An FMS Technology technical team have just returned to South Africa after completing the installation of an integrated pedestrian detection & speed control system at a Mozambican graphite mine.
“We have used the intelligent proximity alert system (iPas) coupled with our speed restrictor to achieve the specification by the mine safety department,” says Richard Gibbs, the sales and marketing director for FMS Technology.
”The combined systems are able to communicate and activate several restrictive speed settings on the forklift. These forklifts are diesel powered with a cable controlled accelerator. When this project was out to tender the mine requested a stand alone pedestrian detection system, but after visiting the mine in 2019, FMS Technology’s risk assessment team proposed the addition of the combined iPAS and Speed restrictor solution.
This solution exceeded their health and safety requirements and would provide far greater safety at the mine into the future. Firstly a maximum speed is set for the forklift and two additional restrictive speed are set in conjunction with the detection zones of the iPAS pedestrian detection system. Automatically controlling the speed of the forklift when in the vicinity of a pedestrian. A lower speed is enforced in the warning zone and zero throttle, idle speed, in the danger zone of the iPAS system.
Pedestrians are also warned of the close proximity of a forklift. Pedestrians wear a tag which will vibrate and or alarm when entering the caution and danger zones. So not only is the driver's speed restricted, but the pedestrian is warned of the potential danger too.”
Because of the remoteness of the site, FMS Technology also installed their FM lite management unit. This will not only record the use of the forklift, but also remotely monitor the performance of both safety systems, insuring that they are in good working order at all times. “It is pointless having a safety system if it is not working. We aim to sell failsafe safety systems. We want long lasting relationships with our customers,” Richard explains.
FMS Technology is a South African based company which has a range of electronic health and safety products for control, visibility and preventative maintenance. We have customers throughout Africa and many other parts of the world. For more information you may visit our website: www.fmstech.co.za.