Lockout/Tagout

That your forklift needs to be locked out or tagged out when our mechanic does service work at your worksite?

OSHA regulation 1910.147 states: This standard covers the servicing and maintenance of machines and equipment in which the unexpected energization or start-up of the machines or equipment, or release of stored energy could cause injury to employees. This standard establishes minimum performance requirements for the control of such hazardous energy.

The reason we have to do this at your worksite is not just to comply with an OSHA regulation; it’s for the safety of the workers in your company and the safety of our mechanics. While this might seem to be a hardship at times, it is necessary that we do this.

An example of this happened last year when one of our mechanics was changing the oil on a customer forklift. While under the truck, a worker saw the forklift sitting there and went to use it; he did not see the mechanic under the forklift. When the driver tried to start it, our mechanic yelled out to get the driver’s attention. Fortunately, no one got hurt, but it could have been a very serious accident. Had the forklift been tagged out, the driver would have seen the tag and would not even have tried to start the forklift.

Liability is also a concern. If a mechanic leaves an unsafe truck in a running condition while the mechanic is waiting for parts and someone gets hurt, then it can become a legal matter. Our mechanics now will be listing anything that they find wrong on your forklift on their repair orders. While a customer does not have to have these items fixed, we have to make you aware that there is a problem with your forklift that makes it unsafe.

Please try to keep in mind that OSHA regulations are there for everyone’s safety. If a tag or a lockout device is on your forklift, please do NOT bypass these devices. Doing so can cause serious injury or death to your workers and our mechanics. Remember, safety always comes first in any company.

For any information on forklift operator safety training or questions on OSHA regulations, please contact Dave Bennett at 315-437-2881 x4146 or e-mail at dbennett@thompsonandjohnson.com

Regenerative Braking

When you drive your forklift, a lot of energy is wasted each time you brake to come to a stop at an intersection, make a turn, etc. In effect, the energy of your forward momentum is lost in the form of heat in your forklift’s brakes. More energy is then needed to reaccelerate you back to your previous speed.

The idea behind regenerative braking is to recapture some of the energy that would otherwise be wasted by braking, store that energy in batteries so that energy can later be used when you reaccelerate. The working of the regenerative system extends the available operation hours and the service life of the brake linings. This idea is widely used in both DC and AC-equipped forklift drive systems.

How does it work? Because many electric motors can also operate as generators, the same electric motor that helps to propel the forklift is also used to generate electricity and recharge the battery. The more electricity that is drawn from the motor/generator to charge the batteries, the more drag the motor/generator creates, effectively slowing down the forklift.

Some of the main operation features on some models are:

Accelerator Off or Coast Braking – This feature is active when the forklift travels with the accelerator off. If the driver is not well-enough informed, this feature is sometimes misinterpreted as the service brake is dragging. This is a good feature to keep enabled. It can improve travel speed control and stability because it allows the operator to use the soft braking force exerted by the motor.  In most cases, the truck can be tuned to the driver’s liking.

Brake Applied – Another condition that can trigger the operation of the regenerative system is when the operator applies the service brake slightly, which opens or closes a brake switch.

Switch Back or Plug Braking – This feature is triggered when the truck is moving and the directional control is moved through neutral and into the opposite direction. This function of an electric truck used to just waste this generated energy as heat; now it is routed back into the battery.

ENERGY-PLUS Batteries Add 20% More Power

When your operation depends on a heavy-duty battery, a battery that can stand up and deliver even under the most punishing conditions, you can depend on the power of Hawker’s line of ENERGY-PLUS.

ENERGY-PLUS products offer up to 20% more usable power than conventional batteries, without an increase in tray size.

In the course of a shift, that means your fork trucks move faster, work longer without recharging, and experience less motor wear caused by excessive amp draw.

So long after other batteries are dead and gone, ENERGY-PLUS keeps going.

To learn more about ENERGY-PLUS or other Hawker products, please contact your local Thompson and Johnson representative.

Hawker Honors T&J

Thompson and Johnson proudly announces that it recently was awarded with Hawker Battery Company’s “Target Buster” Sales Award. This prestigious accomplishment was earned by achieving over 100% of the annual sales goal.

Hawker is the largest brand of industrial lead-acid batteries in the world. Their state of the art manufacturing facility in Ooltewah, Tennessee, is the most technologically advanced and environmentally friendly facility in the industry.

Hawker is an EnerSys company offering the broadest line of solutions for controlling and reducing your motive power operating costs.

Thompson and Johnson has represented Hawker products for over 25 years and is proud of this accomplishment.