One of Hysters main safety concerns is safety. It is why they provide numerous pieces of optional safety equipment which can be incorporated to either the work place or the machinery itself. Following OSHA standards, Hyster manufactures head and work lamps as well as both visible and audible warning devices.
According to ASME B56.1 and OSHA regulations, the only warning device needed on a forklift is the horn on the steering wheel, which is a standard feature on all lift trucks. Even if lift trucks are not required to have both audible or visible warning devices, there are a few situations where optional warning devices may be suitable. These factors are unique to every work site or work place and each and every case must be considered individually.
For audible safety devices, which are most commonly back-up alarms or motion alarms, the main factor to consider is the level of noise produced by the alarm. To begin with, the audible device must be able to be distinguished from other sounds within the work place and the noise has to be extremely loud to be heard in the work site, even if other kinds of machines could be operating. The ability for workers to hear alarms and determine where the sound is coming from could be compromised if employees are wearing hearing protection devices. If the alarms are too offensive or disruptive to workers, nearby businesses, or nearby houses, alarms may have to be disabled. If noise must be disabled, this should be able to happen readily. Rules also need to be followed so as to make certain that noise levels do not go beyond OSHA noise limitations.
For visible safety devices, most commonly flashing, strobe or rotating lights, numerous factors must be considered and thought should be put into whether visible safety devices might be more suitable than audible devices. Driver distraction, workplace lighting and presence of reflective surfaces are top concerns to take into account to make sure that safety devices do not pose a danger to drivers or other workers and are effective. Safety light colours should be different from other lights and background surfaces which are in the work place. Position of safety devices are of greatest importance. Lights must be able to clear any overhead obstacles. Placement of lights must not cause the lights to shine or reflect into the eyes of the operator, but shielding of the lights must not excessively obstruct the light's visibility to pedestrians.
Hyster has a variety of optional lights to suit numerous application requirements including halogen lights and weather-resistant LED which hold up through vibration and shock as well. When it comes to head lamps and work lamps, OSHA has set standards to make working in dark work spaces or at night safer. Directional lighting is required if the lighting on the forklift makes less than 2 lumens per square foot. Hyster has many alternatives which will help increase visibility in low-light situations.