Each year within Vallejo, there are a few hundred lift truck accidents that are reported. Although operator training is certainly the most essential part of avoiding workplace accidents, it is not sufficient to decrease the number of incidences. Clearly, the right method to avoiding forklift mishaps is having the company and organization involved, as well as combining the efforts of everyone in the facility.
Toyota has implemented the System of Active Stability or SAS, that is technology derived from the automotive technology. The SAS can electrically control and monitor lift truck operations. This particular system is really vital for helping decrease the possibility of accidents from happening. When the SAS system senses any kind of instability, its advanced sensors signal simultaneously and engage the proper controller. The Active Mast Function Controller and the Active Control Rear Stabilizer help to prevent injuries or accidents occurring by adding stability.
Toyota's SAS system is a patented technology that can detect various things that could cause potential lateral instability. If and when those conditions are detected, the SAS immediately locks a hydraulic cylinder on the rear steer axle. If this specific situation happens, the stability footprint of the forklift changes from triangular in shape to a rectangular shape, resulting in an increase in stability. The result is an immediate stability and really reduces the possibility of a lateral overturn from happening.
Once the machinery senses instability happening, the SAS engages immediately. Then, the Swing Lock Cylinder is engaged and the rear axle becomes stabilized. This creates the lateral stability the machinery needs to help reduce the possibility of lateral tip-overs from occurring.
The active mast function is similar in operation to the active rear stabilizer control. The active mast function controller system utilizes the same patented technology to detect numerous things that lead to possible longitudinal instability. Whenever the SAS controller senses possible longitudinal instability from happening, 2 systems become engaged to help reduce the possibilities of rearward and forward tip-over accidents from happening: the forward tilt angle control and the rear tilt speed control.
The equipment forward tilt angle control could sense the mast height and load weight, the will override the operator's manual control automatically. It would also limit the forward tilt that would reduce the possibilities of spilling or forward tipping. All these safety mechanisms are in place to help the operator stay safe.
Utilizing the same load sensors and mast height sensors, the rear tilt speed control is designed to govern the mast's reverse tilt speed to half. This really decreases the possibilities of having the forklift tilt backwards or spilling unsecured loads.