It's becoming increasingly difficult to trick the sensor that activates the safety system when the driver engages reverse: In Hyster vehicles, it's located next to the reverse lever and detects whether a hand is on the handle. If not, the reverse speed is limited to 2 km/h.
Holding the handle prompts the driver to look in the direction of travel when reversing. Hyster is supporting the attention of forklift operators in industrial applications with two new systems. Starting this fall, the dynamic pedestrian warning system and the reverse speed system will be available as factory options for selected vehicle models.
“In demanding industries, diverse loads are often moved under difficult operating conditions in high-traffic locations,” says Robert O’Donoghue, VP Marketing and Solutions EMEA at Hyster. “Depending on the application, this can increase the risk of human error.”.
The dynamic pedestrian warning system is available for a range of Hyster electric and internal combustion engine forklifts with lifting capacities from 1.5 to 5.5 tons. The compact blue LEDs can be mounted on the front or rear of a counterbalance forklift. They project a progressively flashing blue arrow pattern in a straight line onto the floor. This striking light clearly indicates the direction from which a forklift is approaching and the direction it is traveling, allowing pedestrians or other vehicles to easily identify the forklift's position. The system is designed to enhance safety in certain industrial warehouses with blind corners, intersecting aisles, high pedestrian traffic, or frequent unloading operations where visibility of the forklifts is limited.
The patent-pending reverse speed system is available to Hyster customers on selected 3- and 4-wheel forklifts with lifting capacities from 1.5 to 5.5 t.
Photos: Hyster
“This feature is important to keep the forklift away from pedestrians and other objects that might be in its path,” explains Robert O’Donoghue, VP Marketing and Solutions EMEA at Hyster. “In areas where many temporary or contract workers are employed, this feature can be particularly helpful in ensuring compliance with operational standards.”
The reversing system also limits the speed if the sensor detects a hand on the handle while the forklift is moving forward. This encourages the driver to look in the correct direction. It also prevents the driver from trying to "trick" the system, for example, by placing something over the sensor.
