At Hyster, your safety is among our main concerns. This is the reason why we offer a range of optional safety devices which can be included to your machinery or work place. Following the standards of OSHA, Hyster manufactures head and work lamps along with both visible and audible warning devices.
The only warning device required on the forklift according to OSHA and ASME B56.1 regulations is the steering wheel horn. The horn is basic on all types of forklifts. Although lift trucks 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 every work place or work site and every condition should be considered individually.
Back-up alarms or motion alarms are the most common safety devices. The noise made by these alarms are the main factor to consider. To begin with, the audible device must be able to be distinguished from other kinds of noises within the work place and the sound should be loud enough to be heard in the work site, even if other machinery could be functioning. The ability for workers to hear alarms and determine where the sound is coming from could be compromised if workers wear hearing protection devices. If the alarms are too disruptive or offensive to employees, nearby homes, or nearby businesses, alarms might need to be disabled. If sound must be disabled, this must be able to take place readily. Regulations should also be followed to make certain that noise levels do not go beyond OSHA noise limits.
For visible safety devices, most frequently strobe, rotating, or flashing lights, many points must be considered and thought must be put into whether visible safety devices may be more suitable compared to audible devices. Operator distraction, workplace lighting and presence of reflective surfaces are top priorities to consider to make sure that safety devices do not pose a danger to operators or other employees and are effective. Colour of safety lights must be different from background surfaces and other lights which are within the work place. Safety device placement are of utmost importance. Lights should be able to clear any overhead obstacles. Light positioning should not cause the lights to shine or reflect into the operator's eyes, but shielding of the lights must not overly obstruct the light's visibility to pedestrians.
Hyster has a variety of optional lights to suit many application needs including halogen lights and weather-resistant LED which 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 areas safer. Directional lighting is needed if the lighting on the truck makes less than 2 lumens per square foot. Hyster has a lot of options which will really help increase visibility in low-light situations.