FORKLIFTS MAY 2019
www.manufacturingmanagement.co.uk
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The UK’s leading manufacturer of clay
and plastic pipes has invested over
three-quarters of a million pounds in
forklift safety. Wavin, which employs over
120 people at its site in Hazlehead, near
She eld, has taken delivery of 16 new
forklifts and six Bradshaw picking vehicles,
all of which are brimming with new
technology to keep its drivers and
on-site team safe.
The new forklifts are fi tted with speed
limiting systems to manage the transition
from outdoor to indoor driving speeds
more e ectively. The seats have a raised
driving position that improves forward
visibility enabling drivers to locate their
co-workers better when carrying the taller
pipe packs around site. LED road lights
increase the ability of pedestrians to sense
and identify an approaching truck.
The changes came about after Wavin’s
management team asked the company’s
forklift operators about the challenges
they face. “Because of the size of the packs
of pipes we move, it was previously not
possible to see over the product looking
forwards, so reversing to manoeuvre
these packs was commonplace,” explains
Dave Wilson, warehouse and distribution
manager at the site. “We found that this
was causing undue stress to drivers’ lower
bodies as they needed to twist around to
see behind them as they manoeuvred.”
Using forklifts with raised driving
positions enables signifi cantly improved
forward vision, with reversing being
reduced by 60-70% in most areas of the
site, and as much as 90% in others.
“We can’t eliminate reversing
completely, so the swivelling seats are
much more ergonomically friendly for
our drivers when they do need to look
behind them as they move product
around site,” adds Wilson.
The forklifts are also fi tted with
reversing cameras and protection sensors,
similar to those found in modern cars,
to ensure the drivers operate safely in
their environment. This compliments
Wavin’s existing fl eet, already fi tted with
Bluespot technology, which provides
visual warnings to any nearby pedestrians
reducing the risk of contact.
Wilson continues: “Another concern
raised by our team during our canvassing
was that the speed of the forklifts should
be kept to walking pace when indoors.
Our new forklifts are fi tted with sensors
that immediately slows
any forklifts coming indoors to 4mph and
keeps them to the site limit when outdoors.
This has taken the pressure o our drivers,
who can be more vigilant regarding their
surroundings and colleagues – making
for a safer working environment.”
In addition to this, each forklift
has a system to ensure that the driver
is currently licenced to drive that
specifi cation of vehicle. The drivers also
undertake a comprehensive safety check
on the vehicle before starting their shift.
Case study: Wavin invests in safety
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