{"id":16586,"date":"2019-08-13T08:00:40","date_gmt":"2019-08-13T13:00:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.cisco-eagle.com\/blog\/?p=16586"},"modified":"2025-12-04T10:54:14","modified_gmt":"2025-12-04T16:54:14","slug":"how-well-do-your-forklift-drivers-see","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cisco-eagle.com\/blog\/2019\/08\/13\/how-well-do-your-forklift-drivers-see\/","title":{"rendered":"How Well do Your Forklift Drivers See?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"width: 100%; max-width: 650px; height: auto; margin-bottom: 10px;\" src=\"https:\/\/images.cisco-eagle.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/forklift-driver-pov.jpg\" alt=\"Forklift driver with obstructed view\" \/><br \/>\nWhen forklifts transport large loads across a busy warehouse full of people, visibility is perhaps the most critical safety concern.<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<aside class=\"tldr-summary\" style=\"padding: 10px 20px 15px 25px; margin-bottom: 50px; border-radius: 15px; border: 2px solid #e4dddd; margin: 4px 10px 4px 10px; box-shadow: 0 4px 8px 0 rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2), 0 6px 20px 0 rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.19);\" data-type=\"summary\">\n<h4>TL;DR \u2013 Improving forklift driver visibility<\/h4>\n<p>Forklift driver visibility is a major safety concern, often obstructed by large loads, overhead guards, and crowded facility layouts. To improve safety and reduce the need for risky reverse driving, implement solutions like forklift mirrors, rear-facing cameras and monitors, and traffic separation to keep pedestrians out of travel lanes.<\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<p><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\n  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n  \"@type\": \"BlogPosting\",\n  \"headline\": \"How Well do Your Forklift Drivers See?\",\n  \"name\": \"How Well do Your Forklift Drivers See?\",\n  \"description\": \"Forklift driver visibility is a major safety concern, often obstructed by large loads, overhead guards, and crowded facility layouts. To improve safety and reduce the need for risky reverse driving, implement solutions like forklift mirrors, rear-facing cameras and monitors, and traffic separation to keep pedestrians out of travel lanes.\",\n  \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.cisco-eagle.com\/blog\/2019\/08\/13\/how-well-do-your-forklift-drivers-see\",\n  \"datePublished\": \"2019-08-13\",\n  \"author\": {\n    \"@type\": \"Person\",\n    \"name\": \"Scott Stone\"\n  }\n}\n<\/script><\/p>\n<h3>Visual obstructions<\/h3>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"float: right; width: 100%; max-width: 400px; height: auto; margin-left: 10px; margin-top: 10px;\" src=\"https:\/\/images.cisco-eagle.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/stock-picker-view.jpg\" alt=\"Order picker with guard obstructing visibility\" \/>According to OSHA [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.osha.gov\/etools\/powered-industrial-trucks\/operating-forklift\/traveling-maneuvering#:~:text=Under%20all%20travel%20conditions%20the,n)(7)(i)%5D\">29 CFR 1910.178(n)(6)<\/a>], drivers must &#8220;look in the direction of, and keep a clear view of, the path of travel.&#8221; Common sense, sure, but don&#8217;t leave your people&#8217;s safety to common sense &#8211; make sure your safety manuals and procedures emphasize the importance of driver vigilance. You must also, by process, clear obstructions, provide tools\/technology, training and other assistance to help drivers see their path clearly.<\/p>\n<h4>Obstructed by loads, guards or cages<\/h4>\n<p>Driving backward is common when a load obstructs the driver&#8217;s view. Consider a pallet that must be delivered deep into a large distribution center from the receiving area. This could be a 10-minute drive that requires the driver to crane their neck to navigate. Driving backward frequently or for longer periods of time puts excessive strain on the driver&#8217;s neck and spine.<\/p>\n<p>Some solutions for this issue include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cisco-eagle.com\/category\/4308\/fork-lift-mirrors\">Mirrors<\/a> that assist the driver and increase visibility.<\/li>\n<li>Swivel seats and controls that let drivers see behind them. You obviously must have forklifts purchased specifically for the task.<\/li>\n<li>Assign a spotter to forklifts when they travel. This requires good communications between drivers and spotters, as well as two people to do a job rather than one.<\/li>\n<li>Block off all foot traffic from the forklift route. This means that drivers will still have to turn their heads to travel and avoid striking racks or other obstructions, but reduces pedestrian safety concerns.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cisco-eagle.com\/product\/183200\/forklift-safety-camera-system-wireless-7-or-9-monitor\">Cameras and monitors<\/a> that help the driver see what&#8217;s behind them.<\/li>\n<li>Create traffic lanes for forklifts only, which are straight, uncluttered, guarded by heavy rails and free of pedestrians and other obstructions.<\/li>\n<li>Utilize backup detection systems that alert drivers if a person or obstruction behind them.<\/li>\n<li>Modify your loads to allow forward driving. This means that when on the forks, a typical load should be less than 72 inches high (this varies, depending on your forklift type). A shorter load means drives can drive forwards and sit without bending in a relaxed position. Drivers sitting forward can have their hands on all relevant controls for the entire route.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Loads obstruct driver visibility less than others, like partial loads or non-solid ones. It may be overall safer to drive forward with some of these loads, but drivers should follow your company guidelines established in advance by your safety team.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cisco-eagle.com\/blog\/2018\/10\/02\/a-step-by-step-safety-process-for-forklifts-and-pedestrians\/\"><em>Read more: A Step-by-Step Safety Process for Forklifts and Pedestrians<\/em><\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>All forklifts should be fitted with devices such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cisco-eagle.com\/category\/7099\/forklift-safety-light\">forklift warning lights<\/a> that precede the forklift as it moves. These devices don&#8217;t let drivers see any better but do help alert people on the floor that a lift is in the area.<\/p>\n<h4>Obstructed by facility design and clutter<\/h4>\n<p>Driver visibility is often impaired by the facility layout and the machinery and racks prevalent in industrial operations. It&#8217;s critical to always separate people and traffic as much as possible. Otherwise, it&#8217;s often in crowded, low-visibility areas where workers on the ground can&#8217;t easily see forklifts and forklift drivers can&#8217;t see them.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cisco-eagle.com\/blog\/2012\/08\/28\/seeing-around-corners-the-danger-spots-in-warehouses-factories\/\"><em>Read more: Seeing Around Corners in Your Warehouse<\/em><\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Issues include seeing people around corners, emerging from rack aisles, or backing out of trailers near loading docks. While there are sensors and warning devices to help cope with all of these situations, the most critical thing is to avoid them as much as possible by segmenting foot and vehicle traffic as much as possible. Usually, this means designated lanes for each type of traffic. Safety processes, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cisco-eagle.com\/category\/4068\/safety-sensors\">sensors<\/a>, gates and other methods should focus on the areas where separation just isn&#8217;t possible.<\/p>\n<p>Drivers should never be on their phones or other mobile devices that could distract them, nor should they eat or engage in any activity that might distract them while driving. Pedestrians on the floor should also be alert and should not walk while looking at a device that impedes their visibility.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When forklifts transport large loads across a busy warehouse full of people, visibility is perhaps the most critical safety concern.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[340],"tags":[295],"series":[],"class_list":["post-16586","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-aislecop","tag-forklift-safety"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2027-04-15 20:56:56","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cisco-eagle.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16586","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cisco-eagle.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cisco-eagle.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cisco-eagle.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cisco-eagle.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16586"}],"version-history":[{"count":36,"href":"https:\/\/www.cisco-eagle.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16586\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":33323,"href":"https:\/\/www.cisco-eagle.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16586\/revisions\/33323"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cisco-eagle.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16586"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cisco-eagle.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16586"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cisco-eagle.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16586"},{"taxonomy":"series","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cisco-eagle.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/series?post=16586"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}