by Dan Livingston, on February 19, 2021 at 5:33 PM
Do your operators enjoy driving their forklifts? It’s not a boring job, but the wrong equipment can cause harm to your people’s bodies. Overuse injuries, strains, and slips are common issues for forklift operators. While many are used to standard sit-down forklifts, they can cause problems for some operators. If you haven’t considered stand-up forklift models, your company may be losing money and employees due to avoidable injuries.
Stand-Up Forklift Ergonomics
Stand-up forklifts include reach trucks, order pickers, and stand-up counter balance riders. These narrow aisle forklifts fall into OSHA’s Class I and II equipment. They are powered by batteries and typically have a lower lifting capacity. However, their smaller footprint makes them a great solution for indoor and narrow aisle applications. They also feature some similar design considerations across major brands to help keep your employees comfortable throughout their shift.
Operator Backrest
People get tired on the job - this is a fact of life. But slouching can add strain and damage to your operators’ spines. In a stand-up forklift, leaning out of a cabin can also put your people at risk of more immediate harm. Models with operator backrests can help maintain good posture without letting fatigue set-in while also keeping the operator inside the operator pod.
Operator Controls
While sit-down forklifts rely on pedals and a steering wheel, stand-up models are a little different. These forklifts use a steering knob in front of the operator and a fighter type joystick control handle at the front of the forklift. These controls are designed to move similarly to a person’s natural motions of extending their arm, reducing unnecessary strain. The sideways, or side stance, orientation of the operator cabin also makes it easy for operators to keep a wide field of view when moving products from A to B.
Safety Features
A frequent issue for standard forklift operators is neck and back pain due to craning their necks to view loads they are lifting or lowering. Stand-up forklifts feature wide-view masts to keep loads visible as well as special overhead guards that increase visibility for operators. Most also feature a standard operator sensing system to ensure the forklift will not move without an operator in place. Finally, many are available with operator codes to give businesses more control over who can drive the forklift as well as auditability of whose code was used when.
Stand-Up Forklift Business Benefits
The benefits for stand-up forklifts extend beyond operator comfort. For businesses in need of a versatile solution to lift lighter loads consistently, these models can offer an easy solution. Stand-up forklifts are frequently seen in narrow aisle warehouses, dock to stock operations, and bulk retailers like Costco or Sam’s Club. The smaller footprint and lighter weight make them a simple and nimble solution for busy indoor settings.
Wondering if your business might benefit from switching to stand-up forklifts? Talk to our team of talented material handling professionals. We’ll work to understand your unique business needs and goals before we walk you through the right options to consider. Contact us online today or call one of our branches in the Pacific Northwest:
Auburn 253-854-5438
Pasco 509-547-7413
Wenatchee 509-663-9009
Yakima 509-457-5137
