Lean Manufacturing

Twenty-five percent of forklift-related deaths result from forklift overturns, according to OSHA. Other forklift injuries occur when:

1. Operators inadvertently drive forklifts off loading docks
2. Lifts fall between docks and unsecured trailers
3. Lift trucks strike pedestrians
4. Workers fall from elevated pallets and tines

So what are some procedures and housekeeping rules employers can implement to create a safer workplace?

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) published an alert on Preventing Injuries and Deaths of Workers Who Operate or Work Near Forklifts. In it, NIOSH offers some suggestions for controlling this occupational hazard from several angles which include the following.

For the work environment:

• Do regular safety inspections to identify potential hazards
• Distance workstations and equipment as far away from aisles as possible, and keep aisles clear
• Enforce safe facility traffic rules, such as speed limits and stop signs
• Keep loading docks, aisles and operating surfaces well maintained

For workers on foot:

• Where possible, keep forklift traffic and foot workers separate
• Designate some aisles for foot workers or forklifts only
• Keep employee high traffic areas – such as time clocks and break rooms – off limits to forklifts
• Identify blind corners and intersections where mirrors might improve visibility
• Use horns, alarms and flashing lights to alert workers when forklifts are present

For forklift operators:

• Only operate a forklift if you are trained and licensed to do so
• Use your seatbelt if available
• If your forklift is damaged, report it immediately
• Never jump from an overturning forklift, but hold on firmly, leaning in the opposite direction of the overturn
• Always use extreme caution on ramps and inclines
• Visit NIOSH’s website for more information

More resources are also available on OSHA’s Powered Industrial Trucks page. In conjunction with the Industrial Trucking Association (ITA), OSHA has published Sample Daily Checklists for Powered Industrial Trucks to help with training and maintenance.

What are some ways your facility promotes forklift safety?

About Accuform Signs

Accuform Signs, located in Brooksville, FL, is the leading manufacturer of facility safety identification products. Founded in 1976, Accuform Signs sells products to a network of distributors throughout North America, South America and Asia. From personalized safety signs, safety tags and labels, to traffic safety and lockout/tag out products, Accuform Signs provides the products and sales support for the distributors that define the safety industry.

These days, everything is measured in social media. We measure “likes” and “follows” and “retweets” and “shares” and “mentions” then decide how these numbers are going to help us convert brand loyalty and ambassadors and hopefully - eventually a new customer or client. Measurement helps us to judge where we are in our business and/or where we want to go. It helps us decide what to track and sometimes how we’re going to track it. With all of this data, the worst thing we want to do is present a huge graph of numbers and letters and columns – I mean, that’s what excel is for, right?

So enter infographics. Infographics are just what they imply – a representation of information and data displayed in an eye-catching graphic. It’s an interesting and colorful way to show us non-scientists a representation of what we’re trying to get out arms around. As you can see, the banner above, even motivational posters, are forms of infographics. In social media, we use statistics to figure out the best time to “tweet” and “post” – or when our demographic is paying attention, so why not make the numbers as interesting as possible? Mashable, one of the leading social media sites on the web has a dedicated infographics page. They maintain:

These graphics present complex information quickly and clearly, such as in signs, maps, journalism, technical writing, and education. With an information graphic, computer scientists, mathematicians, and statisticians develop and communicate concepts using a single symbol to process information. Today information graphics surround us in the media, in published works both pedestrian and scientific, in road signs and manuals. They illustrate information that would be unwieldy in text form, and act as visual shorthand for everyday concepts such as stop and go.

So now that we know what infographics are, let's take a look at a few.

Here's a rather simple infographic from socialbakers that tells you what kind of posts on Facebook garner what types of responses:

Here's an "insane" infographic from Buddy Media showing the state of social media and its complex landscape:

Finally, to show you how prevalent infographics are these day, here's one for 5S and lean manufacturing from GoLeanSixSigma. Accuform Signs has an entire section of our BEC12 catalog dedicated to inform, protect and motivate using this concept and various production solutions.

Do you like infographics? Do you find them helpful? Post your comments below and happy infographic hunting.

Each year, the American Society of Safety Engineers convenes its annual conference for continuing education, motivation, what’s new in the safety industry and of course, this year’s Safety 2012 expo and trade show. Educational and networking events include:

• Executive Summit
• Safety Professional Fundamentals Program
• Pre- and Post-Conference Seminars
• Academic Forums
• Networking
• Membership & Chapter Programs

Attendees from key industries included lean manufacturing, government, public administration, service and transportation industries were all in attendance.

But what’s most important to Accuform Signs is the opportunity to create awareness about our company and forge relationships with safety engineers and administrators, risk management officers, fire protection and even industrial hygiene managers, looking for new and innovative solutions for their facilities.

Hot topics in the booth included our 5S Store-Boards™ and Mobile Store-Boards™, Site-Boards™, STOPOUT® line of lockout/tagout solutions and GHS products, as well as our green solutions, electronic scoreboards, evacuation map holders and Blockade brand - as well as anything else a safety professional may be looking for.

This year, Safety 2012 was held in the “Mile High” city of Denver, which helped to attract a record number of exhibitors. And Accuform came home with a record number of leads for this annual event that we’ve attended for over 15 years. This was accomplished largely because of our product innovation, world-class service, turn-around times, and this year, because of Shur-Sales, our sales representative group in the Rocky Mountains.

Shur-Sales, owned by Craig Shur, hosted a safety “pub crawl” which started each day on the show floor. They invited 250 of their best customers and “decision-makers” from the territory to attend Safety 2012 then escorted them through the show to all of the companies they “rep” for. This allowed Accuform, over the course of two days, to give 10 presentations to groups of 10-20, showcasing our new products and capabilities. We were then available for more direct questioning with the customers after the show along Denver’s 16th Street outdoor mall area during the pub crawl.

It was a rousing success for Accuform and Shur-Sales. A great time was had by all and many relationships were cultivated through this event.

Whether referenced by Lean, KPI, Communication, Safety, Process, Tracking, or Production Boards, Accuform Signs has been helping companies post continuous improvement performance figures and metrics in a visually impactful way. Plus, their corporate colors, logos, and branding can be incorporated as well. And our only limitation is your imagination.

Having walked into a number of manufacturing facilities in my career, I have seen hundreds of boards throughout the plant, usually dry-erasable, with lots of columns and rows made with a black marker and a yardstick. Now, with our digital capabilities and “Yes We Can!” attitude, Site-Boards™ can be dry erasable, magnetic (or a combination), complete with options like hangers, baskets, bins, and document holders for a professional and clean-looking visual workplace. They can be any size and shape (many are 8 feet wide by 4 feet tall), complete with unlimited colors, logos, photos, images, graphics, and more to meet your communication needs. It also includes factor to impress your employees and visitors.

Technology now allows you to get your Site-Board™ exactly as you want, versus settling for something close. Interacting with our graphic artist in real-time, your artwork comes to life right before your eyes. No more bouncing an art proof back and forth for three weeks and fourteen emails. The process is simplified to a 30 to 45 minute session.

Click here for an iBook catalog of some of our more robust Site-Boards™ -  Let me know how we can take your 5S / Lean Manufacturing process to the next level.