Accidents involving forklift trucks remain a reality in warehouses, factories and logistics centres. In fact, incidents in which workers are struck or hit by forklift trucks account for 25.7% of workplace accidents resulting in time off work in Spain, making them one of the main risks associated with these environments.
But why do they keep happening?
In a logistics facility, forklift trucks and operators share the same space for much of the working day. Intersections, corners, aisle exits, loading areas and points with limited visibility can create hazardous situations in a matter of seconds.
Limited visibility is one of the main factors. A bulky load, a reversing manoeuvre or a poorly visible intersection can prevent the driver from detecting a worker in time.
Other contributing factors include vehicles and pedestrians moving through shared spaces, excessive speed, absent or faulty warning devices, and a lack of training or experience among some operators.
And when a risk arises, reacting in time is essential
At Carttec, we have Crash Stopper, our system developed to help prevent accidents between forklift trucks and pedestrians.
Crash Stopper detects the proximity of vehicles and people and generates warnings in potentially hazardous situations, helping both drivers and workers to react before a collision or pedestrian accident occurs.
It is particularly useful in areas where visibility is limited or traffic is heavier, such as aisle intersections, corners, doorways, access points and areas where machinery such as forklifts and workers regularly share the same space.
In this way, Crash Stopper complements the safety measures already in place at the facility – signage, designated routes, audible warning systems and internal protocols – by adding technology designed to detect risk before an accident occurs.
