Forklift Blue Spot Warning Light by EQUIPMAX
Over the past few decades, there have been many methods of forklift warning devices and safety systems. These have included things like strobe lights, alarms, and backup cameras, along with many others. Still, all of these devices have left something to be desired. Even with all these technological advancements, there were still way too many workplace accidents happening at work-sites across the country. That’s why the forklift blue spot light was invented.
Why Are Forklift Safety Lights Needed?
Even though safety devices like back up alarms and strobe lights were being added to forklifts from many manufacturers as standard issue equipment, a better solution was needed. Whatever value these devices had as safety systems was negated by the fact that they were so annoying to operators who watched the strobe lights and listened to the grating alarm all day, every day, that they were being intentionally disabled by many forklift drivers. Obviously, a safety precaution that doesn’t work properly is no good to anyone. What was needed in the industry was an obvious, yet unobtrusive warning system that would allow both inattentive pedestrians and other forklift operators to quickly identify not only that a forklift was headed in their direction, but also precisely where it was coming from and how fast it was moving. The forklift blue safety light solves all of these problems in one neat package. Blue forklift spot lights are a favorite of operators for their unobtrusiveness, pedestrians for their prominence and easiness to notice even while distracted, and management because they actually get results and increase the safety of the whole team.
How Do Forklift Spot Lights Work?
Forklift blue safety lights work by casting a bright blue light onto the ground in front of or behind the forklift while it is in operation. It’s a simple concept, but also a highly effective one. The lights allow forklift operators to see where other forklifts are operating, even around corners and in tight spaces with less than ideal visibility. Observing the light will tell the operator where the other driver is coming from, where they’re headed, how far away they are, and how fast they are going so that they have all the information that they need to make safe decisions. Blue lights are also great for pedestrians, because even if you are walking around the worksite unaware, looking down at a clipboard or cell phone, you will be able to see the bright blue light on the ground headed in your direction with plenty of time to become alert and move out of the way of the oncoming vehicle. We hear stories all the time about how blue safety lights have prevented injuries, collisions, and even fatalities on the jobsite. Everyone loves these lights from operators to pedestrians and even management! We managed to get the higher-ups of many companies on our side by producing a product that is unobtrusive, tolerable for operators, extremely effective in increasing forklift operational safety, and all at a very reasonable price point with easy installation. Some would call it a miracle!
Proper Blue Safety Light Mounting and Installation
A lot of forklift operators are choosing to mount additional blue lights on the back of their equipment so that they can provide the same early warning system moving backwards as they do when going forwards. This is particularly effective because, of course, visibility is limited when operating in reverse, and many accidents occur while backing up. Although in a perfect world, operators will turn and look fully in the direction of travel before making any movements, realistically, this doesn’t always happen, or even when it does, it’s possible for the operator to fail to notice certain obstacles. To optimize safety, operators choosing to mount lights both on the front and back of their vehicles should choose one color of light for the front (say, blue) and one for the back (say, red) and be consistent across all equipment. This will allow everyone to easily distinguish which end of the forklift is heading toward them. It is not recommended to mount the lights outside the “running lines”, as they could be easily damaged, smashed, or even knocked off of the forklift during normal operations.
A common mistake made in the otherwise simple installation process of forklift blue lights comes when customers try to wire in the lights. When you are mounting two separate lights on a forklift- one for the rear and one for the front- they need to be wired properly so that only the relevant light comes on when the forklift is moving in either direction. Wiring them so that they are always on is not advisable and really only causes confusion in the workplace. An always-on light will effectively desensitize workers to the stimuli that is supposed to be keeping them safe, making them more likely to ignore it when it really counts. Forklift spotlights of any color should only be turned on when a hazard is present, such as when the forklift is in motion toward the direction the light points. This requires a little bit more skill when wiring the lights, but is more than worth it in the long run to protect the continued safety of your crew.
( Quote from www.forkliftcenter.net )
