1 to 6.5 meters. In order for this to happen, pedestrians must wear a security tag (Tags T-10) that alerts the driver via a system of light signals. With the PAS, the company is guaranteeing more security for its workers.

One of the concerns a particular client has raised centres on the need of pedestrians to wear the tag as a personal identifier and to ensure their protection. These are the questions asked by the client and our answers to each of them:

1. Some people forget to wear the tag all the time

Basically, it is a matter of habit. It’s necessary to create a methodology, a process that makes wearing the tag a daily habit. It’s important to find a way to make it part of the everyday life of the workers but, above all, to make them understand that it is there for their own safety.

All our clients have made it compulsory in their warehouses for people to wear our tags at all times as a safety requirement. Some have even decided that given the importance of this matter, a worker who is not wearing the PAS tag could be subjected to an immediate dismissal.

While every warehouse and company are different, they all must find ways to create a culture of security for everyone involved. As people have become accustomed to wearing PPE, special safety shoes, or helmets, they would also have to get used to wearing the pedestrian protection T-10 tag.

Posters, brochures, displays – any of these means are useful to remind workers about their safety, and thus promote the use of various safety devices.

2. The driver forgets to put the tag in the inhibitor

This omission is not a risk. When the driver forgets to put the tag in the inhibitor, the forklift will detect the tag (which will not be inhibited) and, therefore, begin issuing warning signs constantly. Depending on the situation, these will be visual or audible, but in any case they will easily draw the driver’s attention.

3. The driver forgets to pick up the Tag as he gets off the forklift

The best solution to this problem is to use an accessory so that the driver always has the tag attached to his clothing. This may be done via cable, or a “yo-yo” format which, automatically collects and releases the wire (see attached pictures).

Both methods ensure that the driver and any pedestrians on the floor, are not able to detach from the tag. This solution also applies to Problem 1: If the person attaches the tag to his or her work clothes or reflective vest, they will be less likely to forget it.

Our services exist to solve our customers’ problems. This means we need to be in a constant state of evolution and respond to the needs they face.

Claitec manufactures cutting-edge products and we know from experience that new challenges emerge continuously. In order to offer customers a good service, you need to be flexible. This means, for example, to be able to react quickly to the new demands of the professional environment.

In this case, a number of customers have expressed their concern and curiosity about the possible consequences of our Pedestrian Alert System PAS being in close proximity of health electronic devices, such as pacemakers or defibrillators. We knew it was important to inform our customers in relation to this matter, in order to reassure those concerned.

Pacemakers and defibrillators

A pacemaker is a mechanical device that generates pulses from the heart to the veins when the natural valves of the capillaries cannot maintain the required speed. The defibrillator, meanwhile, is an electronic device used to treat cardiac arrest. In these episodes, the heart “fibrillates” and loses the right pace. This device is responsible for returning that rhythm.

Typically, these devices already have protective mechanisms that are responsible for recognising and filtering any interference that occurs in the environment. However, there are a number of electronic devices that patients can come across, and do create an electromagnetic field that can temporarily affect the functions of the pacemaker or defibrillator.

An electromagnetic interference is said to occur when the magnetic field of an electronic device interferes with the operation of another. It is not too uncommon as many of the most frequently used electronic devices can interfere temporarily the field of a pacemaker or defibrillator.

Among our products, the T-10 Tag and the AC50 Activator are potential sources of interference for pacemakers and defibrillators.

How will pacemakers or defibrillators respond?

Possible answers to interference between signals from implanted devices and PAS system devices to protect people include:

• Asynchronous stimulation: If the pacemaker/defibrillator recognises the electromagnetic interference signals as noise, it can start generating stimuli that are isolated to the intrinsic cardiac activity.
• Inhibition of stimulation: When electromagnetic interference signals are misinterpreted as a normal heartbeat, implanted devices may generate stimuli that does present the correct rhythm.

• Inappropriate Shocks: electromagnetic interference signals can also be interpreted as an accelerated heartbeat, so the pacemaker/defibrillator might send the user unnecessary shocks.

What precautions can be taken?

It is important to understand that these effects are temporary and can be cancelled if the patient steps away from the source of interference, or if the system is shut down. In that case, the device will return to its normal operation immediately.

There are NO irreversible or serious consequences.

Above all, if you know you will be in the proximity of a PAS Pedestrian Alert System, we recommend that you visit your doctor as a precaution. No one is better qualified than your physician to inform you about the specific consequences that electromagnetic interference may have on your device, because the reality is that every condition responds differently to this challenge.

The best solution is to simply keep a precautionary distance of at least 30 centimetres between the implanted device and the T-10 tag.

It is also best to place it on the opposite side of the pacemaker/defibrillator. The recommended distance increases when using the AC50 activator. In this case, we recommend to stay at about 10 metres from it.

Lastly, another way to expand the knowledge on the response of the implanted devices is to approach the manufacturers themselves, or finding the information required in their official websites.

As technology advances, new solutions emerge to the challenges faced by businesses everywhere.

Some companies are reluctant to change and they’d rather stay away from any newly developed devices. Others, however, see an opportunity to improve and choose to enhance the tools they already have.

Claitec listens and evolves

The Pedestrian Alert System (PAS) is a solution designed to ensure the welfare of pedestrians in the workplace. This safety device alerts the driver of a truck when a pedestrian at an adjustable distance of 1 to 6.5 meters is detected. It is equipped with electronic tags which, warn the driver of the vehicle about the presence of a worker.

But what happens when the truck is exposed to other security situations?

For example, what happens when a truck approaches an area with poor visibility where another vehicle might suddenly appear?

These are but some of the questions posed by our customers and we are only too glad to resolve every single one of their concerns for them. And that’s because at Claitec, we like to constantly monitor the needs and expectations of our customers. We know that their feedback is the key we need to improve our processes every single day.

At the same time, we understand that it is important for this process to occur in a quick and decisive manner in order to accelerate our rate of improvement for our customers and ourselves.

After a thorough process of research and innovation, the TZ2 Tag was developed.

What is the TZ2 Tag?

The Tz2 Tag is an electronic device that enhances and extends the reach of PAS system solutions. How?  By introducing a very valuable addition to standard Tag PAS systems – a relay designed to automate a specific process when a truck is within its range.

This presents a great opportunity to increase the use of PAS Tag system as it has the ability to prevent risk situations through automated alerts as in the following cases:

• It allows the automatic opening of a door as the truck approaches it.
• It activates a traffic light anywhere in the warehouse through the system known as Pedestrian Crossing Safety (PCS).
• It is also used in Areas without Visibility or Blind Spot (BS) solutions, which allows the user to activate alarms for a range of risk situations, such as intersections in low visibility areas.
• It is also used in Narrow Aisle Systems (NAS), which minimises the risk of collision between trucks in narrow corridors which are considered to be high risk situations when operating with trucks.

One of the greatest advantages of this product is that without a large investment in plant and infrastructure it maximises the use of a system that is already in operation, in this case, the PAS.

It is a very efficient way to significantly increase the security of a plant or warehouse.

To better adapt to the needs of different customers, we have developed two different versions of this product.

• Version A: It activates both the truck’s relay and its own when it enters the area of ​​influence.
• Version B: It activates the relay itself and the truck’s relay remains inactive when in the area of influence

In terms of technical specifications, the TZ2 Tag is powered by 24V DC. If necessary, an accessory is available with a Universal Power Supply 230 VAC.

Technology must be at the service not only of business processes but also of the people working in that environment. When a company incorporates technology that meets both these objectives, it is a sign that it considers changes as opportunities rather than problems to be avoided.

Employee protection policies help improve a company’s performance.

When the first workplace safety systems and tools are implemented, new necessities related to these changes emerge. That’s why it’s when it comes to occupational health and safety it’s so important to be in a constant state of evolution – to keep up to date with the changes in the field and to improve the conditions of our employees.

At Claitec, we believe in continuous innovation. And that’s why we constantly update our knowledge of technology – to implement improvements in our range of products and services. After observing a number of opportunities to better the driver’s inhibitor, we decided that it was necessary to implement some changes. Today, we are thrilled to report that after these modifications,  we have received very positive reviews and customer ratings in the United States and England, among other countries.

What’s the purpose of the Inhibitor?

Most businesses tend to have more than one truck. At sites where companies care about the protection of their workers, these carry a protective tag known as T-10 which, is part of an efficient Pedestrian Alert System. But what about the truck’s driver? Doesn’t this protection tag conflict with the detection system?

Here is precisely where the Inhibitor comes in.

The inhibitor is simply a space where forklift drivers are able to leave their protection tags so that these are not detected by other systems. This allows them to drive the truck safely, while the Pedestrian Alert System is activated. In addition, they can leave it aside and perform picking operations or control of goods with the assurance that the Pedestrian Alert System will protect them at all times.

Similarly, the driver’s inhibitor also ensures the proper functioning of the Anti-collision System, as drivers are able to operate the truck without the interruption of the PAS solution, allowing the anti-collision system to run properly.

Improvements in the Inhibitor

When Claitec produced the first versions of the Inhibitor, our customers welcomed the added value it brought to their operation. However, given their constant exposure to shocks and falls and their potential for breakage, we found out there was room to improve its resistance levels.

In addition, we learnt from other customers there were other areas the Inhibitor could also improve on. For example, the product was somewhat limited in the sense that only if placed in certain location, was it able to work properly. Some operators placed it upside down and caused the inhibitor to be unable to fulfill its functions.

Thanks to the feedback and support from our customers, we redesigned the product, and we are thrilled with our customers’ positive feedback. Firstly, we’ve changed its design so that it works when the protection tag is placed in any position. We’ve maintained the double-sided adhesive in order to facilitate the attachment of the product.

The new version is made of steel, which virtually eliminates the problem of resistance that our customers had observed with the previous model. In addition, it is now possible to attach the inhibitor with screws, which greatly increases its durability and shock resistance.

We have already tested the new inhibitor. A very, very, very good design.

Mike East, Business Development /Operations at Mountain Regional Equipment Solutions, Inc.