Keeping the focus on safety

Toyota Material Handling has always invested in safety, from building safety features into equipment through to producing free safety materials. There are many elements that go into making a safe working environment, from the design of the working space through to operator training. However, one of the key considerations is making the equipment itself inherently safer.

Toyota Forklifts - System of Active Stability (SAS)

Every counterbalance forklift in the Toyota Material Handling range has a System of Activity Stability (SAS) fitted as standard. This includes both Toyota’s engine powered range of forklifts, the Tonero and Toyota’s electric forklift models, the Traigo.

Toyota’s SAS, System of Active Stability, is fitted as standard on each Toyota Tonero and Traigo. This innovative system was introduced over 20 years ago, but it is still unique, protecting your goods, trucks and operators as well as maximising throughput while reducing operational cost. It just never gets old.

Stability, confidence and safety are all important aspects when handling goods. While operating a Toyota counterbalanced forklift truck, all driving and stacking actions feel stable and controlled as the SAS system acts before an unsafe operation occurs. SAS provides advanced technology, increasing

safety in the workplace and improving productivity. It includes six functions: SAS Active Mast Tilt Angle Control, SAS Active Mast Tilt Speed Control, SAS Fork Levelling, SAS Active Steering Synchronizer, SAS Swing Lock Cylinder. The main benefit of SAS is that it continually protects the operator and load when driving, turning and lifting. By actively monitoring key parameters of the truck’s performance, the risk of possible accidents is reduced, and the amount of pallet movements is maximised. This allows operators to work with full confidence, keeping productivity high throughout a working day.

As well as the SAS system helping keep things safe, the Toyota’s forklifts have been designed with safety as a key consideration. The cabs have been carefully designed to make for a comfortable working environment, when an operator has a cab that they are comfortable in, it reduces fatigue and contributes to a safer working environment. On top of that, the Tonero and Traigo families has many other features that contribute to safety such as excellent through-the-mast visibility and load-sensing power steering.

The built-in SAS system doesn’t just improve safety. Because it gives greater stability, mast and fork control it leads to more efficient working, helping keep damage costs low.

I_Site: Telematics improving safety

I_Site is Toyota’s own integrated telematics system that comes as standard on their warehouse equipment and can be fitted to forklifts. I_Site provides a host of information on trucks and lots of insight which can improve productivity, cost control, environmental impact and safety. 

How can I_Site improve safety? I_Site can impact safety in a number of ways and is a proactive way of managing risks associated with materials handling. 

As in other aspects of life, speed can contribute to accidents in a work environment, I_Site enables the operational speed of trucks to be controlled directly from the application. A suite of shock sensors show when a particular truck has experienced a shock – this means it is possible to identify when and where collisions are occurring and ultimately identify a solution to minimise them. For serious incidents, the truck can be locked out until it has been checked and reset by an authorised person. I_Site also controls pre-operational checks and can even control who has access to a particular piece of equipment, making sure that only correctly trained operators are able to use it.

I_Site allows each truck to be monitored and opportunities for improving safety and productivity to be identified.

Safety resources and operator training

Although it seems obvious, people are a key part of any safety initiative. Whether that involves further training for equipment operators or simply making teams aware of how to behave if equipment is in use, it all contributes to the safer use of materials handling equipment. Toyota Material Handling produces a range of free safety resources that are available to order from their website. Details of Toyota’s range of operator training courses can also be found on the site.

For more information visit www.toyota-forklifts.co.uk