At Hyster, your safety is amongst our main concerns. This is the reason why we provide a variety of optional safety equipment which could be included to your machine or work site. Following the standards of OSHA, Hyster manufactures both visible and audible warning devices as well as work and head lamps.
According to OSHA and ASME B56.1 regulations, the only warning device needed on a lift truck is the horn on the steering wheel, that is a standard feature on all lift trucks. Even though visible or audible warning devices are not required on all kinds of forklifts, there are some situations where optional warning devices may be appropriate. These factors are unique to each and every work place or work site and each situation must be considered individually.
Back-up alarms or motion alarms are the most common safety devices. The noise made by these alarms are the main factor to take into account. To begin with, the audible device needs to be distinguished from other types of noises in the work site and the noise has to be really loud to be heard in the work site, even when other machinery could be functioning. The ability for workers to hear alarms and know where the sound is coming from could be compromised if workers wear hearing protection devices. If the alarms are too disruptive or offensive to employees, nearby residents, or nearby companies, alarms might need to be disabled. If noise must be disabled, this should be able to happen readily. Regulations also have to be followed in order to ensure that noise levels do not exceed OSHA noise limits.
Visible safety devices may include the common flashing, strobe or rotating lights. Things to consider with visible safety devices include whether or not these devices may be more appropriate compared to audible devices. Workplace lighting, presence of reflective surfaces, and operator distraction are main priorities to take into consideration to ensure that safety devices are effective and do not pose a danger to operators or other employees. Colour of safety lights must be different from other lights and background surfaces which are in the work place. Safety device placement are really important. Lights must be able to clear any overhead obstacles. Placement of lights must not cause the lights to reflect or shine into the eyes of the operator, but shielding of the lights should not overly block the light's visibility to pedestrians.
Hyster has a range of optional lights to meet many application needs including halogen lights and weather-resistant LED that hold up through vibration and shock as well. When it comes to work lamps and head lamps, OSHA has set standards to make working in dark work spaces or at night a lot safer. Directional lighting is needed if the lighting on the lift truck makes less than 2 lumens per square foot. Hyster has many alternatives which will help increase visibility in low-light situations.