Companies report about 95,000 injuries related to forklift accidents each year, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
Getting on and off the forklift is a risky proposition for people who operate semi-automatic stretch wrappers. One-third of these forklift-related accidents occur when operators mount and dismount their forklifts, resulting in torn shoulders, concussions, sprained ankles and even broken bones.
There’s also another risk involving ergonomics of manually operating a machine – reaching, stretching, pulling, etc. All of this adds up to what’s commonly known as the “run-around.”
The best way to manage these risks is to avoid them altogether.
The most efficient stretch wrappers in the semi-automatic class have added Simple Automation – the ability for the stretch wrapper to catch the film at the end of the wrap cycle and start the wrap cycle with a lanyard switch or remote control device that the operator can activate without dismounting the forklift.
Not only does Simple Automation keep the operator on the forklift and eliminate the need to physically operate the stretch wrapper, it improves safety. Plus, you’ll see a productivity bonus of two minutes of labor saved per load. An average customer can save up to $50,000 in labor cost during the first five years of ownership.
It’s a no-brainer to have machines – especially inexpensive ones – do the same work that people can.
Click here to watch a video showing the differences between someone operating a machine with and without the “run-around.”
To learn more about how you can keep your operator on the forklift, go to Lantech.com.
This post was published on September 5, 2014 and updated on November 1, 2018.
September 5, 2014
