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!

At the core of our mission to constantly improve the solutions offered at Claitec, there’s a deep understanding of the needs of our customers in the field of industrial safety. These needs are continually changing, even more so in an environment in which technology evolves at such dizzying speeds.

To keep pace with all these developments, at Claitec we have launched a new training process in machine safety, with the objective that all our technicians become certified as safety experts through a program called Certified Machinery Safety Expert.

CMSE® Certified Machinery Safety Expert

The German TÜV NORD offers the CMSE® Certified Machinery Safety Expert Certificate in response to the rise of new automation and robotics of the last decade. Companies are equipping themselves with modern and complex machines, resulting in a need for greater capacity and knowledge to develop a safety strategy in the use of machinery by operators.

Machines are constantly redesigned to ensure maximum safety but part of the responsibility always lies with whoever operates them. In completion of the CMSE® course, the TÜV NORD will grant each participant a certificate attesting to their diversified knowledge on the safe use of the machines.

Upon completion, the course will allow participants to be able to evaluate and implement the safety standards required by the plant and its machinery. In addition, it also covers the entire life cycle in the operation of the machinery – from the moment when risks are assessed and the first safety concepts are developed, to the implementation of the strategies and their correct application is ensured.

Implementation

Chetrit Ricard, Managing Director of Claitec, was the first of our technicians to obtain the CMSE certification. The company aims at having all Claitec technicians obtain this certification.

“The Certified Machinery Safety Expert course has made me a lot more capable in all areas pertaining to the safe operation of machinery. The technicians teaching the course approved by the TÜV proved highly skilled in the subject. Their dedication to the matter motivated all participants to continue learning. The size of the groups allowed for great participation in the practical examples, while being big enough to encourage debate and discussion with people holding different perspectives.”

Ricard Chetrit, Managing Director at Claitec

As part of our continuous strategic global development, we at Claitec have expanded our capabilities of providing total safety solutions by signing an agreement with MRES Imports LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Mountain Regional Equipment Solutions Inc. (MRES), as our exclusive partner and importer for the United States of America. This is the result of a long standing relationship between the two companies focused on serving the needs of mutual clients throughout the USA.

MRES Imports LLC will undertake the exclusive representation and distribution for the USA of Claitec Safety Solutions, for all products including our flagship PAS (Pedestrian Alert System) and LSA (Low Speed Area).

This is another major step for Claitec to support our growing customer base in the USA using our innovative and technology driven solutions in safety with specific regards to pedestrian and forklift interaction.

About Mountain Regional Equipment Solutions.

Since 2004 MRES has been a leading provider in the USA of Automated Lubrication Systems, Active and Passive Safety Systems, and Maintenance Products for use with Mobile Heavy Equipment, On-Highway and Vocational Transport Equipment, Stationary and Mobile Industrial Equipment, and Cranes.

Our industries include Heavy Construction, Building Construction, Mining and Aggregates, Oil and Gas, Refuse and Waste, Agriculture, Transportation, Rail, Vertical Lift, Governmental and Municipalities, Industrial, and Food Processing.

Our teams of highly qualified and dedicated individuals have multiple years of experience as distributors and end users in these fields.

Now with a solely focused approach towards Industrial Safety and Accident Prevention, MRES Imports LLC has been established to provide those resources.

For more information please visit our sites at www.mountainregionaleq.com and www.mresimportsllc.com

About Claitec.

Claitec is a global technology-driven company specializing in the implementation of Industrial Safety and Accident Prevention Solutions.

Our product range consists of several safety systems that can be customized to suit the needs of each company.

Claitec is committed to continuously improving our Industrial Safety and Accident Prevention Solutions and to constantly update our technological know-how in order to become pioneers in innovation.

The collision between forklifts is a very real risk in many industrial plants.

At Claitec, we have observed that our customers’ warehouses and the warehouses of those who ask for our opinion, consistently experience very heavy traffic, and as such, the risk of collision is significantly increased.

We have also noticed corners or areas where forklift drivers lose visibility, either because they are 90-degree bends, or because there are doors that prevent them from seeing another truck on the other side.

How can this type of risks be minimized?

Collision Avoidance system (CAS)

The Collision Avoidance System is a solution that warns the forklift driver when it detects other vehicles in a 25-meter range. So, whether the other truck is circulating in the “blind spot” of a curve, or whether it’s on the other side of an automatic gate, the CAS system will alert the driver so that he or she is aware of the presence of another vehicle is in its vicinity and thus use the appropriate caution.

It works as an extension of the PAS system which, must be requested from the factory. A PAS activator AC-50 is placed on the forklifts so that they can detect each other. When a forklift detects another one in its safety zone, the system alerts the driver of the imminent risk. The system also allows for some variations in the configuration – for instance, it is possible to make the truck slow down when it detects the presence of another vehicle in their immediate vicinity.

What are benefits of the CAS system for you?

First and foremost, the safety of your workers. By dramatically reducing collisions in heavy traffic areas and in areas of poor visibility, the risk of accidents decreases. The design of the CAS solution also allows the driver to notice immediately when another truck is in the same area of ​​work, warning him or her of a possible collision.

Not only that – the CAS system also delivers increased productivity as forklift drivers can focus on their work without having to worry about their safety. Thus, not only will you achieve a higher level of efficiency, you will also notice a significant reduction in the stress levels of your workers.

What are the main areas of application of this solution?

As we mentioned above, the CAS system is ideally suited to areas with heavy forklift traffic and low driver visibility. For instance, in:

• Docks
• Goods’ loading and unloading areas
• Store aisles’ exits

The CAS system is also very useful in places where large forklifts coexist with smaller trucks.