At Hyster, your safety is one of our main concerns. This is why we offer a variety of optional safety equipment that can be added to your machine or work site. Following the standards of OSHA, Hyster manufactures both visible and audible warning devices as well as head and work lamps.
According to ASME B56.1 and OSHA regulations, the only warning device required on a lift truck is the horn on the steering wheel, which is a basic feature on all forklifts. Although visible or audible warning devices are not required on all kinds of forklifts, there are some situations where optional warning devices may be suitable. These factors are unique to every work site or work place and each situation should be considered individually.
Motion alarms or back-up alarms are the most common safety devices. The noise produced by these alarms are the main factor to take into consideration. To begin with, the audible device needs to be distinguished from other sounds in the work site and the noise has to be loud enough to be heard in the work location, even when other machines may be operating. The ability for workers to hear alarms and know where the sound is coming from could be compromised if employees are wearing hearing protection devices. If the alarms are very offensive or disruptive to workers, nearby companies, or nearby residents, alarms may have to be disabled. If sound should be disabled, this must be able to happen readily. Rules also need to be followed to ensure that noise levels do not exceed OSHA noise limits.
For visible safety devices, most commonly strobe, rotating, or flashing lights, numerous points must be considered and thought must be put into whether visible safety devices may be more appropriate compared to audible devices. Driver distraction, workplace lighting and presence of reflective surfaces are all top priorities to take into account to make certain that safety devices do not pose a danger to drivers or other employees and are effective. Colour of safety lights must be different from background surfaces and other lights which are within the work site. Safety device placement are of utmost importance. Lights should be able to clear any overhead obstacles. Light positioning must not cause the lights to reflect or shine into the eyes of the driver, but shielding of the lights should not excessively block the light's visibility to pedestrians.
Hyster has a variety of optional lights to suit many application requirements including weather-resistant LED and halogen lights which hold up through shock and vibration as well. When it comes to head lamps and work lamps, OSHA has set standards to make working at night or in dark work spaces safer. Directional lighting is required if the forklift lighting produces less than 2 lumens per square foot. Hyster has numerous options that will really help increase visibility in low-light conditions.