IN-AISLE DETECTION SYSTEM

The United States Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) imposes a duty on employers to train and supervise operators. In the course of training, retraining, and supervising operators, reinforcement of proper operating practice may be advisable.

Raymond Very Narrow Aisle (VNA) lift trucks are designed to provide excellent visibility when an operator is traveling in either the forks leading or forks trailing mode. Each lift truck is equipped with a horn as standard equipment. The horn serves as a device to warn other truck operators of the truck’s presence. Accordingly, an operator is normally able to see other truck operators, warn them of their truck’s presence and bring the truck to a stop an appropriate distance away.

The In-Aisle Detection System feature is intended as a training reinforcement tool to provide notice regarding a truck’s proximity to other objects that is consistent with customer facility rules in the warehouse environment. It is not intended as a replacement for the training requirement that an operator always look in the direction of travel, be aware of his or her proximity to other objects at all times, and follow their operator training.

The In Aisle Detection System uses a scanner to detect objects within an aisle in the tractor first direction. An In-Aisle Detection System truck must be equipped with wire guidance; the feature is only activated when the truck is locked on the wire. If an object is detected in the aisle, the truck equipped with In-Aisle Detection System will display “Sensor Stop” on the truck display, and an audible tone will sound. An In-Aisle Detection System equipped truck will then decelerate to a stop.

APPLICATION CONSIDERATIONS:

• Detect objects that are located along the center of an aisle that are a minimum 9" wide. Only detects the part of an object that is approximately 8" off the ground
• Will not detect an object in the forks first direction
• Habituation may decrease operator vigilance and attentiveness; operators may rely on the In-Aisle Detection System rather than following their training, including but not limited to making eye contact with pedestrians and other operators
• Is not designed to stop prior to impact when an object is moving toward or suddenly appears in the path of an In-Aisle Detection System equipped truck
• Is not designed for outdoor use
• May falsely trigger if aisles are not kept free of debris/product
• May falsely trigger if floors are not properly maintained or are not flat
• Increases the length and turning radius of the truck
• If other vehicles in the same warehouse are not equipped in a consistent manner, it may cause confusion for operators
• May not operate properly in environments with highly reflective objects
• Will not operate properly in cold environments or in environments where trucks move between environments with disparate temperatures
• May detect items in cross aisles or outside the VNA aisle resulting in truck slowdown while still within the aisle

MODELS

• 5300, 5400, 5500, 5600, 9600, 9700

SAFETY ON THE MOVE®: (Operator Training Program)

The safe and efficient use of material handling equipment depends, among other things, upon operators being properly trained. The United States Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires that employers ensure that only trained operators operate powered industrial trucks. OSHA further requires that employers implement methods to train operators. This training must address both the specific type of equipment they will use and the conditions and characteristics unique to their place of work. Safety On The Move is a training program that focuses on the most frequent hazards experienced by vehicles in the workplace: ramps, loading docks, corners, loads, lifting procedures, and pedestrian areas. Using a series of videos, this program takes the trainee through all aspects of the topic. The operator will learn how to control and operate lift trucks and how to abide by the “rules of the road” around the plant or warehouse.

APPLICATION CONSIDERATIONS:

• Assists employers in complying with their duty to ensure that material handling equipment operators are properly trained
• Assists in proper operation of equipment

 MODELS

•  All

STEPS TO SAFETY™: (Pedestrian Training Program)

The safe and efficient use of material handling equipment depends on several things including training pedestrians to safely work alongside and interact with material handling equipment in operation. Steps to Safety is designed to create an awareness of general guidelines and precautions that pedestrians should follow in a material handling environment. This product helps employers satisfy their duty to provide their employees with a safe workplace, using a series of videos to train pedestrians in practices including how to interact with material handling equipment. Steps to Safety introduces pedestrian safety concepts such as – “Stop, Look and Listen for Lift Truck Traffic” and “Be a Defensive Pedestrian”. It also provides a tool to help employers satisfy their obligation to train all pedestrians regarding automated lift trucks. Steps to Safety encourages the application of the principles explained in the program to specific work environments and material handling processes.

APPLICATION CONSIDERATIONS:

• Assists employers in complying with their duty to ensure that pedestrians are properly trained.
• Assists in proper operation of equipment and interaction with that equipment.

MODELS

• All

iW.FIELDSENSE

The United States Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) imposes a duty on employers to train and supervise operators and pedestrians. When training, retraining, and supervising operators, reinforcement of proper operating practice is advised. This includes consideration of how lift trucks are used in the workplace.

The workplace requires operators and pedestrians to be aware of workplace conditions such as aisle configurations and intersections, and the proximity of trucks and pedestrians. The employer should implement appropriate workplace rules with regard to lift truck operation, as well as pedestrian behavior.

The iW.FieldSense system is intended as a training reinforcement tool. It may enhance the operator’s awareness of other trucks and pedestrians in their environment. iW.FieldSense may inform the operator of truck or pedestrian presence before they are seen. It is not intended as a replacement for operator or pedestrian training, nor is it a substitute for either the operator’s or pedestrian’s attention to their surroundings, proximity to other objects and behavior. It is the sole responsibility of the operator, at all times and under all conditions, to remain vigilant and constantly maintain control of all aspects of the lift truck’s operation. Each lift truck is equipped with an operator controlled horn as standard equipment. The horn serves as a device to warn other truck operators and pedestrians of the truck’s presence. Accordingly, an operator is normally able to see other truck operators and pedestrians, warn them of their truck’s presence and bring the truck to a stop an appropriate distance away.

The iW.FieldSense system uses a truck mounted Magnetic Field Generator (MFG), pedestrian carried Personal Notification Device (PND), and warehouse mounted devices to provide notifications and alerts. If iW.FieldSense devices are detected in a truck’s in a truck's MFG's field, audio and visual alerts are sent to lift truck operators, indicating the presence of pedestrians and/or other lift trucks in their proximity. The pedestrian PND devices alert to indicate the presence of lift trucks in their proximity. These alerts are used as reminders to operators and pedestrians to follow their training. There is an additional truck mounted device, called the Cab Silencer, to prevent unintended alerts while a truck operator is actively operating or directly next to their truck. The Cab Silencer will also affect pedestrians in close proximity to the truck.

APPLICATION CONSIDERATIONS:

• Intended to reinforce operator and/or pedestrian training of facility rules through audio and visual alerts.
• iW.FieldSense fields may change shape and/or size if installed or driven near high intensity, non-LED strobe lights, high EMI signatures, specific RF signals, and/or metal structures. This may impact if or when alerts are given and at what proximity.
• iW.FieldSense may need special mounting considerations in drive-in rack applications
• Adjustment of MFG field size is critical to all applications. The customer is in the best position to evaluate their application and the appropriate size of the MFG field.
• The iW.FieldSense system may not work as expected if the MFG field sizes are not set appropriately.
• Each truck model will have a unique MFG field shape and size due to mounting and environmental variations.
• The truck will not react to the iW.FieldSense alerts.
• Activates by proximity to other objects that are equipped with iW.FieldSense.
• Alerts when the operator drives their truck, or the pedestrian moves, into proximity of another Magnetic Field Generator or other specific iW.FieldSense warehouse devices.
• Will not alert an operator or pedestrian if they are within a predefined Silent Zone with active iW.FieldSense warehouse devices installed (Cab Silencer or Room Silencer).
• Not designed for outdoor use. iW.FIELDSENSE
• Habituation may decrease operator and/or pedestrian vigilance and attentiveness; operators or pedestrians may rely on iW.FieldSense rather than following their training, including but not limited to making eye contact with pedestrians and other operators.
• If other vehicles or pedestrians in the same warehouse are not equipped in a consistent manner, it may cause confusion for operators and/or pedestrians.
• Consider separating pedestrians from lift trucks where appropriate. In certain environments of use, however, there may be a high level of pedestrian traffic, some of whom may be unfamiliar with lift trucks and their operational characteristics. For this type of environment, Raymond offers the iW.FieldSense system.
• iW.FieldSense will recognize operators who exit their truck as pedestrians once the exit the Cab Silencer area. If a pedestrian enters the Cab Silencer area, the operator and pedestrian may not receive an alert. Operators and pedestrians must follow their training at all times.
• Pedestrians must not rely on the PND as the primary means to identify trucks or pedestrians in their proximity.
• Be aware that a timing difference may exist when two lift truck’s fields intersect. Depending on the direction of travel toward one another, one lift truck may sense the other lift truck first.

MODELS

• 7200 / 7300, 7310 / 7500, 7520, 7530 / 7700, 7720, 7730
• 5300 / 5400 / 5500 / 5600
• 9600 / 9700
• 4150 / 4250
• 4460 / 4750
• 8510 / 8610

REAL-TIME LOCATION SYSTEM (iW.RTLS)

The United States Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) imposes a duty on employers to train and supervise operators and pedestrians. In the course of training, retraining, and supervising operators, reinforcement of proper operating practice may be advisable. This includes a consideration of the use of lift trucks in the workplace.

Today’s workplace requires operators and pedestrians to be aware of workplace conditions such as aisle configurations and intersections, and the proximity of trucks and pedestrians. The employer should consider appropriate workplace rules with regard to speed limits and stopping, as well as pedestrian behavior. Additionally, the employer should also consider separating pedestrians from lift trucks if appropriate. In any facility, it is possible to have areas where lift truck or pedestrian traffic is undesirable. A method for keeping lift truck or pedestrian traffic outside of these areas is training.

RTLS is intended as a training reinforcement tool. It is not intended as a replacement for operator or pedestrian training. RTLS can be used to assist the employer in enforcing workplace rules and enhances an employer’s ability to supervise its lift truck operators, pedestrians, and employees. RTLS is not a substitute for either the operator’s or pedestrian’s attention to their surroundings and judgment.

RTLS uses stationary anchors within the facility to determine the approximate location of truck tags mounted to lift trucks and/or pedestrian badges. Facility managers may define specific zones for a given lift truck(s) or pedestrian(s). RTLS is intended to notify lift truck operators, pedestrians, and supervisors that an operator has driven their lift truck or a pedestrian has moved out of an appropriate zone or into an inappropriate zone.

In certain configurations, when an operator driving a lift truck equipped with RTLS attempts to enter or leave a specified zone, the iWAREHOUSE® Evolution unit will display a message and an audible tone may sound. The lift truck will also slow or stop. This is the indicator to the operator of the zone violation and a reminder to follow their training. Similarly, pedestrian badges may flash and sound to indicate their zone violation.

Many variables may affect how pedestrian badges perform in a given application and how trucks react to zone violations in a given application. User defined zone locations and dimensions may vary from graphical representations. Environmental factors may impact the system’s accuracy with regard to a lift truck’s or pedestrian’s location at a given place at a given time. Facility managers must make certain that zones are defined in accordance with their application specifications.

Lift truck and pedestrian activities can be monitored by RTLS. The system has the ability to record and report the number of zone violations. This allows a proactive supervisor to monitor operator and pedestrian zone-related practices, thereby giving the supervisor the information necessary to take appropriate corrective action.

APPLICATION CONSIDERATIONS:

• RTLS tracks the relative path that an operator drives their lift truck or a pedestrian moves through a facility. RTLS does not activate by proximity to other objects. RTLS activates when the operator drives their truck or the pedestrian moves into or out of a previously defined zone.
• iWAREHOUSE® Evolution is a prerequisite feature.
• Not designed for outdoor use + Tracks the RTLS truck tag’s approximate location
• Tracks the RTLS pedestrian badge’s approximate location
• Temporary interruption of communication between the RTLS truck tag or pedestrian badge and anchors will result in a momentary interruption in determining their location, and may limit functionality.
• Reinforces operator and/or pedestrian training of facility rules
• The truck will not detect and react to other lift trucks.
• The truck will not detect and react to pedestrians.
• Cannot be used for Social Distancing training
• Habituation may decrease operator and/or pedestrian vigilance and attentiveness; operators or pedestrians may rely on RTLS rather than following their training. Operators cannot wait for the system to activate.
• Stopping distances vary with types and configurations of trucks; facility managers must consider stopping distances when determining zone dimensions and locations.
• If other vehicles in the same warehouse are not equipped in a consistent manner, it may cause confusion for operators and/or pedestrians.
• Lift truck tags and pedestrian badges will not react to zone violations during power outages, system server failures, or any other disruption to the RTLS infrastructure.
• It is possible to have areas where lift truck tags or pedestrian badges may not have a strong connection to the system. These areas may cause delays in reporting positions of tags. Delays or interruptions may therefore be caused in transmitting activity relative to a specific truck or pedestrian. When communication to the system is lost, this may also result in the truck coming to a stop.
• Actual user-defined zone locations and dimensions may vary from graphical representations.
• The RTLS-determined locations of lift trucks may differ from actual locations, and therefore the lift truck may not respond in the same manner every time. Do not rely on RTLS to initiate truck reactions for you.

MODELS

• 4150, 4250, 5300, 5400, 5500, 5600, 7500, 7520, 7700, 7720, 8510, 8610, 8910, 9600, 9700

REVERSE OBSTRUCTION SENSOR

The United States Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the ANSI / ITSDF B56.5 Safety Standard imposes a duty on employers to train and supervise operators and pedestrians in environments where Automated Lift Trucks (ALTs) operate. In the course of training, retraining, and supervising operators, reinforcement of proper operating practices may be advisable.

Each automated lift truck is equipped with ANSI/ITSDF B56.5 Safety Standard compliant audible and visual warning devices. Accordingly, a pedestrian is normally able to see and hear the automated lift truck, warning them of the truck’s presence and stay out of its path.

The Reverse Obstruction Sensor feature is a training reinforcement tool to provide notice regarding an automated lift truck's proximity to other objects that is consistent with customer facility rules in the warehouse environment. It is not a substitute for pedestrian training, or the requirement that pedestrians always be aware of their proximity to other objects at all times, and follow their training.

Raymond automated lift trucks are designed to travel primarily in the forks trailing direction. Each automated lift truck is equipped with an ANSI/ITSDF B56.5 Safety Standard compliant object detection system as standard equipment. The user is required to mark restricted areas as defined in the ANSI/ITSDF B56.5 Safety Standard. An area which cannot be protected by object detection devices is considered a restricted area.

Areas where ALTs are traveling in the forks leading direction must be designated as restricted areas. In these areas, the travel speed can be no greater than 0.3m/s.

The Reverse Obstruction Sensor feature provides additional sensing in the forks leading direction, allowing the automated lift truck to detect obstructions in its intended path under certain conditions. If an object is detected, the automated lift truck equipped with the Reverse Obstruction Sensor will illuminate a light and will decelerate to a stop. The Reverse Obstruction Sensor does not allow the automated lift truck to increase its speed in the forks leading direction and the area should still be consider restricted. 

APPLICATION CONSIDERATIONS:

• Detect objects that are located along the forks leading direction of an automated lift truck that is equipped with this feature. The sensing field is not designed to detect all objects in the forks leading direction, therefore the restricted area requirements of ANSI/ITSDF B56.5 Safety Standard must be met
• The Reverse Obstruction Sensor will be temporarily disabled prior to load engagement or disengagement to prevent false triggers
• The fork tip sensors only detect what is in the immediate extended direction of the length of the fork, approx. 12” away
• Habituation may decrease pedestrian vigilance and attentiveness; pedestrians may rely on the Reverse Obstruction Sensor system rather than following their training, including but not limited to staying away from restricted areas. Automated lift trucks traveling in the forks leading direction will continue to move at 0.3m/s or less regardless if equipped with this feature
• Pedestrians should be directed away from areas where the automated lift truck is operated that are designated restricted areas even when equipped with Reverse Obstruction Sensor
• Is not designed to stop prior to impact when an object is moving toward or suddenly appears in the automated lift truck's path
• Fork travel height may require higher dimension to maintain a clear view for the Reverse Obstruction Sensor
• Functionality may be reduced or limited in environments with intense ambient light or highly reflective objects 
• Is not designed for outdoor use
• May trigger more than desired if aisles are not kept free of debris/product
• May falsely trigger if floors are not properly maintained or are not flat
• May falsely trigger when pallets are irregular, of poor quality, or have material hanging below the pallet deck
• May increase the effective length and turning length and turning radius of the automated lift truck based on the sensing field size
• If other lift trucks in the same warehouse are not equipped in a consistent manner, it may cause confusion for operators and pedestrians
• Requires high quality pallets or unit load carriers

MODELS

• 3010, 3030

OPERATOR COMPARTMENT SENSOR SYSTEM:

The United States Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) imposes a duty on employers to train and supervise operators. In the course of training, retraining, and supervising operators, reinforcement of proper operational practice may be advisable.

Operator Compartment Sensor Systems reinforce the need for the operator to assume and maintain a proper operator position. These systems do not impair the ergonomic advantage built into the truck or tow tractor and will allow the operator to assume a range of proper operating positions.

STAND-UP END CONTROLLED:

This system uses multiple light beam sensors embedded in rear operator compartment housings. The sensors span the entry to the compartment. When the sensors are blocked or the beams are not seen or emitted, a tone sounds, a message scrolls on the operator display, and the truck will decelerate to a stop if traveling. If the truck is stationary, it will not allow travel until the object blocking the sensor is removed or the beam is seen or emitted. The activity of the sensors is monitored by the vehicle control system. A truck equipped with this system has the ability to record the number of occurrences of the beam being broken. This will allow a proactive supervisor to monitor operator practices, thereby giving the supervisor the information necessary to take appropriate corrective action.

APPLICATION CONSIDERATIONS:

• Increases turning radius of truck
• Direct sunlight can adversely affect operation
• May create operational inefficiencies, especially in cold storage situations
• Bulky freezer gear may inadvertently trigger device
• Frost can build up on sensors in certain environmental conditions
• Freezer curtains can trigger device

MODELS

• EASi Pacer™
• EASi Reach/Deep-Reach/Straddle
• 4100, 4150, 4200, 4250
• 7000 Series
• 8900, 8910

PALLET TRUCK/TOW TRACTOR:

This system uses a sensor in the floor of the truck/tow tractor compartment and the activity of the sensor is monitored by the vehicle control system. Truck performance can be altered based on the state of the sensor. Different configurable settings are available to the customer depending on the material handling tasks to be performed. For example, the Model 8500 and 8510 may be configured so that travel will always be restricted if the operator has not assumed the proper riding operating position or alternatively configured so that the operator may assume either the orderpicking position outside of the truck or the riding position. The Model 8600 and 8610 may be equipped with a sensor to ensure that the operator has assumed the designated operating position.

APPLICATION CONSIDERATIONS:

• May create operational inefficiencies
• May impair order picking on some models
• May limit performance or functions  

MODELS

• EASi Pacer™
• EASi Reach/Deep-Reach/Straddle
• 4100, 4150, 4200, 4250
• 7000 Series
• 8900, 8910