How to Prevent Forklift-Pedestrian Collisions?

As one of the special vehicles, forklifts exhibit high mobility coupled with inherent danger. Combined with varying operator skills, forklifts pose numerous risks in operations, often being vehicles with frequent safety incidents. According to industry statistics, forklift accidents accounted for approximately one-sixth of all accidents involving special vehicles in 2019.

Blind spots in forklift vision result from the vehicle's structural obstruction or visual blind spots during reversing, compounded by obstructed visibility due to stacked goods. This leads to numerous accidents each year.

Without eliminating blind spots, accidents involving forklift-pedestrian collisions may occur at any time. So, what can be done? The Jeavox Safety Forklift Rangefinding Collision Avoidance System is worth considering.

01 Principle of the Forklift Rangefinding Collision Avoidance System

How can an effective perception between pedestrians and forklifts be established? How can a protective barrier be formed between the two?

Blind spots indeed exist, but their invisibility does not mean there are no other perception methods available. Imagine if there were a warning system between forklifts and pedestrians, indicating the distance between them. This would enable pedestrians to proactively move away from the forklift, while the forklift driver could promptly decelerate or stop, thus avoiding pedestrians. Therefore, perceiving the distance between people and forklifts becomes crucial.

To address this challenge, Jeavox Safety independently developed the Forklift Rangefinding Collision Avoidance System. Utilizing Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology (known for its strong penetration ability and precise indoor and underground positioning), this system measures the distance between forklifts and pedestrians. When the distance between the two falls below a predetermined safe range, the forklift collision avoidance system alerts both the forklift driver and the pedestrian, thereby reducing forklift-related safety incidents.

02 Usage of the Forklift Rangefinding Collision Avoidance System

This system mainly consists of two devices: a rangefinding base station (main unit) and rangefinding tags.

In practical use, the base station is installed on the forklift, setting a hazardous distance range. Individuals within the forklift's working area wear the rangefinding tags. When a tagged individual approaches the hazardous operation area of the working vehicle, the forklift collision avoidance system emits sound and light alarms. This not only alerts the forklift driver to pay attention to pedestrians but also urges nearby individuals to quickly move away from the hazardous area.

If equipped with a throttle controller, the system can automatically decelerate or stop the forklift when the proximity between people and the vehicle becomes too close, ensuring genuine safety.