Chronics

Forklifts helped improve and facilitate handling tasks. Yet a recent collection of accident statistics indicates that the risks associated with forklift trucks are also very high and that they are the cause of many workplace accidents in several countries.

What behavioural and operational factors can contribute to forklift trucks accidents?

• Travelling at excessive speed.
• Riding with the load elevated.
• Improper backing up techniques.
• Improper turning, braking or accelerating.
• Improper warnings to others about a forklift in use nearby.
• Poor communication during shared tasks, or in shared spaces.
• Riding or giving rides on forklift or load.
• Parking the forklift improperly.
• Improper blocking of wheels on semi-trailers or railway cars.
• Horseplay; stunt driving; jerky, erratic driving.
• Inadequate servicing of the forklift.

What factors of work organization can contribute to forklift trucks accidents?

• Lack of training or improper training of workers who have to operate forklift trucks.
• Production factors such as speed or stress.
• Lack of proper tools, attachments and accessories.
• Improper assignment of forklifts and operators.
• Poor maintenance of forklifts.
• Age of forklifts.

How can workplace design contribute to forklift trucks accidents?

• Narrow aisles.
• Crowded, cluttered aisles.
• Obstructions at intersections and doors.
• Volume of traffic in work area.
• Other workplace conditions such as noise, odours, toxic gases, dust, or poor lighting.
• Many ramps with different surfaces.
• différences de revêtement des rampes d'accès;
• Condition of loading dock.  

Source: https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/safety_haz/forklift/accident.htmll

How to avoid or at least limit accidents which implicates pedestrians?

• Separating the forklift zone from the pedestrian zone by making separate aisles one for pedestrians and one for forklifts.
• Denying access in the forklift zone.
• In any possible mesure, pedestrians must keep a secure distance from the forklift. It is important to make visual contact with the forklift driver thus assuring the driver is aware of your presence in the work zone.
• Assure that the work zone is well lit and there are no obstacles that may reduce the driver’s visibility.
• Exercise caution around and near blind spots, near entrances and narrow aisles. The driver must apply the horn of the forklift when approaching crossroads.
• Wear visible clothing where it’s required.
• Set speed limits for forklifts.
• Do not walk near forklifts which the forks are lifted neither walk underneath the forks.
• Take caution not to obstruct the vision of the forklift driver who is transporting a load.
• Avoid operating a forklift where there is an elevated pedestrian zone.

Limit areas of restricted vision

To prevent collisions, a pedestrian detection is necessary. Many types of cameras are recommended in this situation. Simple cameras, radars, ultrasounds or morphological recognition etc. Fo exemple, a pedestrian detection system using a morphological recognition system.

Blue : Field of vision (control screen)

Orange : Danger zone (As soon as a pedestrian enters this area, the driver is warned by an alarm)

Attention, these security systems are tools to assist the vigilance of the driver. The simple fact of installing a system would not eliminate all accidents but would certainly help to diminish some of them. Whatever position we are whether a driver or pedestrian being vigilant is important.

Maximize your vision and security on the work site by installing an industrial camera: 

Grease is the key element to your lubrication system.

The type of grease chosen is particularly important to keep the system running and will impact the efficiency. Thick grease can cause several problems when temperatures are very cold.

Pumpability of a more fluid grease (EP-0) compared to thicker grease (EP-2) in winter, will help your system work at lower pressure and will help achieve optimal performance.

Below 0°C, EP-2 grease will be very difficult to pump in an automatic greasing system. For example, even though it is indicated on the EP-2 tube that it is pumpable up to -10°C, the grease will not be able to move in the automatic greasing system because of the internal width of the hoses and distribution valves which create restriction. Therefore, reduce the viscosity of the grease to get the optimal performance you need.

Should you still use a thicker grease in the winter, use a synthetic grease instead of a mineral grease. We recommend EP-1 synthetic grease or EP-0 mineral grease in all areas below 48th parallel, as well as temperatures up to -40°C. After that, you will have to downgrade or use full synthetic or more fluid grease.  

Characteristics

After analyzing the working conditions of your automatic greasing system, here are the recommendations concerning the choice of the grease to use. 

Mixing different types of grease may damage your system.

Before changing your grease, make sure the new grease is compatible with the current grease.

Procedures to bleed your system

In order to avoid mixing greases, it is strongly advised to bleed your system. The Alltech Group proposes you a grease replacement procedures in order to avoid damaging your system.

Information and Recommendation about greases

To view our online guide to greases:

The right weighing solution for any dumper

With the scales for articulated dumpers, PFREUNDT offers you the perfect weighing solution for almost all types - manufacturer- independent. During loading, the weight is determined by measuring elements on the rear axles for fast and efficient workflows.

Download the brochure:

Overview

• Precise weighing results even under extreme conditions during loading
• Simple and intuitive operation through touch display
• Comprehensive and customizable master and weighing data management
• Exact activity recording
• Optimum capacity utilisation
• Registration of overloads
• LED lights signal loading status

Option

• pPrinter (tickets)
• Thermal printer (paper roll)
• PFREUNDT Web portal connection Your weighing data: Accessible. Any time. Anywhere.

 Technical specifications

Alltech Group – The strength of a network!

Our after sales service is our strength. Alltech Group has established a distribution network which insures local services in particular regions. With many distributors across eastern Canada, the Alltech Group puts at your disposal a real network allowing you to ensure service no matter where you are located. Our distributors have highly qualified staff which are trained according to our standards enabling them to perform installations and service calls , as much on the construction sites as within your company.

The experience of each distributor generates our strength of our network . Together we formed a team that is at your service!

The filling is quite easy, it can be done in 2 ways:

• With an adjustable, all-alloy OKO Pump which fits the drum and applies pre-measured OKO at up to 8.5fl oz per downward stroke, against up to 60 psi tire pressure. No assembly or lubrication is needed.
• With pre-measured pails or full drums that are poured into the open tire well when fitting a new tire.

For more information about OKO: