It’s possible to spend large amounts of time and money trying to reduce costs by making small changes around the warehouse - but when it comes to the total cost of owning your truck over its lifetime, the driver is often the biggest factor, and can sometimes make up 70% of the total cost.
That’s why it can be a good idea to focus on the driver if you’re trying to save money. Fortunately, there’s a range of optional features and add-ons for your forklift truck which can help make drivers more productive, more efficient, and safer when they’re on the job. And as we all know, warehouse ergonomics and forklift safety doesn’t just benefit your drivers - it boosts your bottom line, too.
Let’s look at some of the smartest ergonomic and safety features you should be considering for your warehouse equipment.
Adjustable controls and cabins are important
Truck drivers come in all shapes and sizes - so the more adjustable things on your truck, the better. Features like adjustable steering wheels, floor heights, tiller arms and seats can seriously improve a truck’s ergonomics, regardless of who is driving it. Even if you can’t fully personalise a truck by adjusting its main controls, forklifts with modular designs can be matched closely to almost any requirement.
Would you benefit from a driver lift?
In some cases, a driver may have to go up to level 2 in order to pick goods from racking. Again, it’s important to keep unneccessary stretching to a minimum. If you use this kind of arrangement in your warehouse, a driver lifting platform could be a great feature to have on your order pickers, since it allows comfortable picking at slightly higher heights. If you choose this option, you could also consider finding a truck with a non-slip surface and guard rails, which can increase safety and ergonomics even further.
Think about the steering wheel
The steering wheel is one of the most-used and important controls in any truck. From an ergonomic perspective, the mini steering wheel and ‘floating’ armrest solution is ideal - as documented by scientific studies of stress injuries which arise from truck driving. Keeping the steering wheel and armrest close to the body reduces the driver's neck angle when they are facing in the driving direction. With this arrangement, the left shoulder is moved back into the backrest, allowing the driver to reduce their neck angle. Since the driver is looking in the driving direction 70% of the time, this feature makes a big difference.
Good visibility through the truck’s mast
Masts which give high visibility, while also offering stability, are difficult to design - but the benefits in the warehouse are huge. Giving the driver the best view possible around their truck is an important safety factor, but it also effects warehouse efficiency. After all, drivers who always have a clear view of the forks can get the job done quicker.
Floor switches - the traditional design may not be the best
The typical ‘dead man’s switch’ may not be the best arrangement for order picking trucks. The switch often limits the driver’s movement around the cabin, and drivers often unconciously put more weight on the foot which is pressing the switch, potentially causing strain. Instead, sensors which cover a large area of the cabin floor can simply detect if a driver is standing in the truck, increasing the range of movement and letting the driver focus on the job.
If you want to find out more about the options which UniCarriers can offer to increase safety and productivity, then you can ask us a question here. Alternatively, find out more about the real-life financial benefits which can come from paying attention to ergonomics by clicking the blue button below.
Do you use any smart features to increase safety in your material handling operation? Let us know in the comments!
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