August 9, 2004—The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), in partnership with the North American Coal Company (NACCO), is investigating ways to reduce the high number of injuries and deaths related to dangerous forklift operating practices.
A sensor-based system is being developed that will continuously monitor the critical operating parameters (i.e., pitch, roll, payload, lift height, loading dock edge, nearby objects) of forklift trucks to determine if the vehicle is being operated safely and to alert the operator if an unsafe procedure is being used.
When a critical operating parameter is exceeded, a digital voice warning message is activated which can be heard by both the fork-lift operator and any nearby workers and pedestrians. In September 2003, NIOSH conducted field tests on the NACCO’s proving grounds in Fairview, Oregon. The data are currently being analyzed to determine the effectiveness of the sensors and data acquisition system software programs.
