At Hyster, your safety is among our main concerns. This is why we provide a range of optional safety equipment which can be included to your machinery or work site. Following the standards of OSHA, Hyster manufactures both audible and visible warning devices as well as work and head lamps.
The only warning device needed on the lift truck according to ASME B56.1 and OSHA regulations is the steering wheel horn. The horn is standard on all types of lift trucks. Although forklifts are not required to have visible or audible warning devices, there are a few cases where optional warning devices might be suitable. These factors are unique to each and every work site or work place and each and every case 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 thing to take into consideration. First of all, the audible device must be able to be distinguished from other kinds of noises in the work site and the sound must be extremely loud to be heard in the work site, even when other kinds of machinery could be running. The ability for employees to hear alarms and know where the noise is originating from could be compromised if employees wear hearing protection devices. If the alarms are too offensive or disruptive to employees, nearby houses, or nearby businesses, alarms might need to be disabled. If sound must be disabled, this must be able to take place readily. Rules also have to be followed so as to make certain that noise levels do not exceed OSHA noise limits.
For visible safety devices, most frequently flashing, strobe or rotating lights, many factors must be considered and thought must be put into whether visible safety devices may be more suitable than audible devices. Driver distraction, workplace lighting and presence of reflective surfaces are all main priorities to take into consideration to ensure that safety devices are effective and do not pose a danger to operators or other employees. Safety light colours must be different from other lights and background surfaces which are within the work place. Safety device positioning are of greatest importance. Lights must be able to clear any overhead obstacles. Light positioning should not cause the lights to shine or reflect into the eyes of the driver, but shielding of the lights must not overly obstruct the light's visibility to pedestrians.
To suit many application requirements, Hyster has a variety of optional lights which consist of halogen lights and weather-resistant LED. These lights are able to hold up through vibration and shock as well. As for work lamps and head lamps, OSHA has set standards to make working at night or in dark work areas safer. Directional lighting is required if the truck lighting makes less than 2 lumens per square foot. Hyster has a lot of choices which would help increase visibility in low-light situations.