A recent survey in South Africa revealed that only 10% of material handling accidents in the country were caused by unsafe equipment or workplace conditions; 88% were caused by human action or the failure to take action. Box trolleys, sofa trolleys, warehouse racks and other manual handling equipment are safe if operated by trained personnel. The greater danger is from motorised vehicles like forklifts.
To address this issue, Toyota Material Handling has improved the safety of its warehouse vehicles with a System of Active Stability. This is a system that limits the forward tilt angle to prevent unsecured loads spilling or forklifts tipping over. Proximity sensors detect nearby objects and workers on foot to warn the driver when the vehicle is close. The system cuts the speed if there is a collision danger.
High-visibility seat belts are another safety feature that makes it easy to spot if a driver is not wearing one. An additional system prevents the forklift from moving or lifting goods if the belt is not fastened.
Toyota’s mission statement is:
“To ensure that every piece of equipment we provide not only meets but exceeds safety standards, safeguarding those who use it and those around them.”
Though warehouse equipment manufacturers are adding innovative safety features they cannot eliminate human error. This is why Toyota also has its driver training program for beginner and expert drivers so that they can operate machinery safely and efficiently. When new safety features are added, drivers have their knowledge updated.
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