At Hyster, your safety is amongst our top concerns. This is the reason why we provide a variety of optional safety equipment that could be included to your machine or work place. Following OSHA standards, Hyster manufactures both visible and audible warning devices in addition to work and head lamps.
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 though lift trucks are not required to have both audible or visible warning devices, there are some situations where optional warning devices may be appropriate. These factors are unique to each and every work site or work place and each and every condition must be considered individually.
For audible safety devices, which are most frequently motion alarms or back-up alarms, the main point to take into account is the level of noise produced by the alarm. To begin with, the audible device needs to be distinguished from other sounds within the work site and the noise has to be very loud to be heard in the work location, even when other types of equipment could be operating. The ability for workers to hear alarms and determine where the sound is coming from can be compromised if employees wear hearing protection devices. If the alarms are too disruptive or offensive to workers, nearby homes, or nearby companies, alarms may need to be disabled. If noise should be disabled, this must be able to happen readily. Rules also have to be followed in order to ensure that the levels of noise do not go beyond OSHA noise limits.
For visible safety devices, most frequently strobe, rotating, or flashing lights, many points should be considered and thought must be put into whether visible safety devices may be more suitable compared to audible devices. Workplace lighting, presence of reflective surfaces, and driver distraction are all top concerns to take into consideration to ensure that safety devices are effective and do not pose a danger to drivers or other workers. Safety light colours must be different from background surfaces and other lights which are in the work site. Safety device positioning are of greatest importance. Lights should be able to clear any overhead obstacles. Position of lights should not cause the lights to shine or reflect into the operator's eyes, but shielding of the lights should not overly block the light's visibility to pedestrians.
To meet many application needs, Hyster has a variety of optional lights which comprise halogen lights and weather-resistant LED. These lights can hold up through vibration and shock as well. As for head lamps and work lamps, OSHA has set standards to make working at night or in dark work spaces safer. Directional lighting is needed if the lighting on the forklift produces less than 2 lumens per square foot. Hyster has numerous options that would really help increase visibility in low-light conditions.