Forklift Backup Safety | APAC

Prevent one cause of accidents: Horn switch is installed but cannot be used
Forklifts are used daily at various work sites such as distribution centers. Although forklifts are extremely useful for transporting heavy objects, they can sometime cause human injury due to the high degree of freedom depending on the way operators operate.

They are especially dangerous when backing up. Although forklifts automatically emit a beeping sound when backing up, this warning sound can be drowned out at very noisy work sites, making this warning measure insufficient to protect safety. One measure by forklift manufacturers to counter this problem is to install a horn switch on the grip so that the driver can sound the horn while looking back over his/her shoulder to the right rear of the forklift while backing up.

However, conventional horn switches are not resistant to the partially outdoor environments in which many forklifts are used, resulting in them readily malfunctioning in such conditions. Although there is not much time and effort involved in replacing only the switch, in some cases it is also necessary to replace the whole grip to which the switch is installed, such that replacement is not a good option from a cost perspective. As a result, the risk of accident still remains if using a forklift with a broken horn switch at a work site.

A switch that is resistant to severe use conditions to ensure the use of an audible warning sound
IDEC, proud to be your switch specialist, recommends our switches to forklift manufacturers with great confidence. We present our IS Series with environmental resistance that assumes outdoor usage. Our IS Series complies with IP67 and can be used in environments of -40 to 85°C. These switches have vibration resistance that complies with IEC512-4 so that they can be used continuously over a long service life in any environment where forklifts are used such as construction sites and harbors. For these reasons, the number of times maintenance is required is drastically reduced in comparison with conventional switches and corresponding costs are decreased.

By replacing the horn switch when worn, you can ensure that the horn switch is always in operable condition, and work-site drivers are accustomed to always sounding an audible warning, resulting in an exceptional decrease in the probability of an accident.

Feel free to consult with IDEC regarding forklift parts
Our IS Series can be stably obtained within Japan and abroad, allowing us to supply them for forklift production plants as well as work sites where forklifts are used both within Japan and abroad. The easy attainability of this series is a great benefit for both manufacturers and users. Additionally, IDEC uses our vast experience with and know-how of safety measures and improving productivity to actively resolve issues at work sites where forklifts are used. Please feel free to contact IDEC if you have any questions or concerns regarding forklift safety and parts.