Forklift Safety For A Better Tomorrow with Toyota
No job can--or should--be completed without proper safety protocols in place. This is particularly true when dealing with heavy machinery, such as forklifts, in the workplace. Learn the key features of a safe forklift, the statistics on the features that most buyers prefer, and the best practices for workplace safety while operating a forklift. The importance of operator safety training remains the first line of defense in reducing forklift-related incidents. However, it is known all too well in the lift truck industry that errors in operator judgment often lead to accidents. Toyota has developed the world’s first System of Active Stability™ (SAS), derived from automotive technology. Toyota’s SAS and Active Mast Control (AMC) technologies were designed specifically to reduce the likelihood of accidents during these “errors in judgment” scenarios. SAS, which is standard equipment on all Toyota 4-wheel sit down internal combustion (IC) and electric lift trucks, uses patented technology developed by Toyota to sense mast height, load weight, vehicle speed and yaw rate (or angular acceleration); conditions that play a significant role in lateral lift truck stability. When the SAS sensors detect conditions, which may lead to a potential lateral overturn, SAS instantly interprets those conditions and locks a hydraulic cylinder on the rear steer axle, changing the lift truck’s stability footprint from triangular in shape to rectangular, thereby increasing lateral stability and substantially reducing the likelihood of a lateral overturn. Following the introduction of SAS, transportation injuries involving forklifts in the United States decreased while the SAS field population increased between 1999 and 2010. While mandatory operator training enacted by OSHA certainly plays a large part in these reductions, the safety impact provided by SAS cannot be underestimated – Toyota’s SAS system helps reduce the likelihood of overturn accidents.
Recommended
More Related Content
More from Forklift Trucks in Minnesota
More from Forklift Trucks in Minnesota (20)
Forklift Safety For A Better Tomorrow with Toyota
- 1. FORKLIFT SAFETY FOR A BETTER TOMORROW From warehouses to manufacturing plants, forklifts are a vital tool of productivity, moving everything from parts to potatoes. With thousands of forklift injuries occurring every year, forklift safety awareness is essential. See statistics on the safety features most buyers prefer and how Toyota’s System of Active Stability™ helps reduce the risk of tipovers. TRAINING: THE BEST BET FOR FORKLIFT SAFETY of forklift-related $7,000 - OSHA fines for Choosing a safe forklift is a great place to start, but what matters 25% accidents are the result inadequate or improper most is who is sitting in the driver’s seat. of inadequate training Source: OSHA $70,000: safety training Source: OSHA PROPER TRAINING HELPS PROTECT FROM: OSHA ! % $ FOLLOWING TRAINING OF LIFT TRUCK OPERATORS, OSHA FOUND THERE Injury / death OSHA fines for non-compliance Liabilities Loss of resources High insurance High maintenance Property and product WAS A 61% IMPROVEMENT 61% IMPROVEMENT premiums costs damage IN OPERATOR PERFORMANCE SCORES SHOPPING FOR SAFETY FUNCTIONAL SAFETY The most sought after safety features, by percent of forklift purchasers. What is most important in terms of safety by percent of forklift purchasers? 96% Overhead guards 84% Mirrors 94% Mast function control systems 97% 96% 95% 88% Seat 80% Strobe lights Operator protection while in the cab Lateral stability Operator seating and comfort 90% Seat belts 85% Alarms Weight distribution Longitudinal stability and balance 81% Rear stability control systems 84% Battery guards and warnings SMARTER SAFETY Toyota’s System of Active Stability™ (SAS) Electronically monitors and controls MONITORS: FORKLIFT SAFETY BEST PRACTICES a forklift’s operations to help reduce Always perform the daily forklift safety inspection first the risk of tipovers. When the system Only handle loads senses instability, it automatically Practice safe driving: within the forklift’s engages the swing lock cylinder to rated capacity stabilize the rear axle, increasing the Longitudinal Lateral lateral stability. stability stability Never allow Always tilt the 8K PROVEN SAFETY RECORD: 250K load back before 1 riders on SAS Field Population 7K raising or driving Transportation Injuries 200K the forklift Annual Forklift 6K 150K Only trained and certified individuals should operate forklifts. 5K 100K 4K 3K 50K 2K 0 Never walk under a Always stay under Always wear a 1999 2010 raised load. Watch the overhead guard seatbelt! That’s why 22% of forklift purchasers consider Toyota’s forklifts as the safest for pedestrians! and the lift truck brand that has the fewest safety related incidents according For a complete list of forklift safety best practices, visit osha.gov to read OSHA Standard 1910.178. to survey respondents. The closest runner-up scored 15%. 2 The standard outlines the general requirements for operation of powered industrial lift trucks. ¹ Nonfatal Occupational Injuries on forklifts of the same type as those offered by Toyota that are equipped Source: Special Study of Lift Truck Safety Considerations by Peerless Media Research Group. with SAS. Table R27, 1999-2010. www.bls.gov. http://www.toyotaforklift.com/pages/about-us/toyota-philosophy/safety-focus.aspx ² Source: Toyota Material Handling, U.S.A., Inc.