Increase safety in your warehouse with forklift safety lights

31 January 2020

Combining heavy machinery and pedestrians in warehouses is often a recipe for disaster. That’s why, year after year, we focus on finding new ways to improve safety in the workplace for both man and machine. We present you: projection warning lights. These highly customisable forklift safety lights make it easy to avoid collisions. Safety lights are a simple and practical way to make 2020 safer for everyone.

What are projection warning lights?

As the name suggests, these lights project visual warnings around forklifts (or other machines such as cleaning equipment) that provide information for people working nearby. The projected lights improve safety by letting people know which direction the machine is travelling in. They are also used to create a safety zone around a machine that makes it easy for pedestrians to avoid coming too close. A visual warning stands out better in noisy environments, so there’s no need to worry about important warnings being swallowed up by ambient noise—something that can easily happen with sound-based systems like back-up alarms.

Easy to mount and easy to use

These forklift safety lights are simple to install. They mount directly onto the front, back and both sides of the forklift (or another machine). Most forklifts have pre-drilled holes for mounting warning lights and work lights. However, safety lights also come with brackets that easily attach to the forklift with no need for drilling.

Different shapes for different warnings

These forklift safety lights come in various models with different shapes that are projected:

  • spot
  • arrow
  • arc

Spots are commonly used in warehouses, although arrows are gaining popularity thanks to their additional function: they easily communicate the direction the machine is travelling in. Arc lights are mounted on the rear of the machine and visually highlight the safety zone at the back of the machine with an illuminated arc.

Lights that mount onto the side of the machine are an important part of a complete safety system. These project a line alongside the machine. When side-mounted forklift safety lights are combined with lights on the front and back of the machine, they create a full safety zone. People can easily see how far away from the machine they need to be to remain out of harm’s way. 

There are also lights that project different shapes to help boost safety. For example, triangles are recognisable as having the same meaning as traffic signs. A triangle light indicates to passers-by that they need to give way to the machine, using a shape they are familiar with from driving on the roads.

red

The many colours of safety

The most common colours chosen by users of projection warning lights are red and blue. Why? Red lights are automatically associated with danger and encourage people to respond with attention and vigilance. And blue lights have the best visibility on concrete surfaces, making them easy to see in a warehouse environment. These forklift safety lights are also available in other colours, such as green. The choice of colour totally depends on the user’s wishes, rather than on any specific standards. It’s a safety system that’s completely customisable to the needs of each individual user and workplace.

Curious about the safety lights we have on offer? Then be sure to check out our catalogue. In our blog post What lighting does your lift truck need?, you can find more about the wonderful world of lighting. Or are you looking for other ways to make your workplace safer? Check out these blog posts for more safety tips: