Forklift News - Amskan Fork-Alert™ the world-leading pedestrian early warning system

Fork-Alert System in action with pedestrians

The patented Amskan Fork-Alert™ is a world-leading pedestrian early warning system used in workplace locations where forklift operations could otherwise present a significant danger to pedestrians. US statistics show that about 10% of the total US forklift fleet of over 800,000 units (i.e. over 80,000 forklifts) will, on average, have an accident each year. Approximately 26 percent (20,800 in the US alone) of these will involve pedestrians. The Fork-Alert System supplements existing forklift warning safety measures by providing an additional automatic warning to pedestrians when a machine is nearby (typically within a range of 10 metres). This is particularly valuable where the machine might be approaching a doorway but is obscured from the pedestrian's view. The principle of the Fork-Alert System is based on using a coded infrared light emitted from a forklift to automatically activate an alarm or warning lights at the required pedestrian zones.

Forkalert Infrared Receiver

The key components of the Fork-Alert System are:
  • An encoded infrared emitter (Beacon), which is mounted on the machine;
  • a series of Receivers, which are placed in strategic positions;
  • a master Zone Controller, to which the receivers are connected and controls the warning systems, and;
  • a flashing warning lamp, audible alarm, and/or other warning devices

APPLICATIONS:
  • Forklifts and other moving plant
  • Suitable for areas of high pedestrian use and/or blind corners etc;
  • Read distances: 1-10 metres (configurable)
  • Internal and external operating environments (including outdoors).

BENEFITS:
  • Supplements occupational health and safety standards
  • Supplements normal driver warnings
  • extremely good for noisy plants where forklift warnings are hard to hear

Zone Controller

COMPONENTS:
The Fork-Alert System incorporates an onboard invisible Infrared Beacon which emits a coded Infrared (IR) beam, one or more Infrared Receivers, a Zone Controller, and a Warning system. The Infrared Beacon is mounted to the roof of the forklift and emits a coded infrared beam in all directions. (Coded to eliminate accidental triggering.)
The Infrared Receivers are mounted in strategic positions (i.e. doorways) throughout the factory/warehouse, and detect the presence of the coded Infrared beam from the forklift Infrared Beacon.  Infrared Receivers are connected to a Zone Controller, and it provides the functionality to activate audible alarms, warning lights, warning signs, door locks, or whatever other safety systems may be required, signifying the presence of the approaching forklift.  The Warning System typically comprises a hazard light and/or an audible warning device.

In summary, the key components to the Forkalert system are:
  • An Infrared Beacon, which is mounted on the roof of the forklift.
  • A set of Infrared Receivers, which monitor blind spots and areas of combined forklift and pedestrian activity.
  • A Zone Controller, which connects to all Infrared Receivers and controls the warning system.

Forkalert Beacon

• A flashing warning lamp or audible alarm mounted out of the blind spot to a position in full view of pedestrians or other forklifts.
Forklifts are fitted with the Infrared Beacon that can be detected by wall mounted Infrared Receivers that permanently monitor blind spots and other areas of combined forklift and pedestrian activity. The Infrared Beacons emit no visible light and therefore are not obtrusive to the forklift driver. The IR Receivers will detect the presence of a forklift in the areas of their receive range, which in this case covers the blind spot. When the detection has occurred, the Amskan zone controller (not shown) immediately switches on a warning light that is line of sight to the pedestrian. This alerts the pedestrian to the presence of a forklift.

CONTACT DETAILS:
AMSKAN Online
AMSKAN ShopFront

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