SUMMER 2018

14
THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
Robert Footlik
Robert B. Footlik, PE is a retired Professional Industrial Engineer. With over 50 years’
experience as a Warehouse and Logistics Consultant to a wide variety of clients including
Fastener Distributors, Bob has a wealth of valuable information for our industry and he is
willing to share it. While Footlik & Associates is now closed, his expertise is still available
to his friends and our readers. For friendly advice, a second opinion or just to start a
conversation, he can be reached at robert@footlik.net.
EVALUATING YOUR FORKLIFTS AND OPERATORS
While the overall design of a forklift has not changed
very much since the first sit down riders were offered
by Towmotor and Yale & Towne almost 100 years ago
only the base concept remains. Every other aspect of
the vehicle has evolved with new materials, different
paradigms and operational requirements. Over the last
15 years two trends in particular have guided the design
and marketing of these vehicles,
ergonomics and telematics.
Reconsidering Ergonomics
Past studies have shown
that an operator’s productivity
is best during the first half to
three quarters of their work day.
This could be due to changes
in the workload or because of
problems created with control placement, repetitive
motions or simply the need to climb up and down all day.
Ergonomics is the science of looking at how humans
interface with their environment. Moving a lever, turning
a steering wheel or even monitoring vehicle status can
make a huge difference in how an operator feels at the
end of the shift. This can also reduce the incidence of
repetitive stress injury while enhancing safety for the
operators and those around them.
No matter the configuration, sitting on a seat,
standing on the chassis or traveling on a platform
mounted to the forks, space is limited and visibility can
CONTRIBUTOR ARTICLE
be problematic. More seat padding, improved control
mounting and greater visibility all help. For example
several vendors have tilted the slats on their overhead
guards creating louvers instead of blocking the view
without compromising the protection required under
OSHA Section 1910.178. Certainly this makes sense
for safety, but it also reduces neck pain and stretching
injuries.
In the Fastener Industry
upgrading forklifts has
frequently been based strictly on
maintenance economic factors.
When the vehicle is getting
too expensive to repair (or for
some when the parts are no
longer available) a new forklift
is purchased. Little or no regard
is being paid to operator comfort and productivity. This
is changing with the realization that the equipment has
improved to the point where there is an identifiable
return on the investment. Simply stated a comfortable
operator, who works consistently throughout their shift
is safer and more productive.
Unlike a grocery warehouse or distribution center
operators in this industry accumulate fewer vehicle
hours daily and are climbing on and off the truck far more
frequently. A little consideration for how this is done
without contortions or hitting their head can make a big
difference at the end of a long day.
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