Improve Warehouse Safety With the Toyota Smart Environment Sensor

It’s a busy day on the road. The highway is packed with cars busting the speed limit. You’re cruising along, trying to avoid the drivers weaving in and out of traffic. All of a sudden, brake lights flash ahead. Through the line of cars, you see a row of orange cones banking into your lane. On cue, turn signals blink to life on the vehicles in front. You click on your own and check your mirrors. There’s a gap in the lane next to you, and you turn your wheel to fill it. That’s when the warning light on your side view mirror flares. You pump the brakes and twist the wheel back into your lane as a motorcycle comes ripping up the dotted line straight out of nowhere. Heart pounding, you breathe a sigh of relief. You didn’t see him. Good thing your car did.

Life moves fast. And it’s all too easy for accidents to creep in from the blind spots. However, modern cars are safer with the addition of external sensors like proximity alerts. And now the same can be true for your forklift fleet. Keep reading to learn how the new Toyota Smart Environment Sensor can improve warehouse safety.

3 Most Common Forklift Accidents and How to Avoid Them

According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, nearly 100 workers are killed and another 20,000 are seriously injured in forklift-related incidents annually. Statistically, that means one of every ten forklifts in the US will be involved in an accident every year.

An OSHA study found 25% of forklift accidents are due to inadequate operator training, but what about the other 75%? In today’s article we’ll review the most common forklift accidents and how to prevent them through: proper training, safety equipment and proactive technology.

Can Your Business Operate Without a Dock Leveler for 2-3 Months?

Dock levelers are essential at most warehouses and distribution centers. They create a bridge between trailers of different sizes and allow for fast, safe loading and unloading.

What would happen if you didn't have your dock leveler for three months? Due to supply shortages, the current lead time for a new dock leveler (also known as a pit leveler) is 14-16 weeks. Because TMHNC is a preferred vendor, we can often get a replacement in as little as 6-8 weeks. 

In any case, now is very bad time to have your dock leveler break. That's why we're offering free dock leveler safety inspections. It only takes an hour, and you can avoid months of hassle and lost productivity. NOTE: the request form is for a complete loading dock safety inspection, but we can focus on just your dock leveler if you prefer.

Not sure if your dock leveler needs to be inspected? Read on to review signs your dock leveler may need service and how long the average dock leveler should last if well-maintained.

6 Simple Ways to Make Your Forklifts Safer


Forklifts cause 10 percent of workplace injuries in factories and warehouses, but many accidents (and lawsuits) can be prevented with the right forklift safety accessories. Combining safety equipment with pedestrian and operator safety training, clearly demonstrates your business takes a proactive approach to safety.

Loading Dock Seals and Shelters - Small Cost, Big Value


Sealing systems such as dock seals and shelters are a relatively low-cost investment that offer significant benefits in energy cost savings and loading dock safety. By enclosing the gap between the trailer and the dock door, parked trailers become secure, climate-controlled extensions of your facility. The right sealing system prevents outside weather (heat, cold, rain/snow) from entering your facility and damaging cargo. In addition to reducing heating and cooling costs, you maintain a clean, dry dock area and reduce the chance of a slip-and-fall accident. An enclosed dock area also means pests and vermin stay outside where they belong.

Learn more about the different options for loading dock sealing systems:

5 Tips to Improve Your Loading Dock Safety and Efficiency

Loading dock managers are relentless workers. They strive to meet ever-growing productivity targets and minimize downtime, invest in new material handling equipment, and hire more personnel. Their crew adheres to an aggressive loading and unloading schedule.

While productivity is top of mind, safety at the loading dock is often an afterthought. Managers are pressed into cutting corners with safety and overlook hazardous situations. But that doesn't have to be the reality for your loading dock.

How Dock Levelers Drastically Improve Loading Dock Safety

When a truck backs up to your receiving area, it’s unlikely the trailer will be at the exact same height as your loading dock. That gap between the trailer and your warehouse floor is a prime location for injury and equipment damage. 

Dock levelers, also known as edge of dock levelers or pit levelers, bridge the gap (in height and distance) between the floor and the trailer for smooth and safe loading and unloading. Learn about the most popular types of dock levelers used in the Bay Area, Central and Northern California, so you can choose the best dock leveler for your facility.

4 Signs Your Loading Dock Isn’t As Safe As You Think

A loading dock is a fast-paced and dangerous environment. Around 25% of all reported warehouse injuries occur on loading docks. Hundreds of near-misses precede each hazard. Forklift accidents cost employers an average of $48,000 per injury and $1,390,000 per death, according to the National Safety Council.

As a manager, putting safety first should be your top priority. In this article, we will cover four common and often overlooked signs of a hazardous loading dock.

New ANSI Standards for 2019 - Time is Running Out

The new ANSI standards released in December 2018 affect all owners, operators and supervisors of aerial lifts including: booms, scissor lifts and under-bridge inspection machines. The new standards are designed to enhance safety and shift North American equipment standards closer to international standards - allowing companies and equipment manufacturers to be more competitive in the global marketplace.

The new standards place greater responsibility on the equipment user/owner regardless of whether they are a large maintenance operation or a small business that rents a scissor lift, boom lift, etc. for seasonal work. Employers, owners and operators must be in compliance by December 10, 2019

Don’t get caught off guard. Learn more about the new ANSI A92.22 standards for Safe Use and ANSI A92.24 standards for Training.

How Blue Spotlights and Red Zone Forklift Lights Improve Forklift Safety


More than 95,000 forklift accidents happen each year. Statistically, this means about 1 in 10 forklifts will be involved in some type of incident. Experts estimate 70 percent of forklift accidents can be prevented, and forklift safety lights are a simple way to make your workplace safer for both forklift operators and pedestrians.

Blue spotlights mounted on the front and/or rear of the lift truck alert pedestrians when a forklift is nearby, and how fast it’s approaching. The lights project a bright blue light about 8 feet in front of or behind the forklift, depending on where the light is mounted.

Red zone forklift lights illuminate areas on each side of the forklift pedestrians should avoid. By reminding workers to keep their distance, you can lower the odds of someone getting hit by the rear-end swing when the forklift turns.

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