Claitec participated in the fair LogiMat 2017 in Stuttgart.

The fair was a good opportunity to meet with some distributors and customers from Europe.

In LogiMat 2017 we have seen that the logistics sector is booming and that the industry 4.0 is more present.

Safety in the workplace:

The importance of the most “trivial” measures

It is easy to fall into the belief that workplace safety depends only on tools such as helmets, vests, harnesses, or implemented solutions such as those offered by Claitec. Undoubtedly all of these are important, but we can never forget about other factors that also influence the safety of a plant or factory.

Our mission is not to install technological solutions. Our mission is to create a safer life in a safer workplace. This means being aware of all the factors that can affect safety in the workplace, including, for example, some measures or practices that at first sight may seem “trivial“. It is precisely there where we find the largest latent risks, precisely because people do not often pay enough attention to them.

In this post we want to analyse something which, at first glance might seem trivial like parking a car in the workplace. The interest in this subject was triggered when we began to observe that many of the companies we visited had the practice or even rule of parking their cars using reverse gear. But why?

After analysing the reasons with a more critical vision, as well as studying several comments and contributions from different companies, we have come to the conclusion that there are many benefits of implementing this rule, particularly in terms of safety.

1. Emergency cases

The first and most obvious reason is thinking about the most serious threat to the safety of those working in a plant, i.e. an emergency. During any extreme risk situation, if all cars had been parked using reverse gear it is common sense to assume that any potential evacuation would be a lot more agile, particularly so if we are talking about a large plant, with lots of cars parked in the car park. On the other hand, the exit of cars that had been parked in forward gear would be much slower.

The sum of many cars leaving their places at half speed could mean that the complete evacuation of the plant takes double, triple or even four times more than it would with cars that had been parked in reverse gear.

2. Leaving the plant with less risk

The other benefit we notice at safety level also occurs when leaving the workplace. If a driver had parked using reverse gear, leaving his space is not only a lot simpler and more direct – above all it allows for a better visibility of whatever is transiting along the street.

It is a lot easier to exit if the car has been parked with its back to the footpath. In addition, if the vehicle was parked with its front to the footpath, it would have to go back far enough to be able to determine whether another vehicle was coming or not, which almost always would involve invading part of the street, thus raising the risk of running over a pedestrian, colliding with another car, etc.

This becomes even more important if we consider that when we leave work we are in a hurry to reach our destination. This mind-set does not combine well with a reverse exit with reduced visibility. When arriving at work in the morning, it is less risky to do an extra manoeuvre to reverse the car, considering that we are better rested and generally less eager to reach our destination.

3. No attention is paid to what’s in the parking space

While we are talking about safety as we leave the parking space, the risk is also minor as we arrive. When the car is parked forward, it is not necessary a conduct a previous manoeuvre and the driver can enter the car into its place directly. When parking backwards, the driver is forced to make an extra manoeuvre, so he is forced to check the space before entering with his car.

You never know what you may find in your car space: small car, a pedestrian, an object (such as a car), an animal, etc.

4. Psychological effect

Beyond the most obvious benefits seen above, when we analyse the safety benefits of parking the car in reverse gear more in depth, we discover something very peculiar: by emphatically signalling the rule or recommendation to park the vehicle in reverse gear, the driver does not have to wait to enter the plant to become aware of the importance of safety. In his very own personal car he is already exposed to a sign that reminds him or her how important safety is.

Conclusion

To conclude, let us look back at the term “trivial” that we underlined at the beginning of the post. As experts in the field we know that many factors affect safety but not all are equally present in people’s minds. That’s why we thought it important to raise awareness about something that may seem trivial at first glance, such as parking the car every day.

However, we see statistics of accidents or evacuation problems in parking spaces. In those cases, the security measures are no longer trivial. We invite everyone to reflect on the importance of safety in workplaces in ALL its forms – from the most indispensable safety instruments to those practices which, while they may seem trivial, when needed can represent such an important difference in the health of a human being.

Claitec is committed to continually invest in research that helps us transcend the current limits of RFID technology, enables us to take the next generation of products further in the most efficient way, and guarantees the safety of workers in risky industrial environments.

As such, we have the pleasure to welcome Francesc Massó to Claitec’s R + D department this month. Francesc has studied electronics and worked in developing radiofrequency products for more than 10 years. He thrives with big challenges in the form of projects using new technologies to create new products that deliver real value to people.

Francesc has been passionate about electronics since he can remember, having always enjoyed investigating and learning from new technologies. His hobbies include building FPV (First Person View) drones and building electronic equipment with Arduino or Raspberry.

And he is a DIY (Do It Yourself) philosophy enthusiast!

Francesc, it’s a pleasure to have you on board Claitec’s team!

Coined at the Hanover Fair (Germany) in 2011 – the largest exhibition of industrial technology -, the term “4.0 Industry” describes a trend that encompasses what could be defined as smart factories or cyber-factories. Digital technologies are the protagonists of this new model. Today’s global trend is to move towards digitalisation, in search of greater productive efficiency and logistics with the help of robotic tools and information management.

The first industrial revolution was driven by the introduction of the first steam production machine. The second, by the factories of mass production that displaced craft work. The third was the revolution in electronics, the Internet and renewable energy. Industry 4.0 is the result of the fourth industrial revolution which, seeks to take advantage of the immense capacity to obtain information that has exponentially developed in order to interconnect all the parts and processes of a factory using the Internet of things – that is, the potentiality of the physical objects of being interconnected through Internet. The immense wealth of data available today at all times can be processed and channelled through analysis software to produce more effectively.

Claitec proposes the development of safety measures focused on the concept of industry 4.0 – a product design that allows to identify and locate people, vehicles and robots. At the same time, it advocates a factory of the future working under a PIM structure (People-made manufacturing) to replace algorithmic mathematical models with other heuristics based on artificial intelligence, in order to help employees to complete the production process.

Process automation must be supervised, especially now that thanks to all these technological advances there’s a greater flexibility and adaptability to all sorts of eventualities. The use of wireless sensors and media is vital for this to happen. Data mining along with intelligent information management, prediction and prevention systems and artificial intelligence become very important tools and resources to ensure a safe production within the factories- safe for operators and safe for machinery and processes.

Claitec proposes for people to be decision makers and to be able to work in a safe and collaborative environment in unison with technology and machinery. The factory must become a healthy environment, where motivation permeates all levels and turns people into productive operators who work in harmony with technology, enjoying and understanding the new processes and the advantages that these mean for their work and their daily life.

Safety must be the first priority of the 4.0 Industry. The increasing presence of vehicles without drivers, robots and machines requires a functioning that ensures the safe and healthy coexistence between technology and people.

By implementing small electronic devices, Claitec can detect the location and movement of people and vehicles at all times. This also allows the development of a wide range of applications that solve security problems and enable better production. Just as GPS have revolutionised the way we travel, indoor location technology will enable many applications within the factory of the future that will revolutionise the way the industry works.

Claitec ensures an increased level of accident prevention in high-risk areas, greater control of outsiders, protection of personnel and company assets through reliable, easy to handle alarms and easily installable individual warning systems for pedestrians and operators.

When defining the business model, factories in Industry 4.0 should put safety first. The minimum cost of accident related time-off-work expenses amounts to 1,500 euros per day. Implementing measures to avoid these expenses should be a priority in view of the profitability these new smart companies have to economise energy and raw materials and the efficient allocation of resources.

For these reasons, any system that allows communication and location in an effective and accurate way becomes essential in this new scenario. Hyper connectivity – possible today thanks to the development of the media and technology – is aligned with this idea.

Customers’ needs come first for Claitec. Therefore, the marriage of teamwork and open innovation with employee social responsibility and empowerment are, and will always be, a priority when it comes to proposing solutions. Our concern to develop the best possible safety measures for the factories of the Industry, is a clear example of this goal.

The ALL4PACK International Packaging and Handling fair, will be celebrated from 14 to 17 November.

Tilt-import, Claitec’s importer in France, will exhibit our LSA (Speed Zoning) product ranges and latest developments.

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

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.