Stand up trucks can help improve working postures and should be considered. Preventing Acute Injuries. Mark the floor with obvious paths for forklifts to follow, and areas for people to not walk through. Be sure all employees are training to safely drive a lift truck. No employee should operate a lift truck without safety certification. With the ability to operate in very narrow aisles, VNA, in the warehouse – as narrow as 1.6m – the Aisle-Master articulated forklift increases and maximises storage capacity. What’s more, by using the one truck, users can increase productivity and eliminate time-consuming double handling and speed up “truck to rack” operations.
Stand-Up Forklift, 3-Wheel, Electric The RC Series stand-up forklift features a side-stance operator compartment that maximises visibility and allows for easy entry/exit in applications where the operator is frequently on and off the truck. Stand up forklifts provide more open fields of view, which gives operators improved visibility when driving both forward and backward. They also reduce the risk of accidents resulting from obscured vision. Easier Movement. Stand up forklifts are easier to maneuver through narrow warehouses aisles and swiveling and turning around tight corners.
There is a pronounced trend toward stand up forklifts replacing conventional sit downs. Let’s explore why…
Most counterbalanced forklifts are used to service the docks as utility and transportation vehicles. In today’s hectic operating environment, dock workers are not only unloading, loading and stacking products, they often have other duties to perform- like barcode scanning, dealing with shrink wrap, quality control, etc. This causes the operators to have to get on and off their trucks many times per shift. Stand up forklifts are a snap to get on /off while sit downs require the operator to climb up onto the seat and, according to OSHA, put their seat belt on. When you combine this with the need for maneuverability due to increased dock congestion and the speed with which most operators run to perform, you can see why stand up forklifts are taking over.
Amongst others, The Raymond Corporation has designed their 4150/4250 line of stand up 3-wheeled counterbalanced trucks with meeting these challenges in mind.
Stand Up Forklifts Offer:
Easy On/Off Compartment
With a step height of only 8” and a low profile deadman pedal, operators can hop on and off these lift trucks much easier than sit down units. Over the course of a shift, this will significantly reduce operator fatigue and increase productivity. Not only is this process less tiring for operators, it will encourage them to get off the truck when required instead of wanting to stay seated.
Visibility
Raymond’s operator compartment facilitates visibility during the constant back and forth driving common with dock operations. This stance and open view mast reduces the need for operators to twist when driving tractor first, further reducing fatigue and the likelihood of accidents.
Maneuverability
With a far better turning radius than sit down counterbalanced forklifts, these trucks are much more nimble and excel in close-quarter operations like boxcars, trailers and stacking areas. Dual steering wheel design allows one wheel to counter-rotate during tight turns. Their compact footprint and agile steering provide precise maneuvering in tight spaces.
Low Profile
The 4150/4250 stand up counterbalanced forklifts can be equipped with a low profile 83” overhead guard height allowing it to service most over-the-road trailers. Full-freelift mast options also allow for unloading of double stacked pallets in trailers, if required.
Alertness
Many companies are switching to stand up forklifts and dock trucks because industry studies suggest that operators are more alert when standing.
Stand Up Forklift Jobs
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Forklifts are a great tool for helping workers get things done. Inventory can be moved quickly and easily, without having people manually lift heavy items, and possibly injure themselves. Machinery like forklifts can help employees do their job more efficiently, but it can cause both acute and musculoskeletal disorders if not used correctly.
- Seating is key – if employees drive sit-down lift trucks the seating should provide good lower back support and ideally dampen vibration and shock.
- Neck twisting is often a large concern. Install mirrors around the facility and on the truck. Swivel seats can also assist.
- Employees should not drive continuously for more than 1 hour. Breaks from prolonged driving should be provided.
- If possible, rotate tasks so that driving is distributed between employees
- Stand up trucks can help improve working postures and should be considered.
Stand Up Forklift Images
- Mark the floor with obvious paths for forklifts to follow, and areas for people to not walk through.
- Be sure all employees are training to safely drive a lift truck. No employee should operate a lift truck without safety certification.
- Ensure visitors understand safety rules and remain on marked pathways.
Stand Up Forklift Certification
Used carefully, forklifts can do the heavy lifting, making a job easier and safer for workers. Make sure you use them safely, so they help – not hurt – those around them. Ensure your drivers are certified. This requires both in-class and practical testing on a yearly basis. Along with this training educate them on how to properly position themselves in the cab. Contact ERGO Inc. today for further assessment of your forklift operations or for information on Forklift Training.