One of Hysters main safety concerns is safety. It is why they offer numerous pieces of optional safety equipment which could be incorporated to either the work site or the machine itself. Following the standards of OSHA, Hyster makes head and work lamps as well as both visible and audible warning devices.
According to ASME B56.1 and OSHA regulations, the only warning device needed on a lift truck is the horn on the steering wheel, that is a standard feature on all lift trucks. Although visible or audible warning devices are not required on all types of forklifts, there are some cases where optional warning devices might be suitable. These factors are unique to every work place or work site and each condition needs to be considered individually.
For audible safety devices, that are most frequently motion alarms or back-up alarms, the main factor to take into consideration is the level of noise made by the alarm. To begin with, the audible device must be able to be distinguished from other kinds of sounds in the work site and the sound has to be loud enough to be heard in the work site, even if other kinds of equipment may be operating. The ability for employees to hear alarms and determine where the sound is coming from could be compromised if employees wear hearing protection devices. If the alarms are very offensive or disruptive to workers, nearby houses, or nearby businesses, alarms might need to be disabled. If noise has to be disabled, this must be able to happen readily. Regulations must also be followed to ensure that noise levels do not exceed OSHA noise limitations.
For visible safety devices, most commonly rotating, flashing or strobe lights, many factors must be considered and thought must be put into whether visible safety devices might be more appropriate compared to audible devices. Workplace lighting, presence of reflective surfaces, and driver distraction are all main concerns to consider to make certain that safety devices are effective and do not pose a danger to operators or other workers. Colour of safety lights should be different from background surfaces and other lights which are in the work site. Position of safety devices are of greatest importance. Lights must be able to clear any overhead obstacles. Placement of lights should not cause the lights to reflect or shine into the eyes of the operator, but shielding of the lights should not excessively obstruct the light's visibility to pedestrians.
Hyster has a range of optional lights to meet numerous application requirements including weather-resistant LED and halogen lights that hold up through shock and vibration as well. When it comes to work lamps and head lamps, OSHA has set standards to make working at night or in dark work spaces a lot safer. Directional lighting is required if the lighting on the lift truck produces less than 2 lumens per square foot. Hyster has lots of choices that would really help increase visibility in low-light situations.