In a warehouse, the chances of a worker getting hit or run over by a forklift or any other type of vehicle utilized in the warehouse are significantly high. Even though forklift drivers are trained to be vigilant while operating a forklift, various blind spots may cause the driver to back up onto a pedestrian unknowingly.
However, you can minimize the chances of pedestrians getting injured by a forklift by investing in a warehouse pedestrian detection system. The system is equipped with various sensors, such as an infrared imaging sensor that can distinguish between humans and objects at a distance. Thus, if the system detects a human on the way of a moving forklift, it will either warn the forklift driver or immediately apply the brakes to avoid an accident.
With that in mind, here are three reasons/benefits of investing in a warehouse pedestrian detection system.
Improved Safety
Most of the incidents in a warehouse involving pedestrians and forklifts occur due to blind spots. For instance, a forklift driver may not be able to see around corners or shelves while driving. Thus, if a pedestrian walks out of a row of shelves or a corner, a forklift driver may not be able to stop the forklift in time to prevent hitting the pedestrian.
However, with a warehouse pedestrian detection system, it is pretty easy to prevent the above scenarios. A warehouse pedestrian detection system has infra-red sensors that can detect pedestrians even through walls and shelves. Thus, when the system detects a pedestrian coming around the corner or between rows of shelves, it will warn the forklift driver to slow down.
Additionally, the system is capable of detecting an impending collision. Thus if the system detects that there isn't enough time to warn the operator of an oncoming pedestrian, the system will automatically apply the fork-lifts brakes to prevent hitting the pedestrian. Hence, a warehouse pedestrian detection system can significantly enhance the safety of your warehouse.
Preventing Liabilities
In the event a pedestrian gets hit by a moving forklift or vehicle in a warehouse, the injuries they sustain could be life-changing. In some cases, pedestrians have become disabled due to a forklift accident in a warehouse.
If such an unfortunate scenario occurs, you can expect the injured pedestrian to file a lawsuit for compensation. The pedestrian's lawyer can argue negligence during the case because you had not installed a warehouse pedestrian detection system that could have prevented the incident.
As a result, the court could quickly rule in favor of the injured pedestrian and award them a hefty settlement. Thus, you could end up paying out a six-figure settlement to compensate the injured pedestrian. Thus, investing in a pedestrian detection system in advance could help prevent such lawsuits that force you to spend a tremendous amount of money on lawyers and settlements.
Saving Money on Insurance
Even warehouses are not exempt from buying workman's compensation coverage for their employees. However, you can significantly reduce the amount of money you pay in premiums by investing in a warehouse pedestrian detection system.
Insurance companies are willing to reduce premiums on workman's compensations when you take significant safety measures to protect your workers from harm. Investing in a warehouse pedestrian detection system is a considerable safety measure that ensures your employees are protected from injuries caused by moving forklifts.
As a result, when you invest in such a system, your workman's compensation insurance provider is obliged to reduce the premium amounts you pay every month. Thus you get to save money on your workman's compensation insurance cover.
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