Forklift detects rear space and protects pedestrians

Occupational safety and health protection are top priorities in many companies today. The Linde Motion Detection assistance system provides even better protection for pedestrians in warehouse areas by detecting movement behind a stationary truck. In this case, reversing is prevented and a warning signal sounds. Both employees and management benefit from this effective accident prevention: the health of everyone present in the warehouse is better protected, the forklift drivers are relieved, downtimes or disruptions to the operating process are prevented as far as possible and, as a result, productivity is improved. Linde MH is initially offering the sensor-based solution as an option for the company’s new counterweight series. The retrofit solution is to follow shortly, which can then also be used for other truck makes.

One of the most critical situations in the interaction between forklift trucks and pedestrians is the loading and unloading or the picking up and setting down of loads. “If there are people behind the forklift and it reverses, an accident can quickly occur. The causes often lie in the behaviour of the people involved,” explains Fabian Zimmermann, Product Manager Safety. “Pedestrians are inattentive and trust that they will be seen by the forklift drivers. In addition, they do not reckon with the fact that the forklift standing in front of a shelf or in the block storage area could suddenly reverse. If the driver is then careless for a moment and forgets to look over his shoulder, this can have serious consequences. In addition, the view behind the vehicle can be obscured by blind spots, stored goods or shelves. And the risk of accidents increases the more industrial trucks, pedestrians or even cyclists are on the road in logistics areas.”

Increasing safety with innovative technology

The Linde Motion Detection assistance system defuses this dangerous situation by warning both the forklift driver and people who appear in the rear working area. A motion sensor reliably detects any movement behind the stationary vehicle, regardless of the prevailing lighting conditions – whether it is triggered by people or other vehicles. In this case, the system automatically prevents or stops the approaching truck from reversing and warns its operator via an indication on the display. In addition, the assistance system optionally triggers an acoustic alarm to draw the attention of passers-by to the dangerous situation that has arisen and to trigger learning effects in all those involved. The driver is only allowed to continue driving after he has actively returned the accelerator pedal to its initial position, which further increases safety.

Especially in challenging working environments, such as poorly lit warehouse sections or areas that are difficult to see for structural reasons, the assistance system is an effective support and relief for the driver. The detection area can be adapted to the respective operating and environmental conditions, which ensures a high degree of flexibility. This defuses critical situations and prevents unnecessary warnings.

A reliable partner for safe goods handling

Linde Motion Detection is part of Linde MH’s comprehensive safety portfolio. With standard and optional assistance systems, such as the Linde Safety Guard or Linde Safety Pilot, as well as consulting services, the company supports its customers in safe and efficient goods handling.

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