Materials handling equipment provider Linde has unveiled a new safety system for forklift trucks designed to prevent accidents involving pedestrians in the warehouse environment.

It has been reported that 1,300 workers in the UK are seriously injured following accidents involving forklift trucks and this includes a significant number of pedestrians. An analysis of RIDDOR reports into forklift truck accidents by the British Industrial Truck Association (BITA) also revealed that nearly 75% of ‘impact with a third person’ events involve pedestrians that were completing tasks unrelated to the immediate truck operation at the time of their accident.

Linde’s new motion detection sensor-based technology stops the forklift reversing after detecting movement behind it and will sound a warning to alert both driver and pedestrian. It is being offered as an option for the company’s new series of counterbalanced trucks, but can also be retrofitted to older vehicles.

Loading and unloading or picking up and putting down of loads are among the most critical situations involving forklift trucks and pedestrians.

Fabian Zimmermann, Product Manager Safety at Linde MH said, “An accident can quickly happen if there are people behind the forklift when it starts reversing. Pedestrians may assume that the forklift driver will see them, or they don’t expect a forklift in front of a rack or storage area to suddenly reverse. If the driver forgets to look over their shoulder, this can have serious consequences too.”

The system is particularly effective in poorly lit areas or where visibility is otherwise restricted. The detection area can be adapted to operating and ambient conditions to ensure a high degree of flexibility and prevent unnecessary warnings.

Photo: New sensor technology will reduce pedestrian accidents.