Page 38 - Occupational Health & Safety, July 2018

FACILITY SAFETY
In a sense, today’s forklift operators are driving industrial-strength computers capable of carry- ing full pallet loads as they collect valuable data throughout their environment.
forklift safety. As the Internet of Things (IoT) enables the forklift to become more connected, a forklift fleet and operator manage- ment system can give you the information and control you need to tackle the complex issue of safety and give it the consistent at- tention it deserves.
A Strong Safety Culture
Industry data shows that training, when done properly, can be very effective in helping to create a safer environment. According to the Industrial Truck Association (ITA) website, OSHA reports that ap- proximately 70 percent of all forklift accidents in the United States could be avoided with proper safety training and policy.
For many forklift operators, the forklift is their office. Outside of personal breaks and maintenance stops, they spend the majority of their day on a truck, and the way they interact with that equipment has a big impact on overall warehouse productivity and safety. All forklift operators are required to go through training where they learn the proper and safe behavior needed to successfully use the forklift. Upon finishing that training, it is the operators’ responsi- bility to put everything they learned into practice. Unfortunately, accidents do happen and safety issues do arise.
While operators should rightly be a big focus of safety efforts in the industry—current figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics places the number of U.S. operators at 539,810—there are literally millions of people impacted by forklift safety every day; for instance, pedestrians who work within environments where forklifts are used. That is why it’s not just about the quality of the training, but also the accessibility of the training. A strong safety culture is one that encourages and provides training not only for operators, but also for trainers, supervisors, and even pedestrians.
The Connected Forklift
The forklift is no longer just a vehicle used to move products from point A to point B. It has become an intelligent mobile information technology hub. In a sense, today’s forklift operators are driving industrial-strength computers capable of carrying full pallet loads as they collect valuable data throughout their environment.
Forklifts are already doing much of the data collection through on-board computer systems. They collect and process information from their own internal systems as well as from their environment and other material handling systems and can then transmit the data via fleet and operator management systems to executives and supervisors for analysis and decision making. Because of the in- crease in embedded processing power, decrease in the cost of sen- sors, and growing interest among customers to leverage Big Data and IoT, the forklift is expanding its current functionality.
The data and visibility provided by this new level of connectiv-
CORPORATE PROFILE
www.sensidyne.com
1000 112th Circle North, Suite 100 St. Petersburg, FL 33716
(International) +1 (727) 530-3602 or (North America) (800) 451-9444 Fax: +1 (727) 576-1981
Contact Information
Customer Support Team info@sensidyne.com
SENSIDYNE®: THE HIGHEST STANDARD IN AIR SAMPLING
Sensidyne manufactures and distributes air sampling instruments, gas detection instruments, and gas detection tubes throughout the United States and around the world. The Gilian®brand is recognized globally for high performance vapor and particulate sampling and monitoring equip- ment, and air flow calibrators. In addition, Sensidyne is a technology leader in fixed gas detection.
Sensidyne’s commitment to quality, dependability, and accuracy has estab- lished the company and the Gilian brand as the gold standard in air sam- pling. Focused on continuous improvement, Sensidyne delivers desirable, intuitive, and dependable products and services for Health & Safety Profes- sionals. Sensidyne is ISO 9001 Certified with ISO 17025 accreditation.
36
www.ohsonline.com
Circle 51 on card.