Productivity & Security

The Alltech Group provides solutions tailored to your business needs that: Reinforces security, Improves productivity, Reduce operating costs.

Learn more through our various chronic:

: 03 August 2018

What factors contribute to forklift trucks accidents?

Forklifts helped improve and facilitate handling tasks. Yet a recent collection of accident statistics indicates that the risks associated with forklift trucks are also very high and that they are the cause of many workplace accidents in several countries.

What behavioural and operational factors can contribute to forklift trucks accidents?

Travelling at excessive speed.
Riding with the load elevated.
Improper backing up techniques.
Improper turning, braking or accelerating.
Improper warnings to others about a forklift in use nearby.
Poor communication during shared tasks, or in shared spaces.
Riding or giving rides on forklift or load.
Parking the forklift improperly.
Improper blocking of wheels on semi-trailers or railway cars.
Horseplay; stunt driving; jerky, erratic driving.
Inadequate servicing of the forklift.

What factors of work organization can contribute to forklift trucks accidents?

Lack of training or improper training of workers who have to operate forklift trucks.
Production factors such as speed or stress.
Lack of proper tools, attachments and accessories.
Improper assignment of forklifts and operators.
Poor maintenance of forklifts.
Age of forklifts.

How can workplace design contribute to forklift trucks accidents?

Narrow aisles.
Crowded, cluttered aisles.
Obstructions at intersections and doors.
Volume of traffic in work area.
Other workplace conditions such as noise, odours, toxic gases, dust, or poor lighting.
Many ramps with different surfaces.
différences de revêtement des rampes d'accès;
Condition of loading dock.

Source: https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/safety_haz/forklift/accident.htmll

How to avoid or at least limit accidents which implicates pedestrians?

Separating the forklift zone from the pedestrian zone by making separate aisles one for pedestrians and one for forklifts.
Denying access in the forklift zone.
In any possible mesure, pedestrians must keep a secure distance from the forklift. It is important to make visual contact with the forklift driver thus assuring the driver is aware of your presence in the work zone.
Assure that the work zone is well lit and there are no obstacles that may reduce the driver’s visibility.
Exercise caution around and near blind spots, near entrances and narrow aisles. The driver must apply the horn of the forklift when approaching crossroads.
Wear visible clothing where it’s required.
Set speed limits for forklifts.
Do not walk near forklifts which the forks are lifted neither walk underneath the forks.
Take caution not to obstruct the vision of the forklift driver who is transporting a load.
Avoid operating a forklift where there is an elevated pedestrian zone.

Limit areas of restricted vision

To prevent collisions, a pedestrian detection is necessary. Many types of cameras are recommended in this situation. Simple cameras, radars, ultrasounds or morphological recognition etc. Fo exemple, a pedestrian detection system using a morphological recognition system.

Blue : Field of vision (control screen)

Orange : Danger zone (As soon as a pedestrian enters this area, the driver is warned by an alarm)

Attention, these security systems are tools to assist the vigilance of the driver. The simple fact of installing a system would not eliminate all accidents but would certainly help to diminish some of them. Whatever position we are whether a driver or pedestrian being vigilant is important.

Maximize your vision and security on the work site by installing an industrial camera:

Backup camera

NBS is a backup camera system improving safety around industrial vehicles. It supplies a precise vision of the environment to the driver.

Pedestrian detection for industrial vehicle

Blaxtair® is an intelligent on-board camera which helps to prevent collisions between construction machinery and pedestrians. Combined with good practice and organizational safety measures, it is the only efficient and reliable answer to meet the safety demands of the construction, road work and mining sectors.

: 31 July 2018

Telescopic Handler Scale

What is an onboard scale system?

An on-board scale is actually a load control device that can calculate the weight of material transported using a telehandler (or other equipment). This makes it possible to know the quantity of actual material transported.

The installation of an on-board scale makes it possible to carry out optimized loadings by performing a simple and effective weighing on site. This allows to avoid overloads or unused capacity.

An on-board scale system saves time, reduces costs and improves workflow.

Components of the system for a telehanlder application

These rugged systems are designed for reliable and precise operation in harsh environments in continuous duty.

1. Weighing electronics

• Proven systems for long-term use

• Intuitive operation

• Connection to the PFREUNDT Web Portal

2. Digital Pressure sensors

• Oil pressure sensor with overload protection

• Integrated temperature control

• Easy-to-assemble screw connections

3. Proximity Switches

• For dynamic weighing during operation

• Reliable definition of the weighing range

• Simple assembly

PFREUNDT Weighing system

Easy.

• Maintenance-free

• Easy data exchange

Better.

• Qualified on-site service

• In-Service inspection (prev. initial approval) by PFREUNDT

Weighing.

• Dynamic weighing while loading

• Individual evaluation functions

For more information about the system offered:

: 10 July 2018

Cohabitation heavy equipment - pedestrians

Safe cohabitation between vulnerable users and heavy vehicles

New technology to increase the safety of workers in their working environments; Le Blaxtair.

BLAXTAIR, preventing collisions in the most demanding working environments

A relevant warning machinery operators to ensure pedestrian safety.

The only one of its kind, the Blaxtair is the only smart camera able to distinguish a person from another obstacle in real time and alert the operator in case of danger. When combined with effective organization and best practices, this reliable and efficient device, composed of a camera, calculator and LCD screen, is THE answer to the safety parameters imposed on companies working in industry, materials handling, recycling, infrastructure construction and quarry or mining.

BLAXTAIR; la solution pour la prévention des collisions dans les environnements de travail les plus exigeants!

Source : Arcure.net

: 17 July 2018

The result of poor lubrication

Studies have shown that inappropriate lubrication represents 53% of all bearing failures!

Inappropriate lubrication is a major cause for downtime and unnecessary maintenance costs which consists of replacing parts. The labor to repair and replace the bearings, the unforeseen downtime and the impact of respecting delivery to clients. The primary cause of these breakdowns are caused by contamination, dust, dirt and humidity or insufficient greasing applied to the bearings.

Inefficient manual lubrication can lead to over lubricating that can lead to indirect costs, which is very true. Wasting lubricant, environmental problems, security problems or maintenance and higher labor costs.

Successful businesses are constantly seeking new solutions and technologies to reduce costs, minimizing down time and maximizing productivity. Could automatic lubrication be a solution?

The automatic lubrication system helps to eliminate unforeseen and unnecessary expenses. An automatic lubrication system lubricates many points on a machine from a pump/centralized unit placed in an accessible place. Specifically for mobile and fixed construction equipment, a system distributes small quantities of grease at frequent intervals, while your equipment is running, by maintaining a consistent amount of grease being distributed to the bearings at all times and seals which prevents dirt and contaminants to infiltrate in the bearings. This is a contrast with the conditions of lack of grease often associated with manual lubrication done by the operator if and when he has time or feels like it.

The numerous advantages of using an automatic lubrication system:

Security

The security of personnel in the work area today is essential. An ALS reduces and eliminates the operator from climbing on the machine and crawling under the machine or in difficult to reach areas.

Efficient Lubrication

An automatic lubrication system applies grease while the machine is operating, which signifies less downtime and when the bearings are in action all internal surfaces of the bearings are continuously exposed and benefits for a better application of grease.

Better Lubrication

Grease application is more efficient when distributed in measured quantities on short and frequent intervals. Unfortunately with strict delivery schedules, the constraints of labor and relocating the equipment makes it impossible to grease manually. The equipment is greased when available and if there is someone who has time to do it.

Better maintenance

Numerous traditionalists over grease by pumping the grease up to the bearing until it overflows. As previously indicated, frequent and small measured quantities will give the bearings a better protection. In addition to over/under greasing, you will have less overflow. The end results is less waste and contamination on your equipment, or construction site. The security (dangers of slipping) and the environmental problems play an important role related to over greasing.

Less down time, reduced maintenance costs and reduced parts replaced

The time and labor constraints makes it impossible to respect the required greasing of the machine. Preventative maintenance supplied by an ALS is undeniable good for respecting the required lubrication, reducing maintenance costs and minimizing downtime by prolonging the lifespan of numerous axles, rings and components on the equipment. You will also be stocking less replacement parts related to greasing.

General increase in productivity

Resulting in an increased availability of the machine and a reduction of downtime due to a breakdown or general maintenance.

Longer lifespan and greater re-sale value

Given that the bearing surfaces are always protected and that your machine in general will be better maintained.

Helping the environment

Less premature wear of the bearings and other significant components, less parts to replace. Most of all seeing as you are not over lubricating by greasing manually, there is less environmental contamination.

For more information about Allfett automatic lubrication

: 27 June 2018

Unloading a dump truck without overturning - Sentinel 2.0

Work safely!

The overturning of trucks along with the dump trailers is a major cause for serious and fatal accidents in the transport sector. The majority of the time they are due to the lack of knowledge of the stability principles linked to unloading the dumper.

The right ways to work in a secure fashion.

Loading correctly

• Respect the maximum load of your dumper

• Distribute the load in a way that it is balanced and not all accumulated in the rear.

• Park on grounds that are totally flat to prevent displacing the load in the dumper.

• Lubricate the dumper for sticky materials (i.e.: humid earth, asphalt etc.).

• Cover the trailer for all hot materials (asphalt).

Unloading correctly

• Align the hitch before you begin to unload

• Observe the grounds before unloading: There are no slopes, stability of the ground, there are no holes, and make sure when opening the tailgate is free of all obstacles (i.e.: walls, electrical wires, etc.)

• Maintain a secure distance in the case of side by side unloading.

• Always deflate the pneumatic suspensions.

• Remain in the cabin and leave your seatbelt on at all times while unloading.

• Wait till the dumper has completely lowered back to the correct position before leaving.

What to do if the load does not dump?

• Slowly lower the dumper and find another method to unload

• Do not make back and forth movements, jolt on the jack of the truck or Try to drive off while the dumper is loaded to try to unload because this increases your chances of overturning.

Chronics