Driver's rotating control station

Problems

When a forklift is used to transport bulky goods, the driver's forward visibility is often limited by the load. As a result, it may be necessary to travel longer distances in reverse. This leads to uncomfortable static body postures that are harmful to health, with strong twisting of the cervical spine and the trunk (see also EN 1005-4).

Stress category

Visibility conditions
Postures and movements

Solution

Linde's driver's rotating control stations can be fitted to larger models of forklift. By releasing the locking lever on the seat, the driver can swivel the entire control panel, including the seat, pedals, steering wheel and other controls, 90° to the side (see also EN ISO 21281:2005, Section 4; EN ISO 3691-1:2012, Section 4.7.4). This permits reversing without extreme twisting of the driver's entire body, since the driver need only turn his or her head in order to view the path to be travelled.

Principle of operation

• Adjustment of the location and orientation of controls to the task in hand (in this case, reversing)

Norms

• EN ISO 21281: Construction and layout of pedals of self-propelled sit-down rider-controlled industrial trucks - Rules for the construction and layout of pedals
• EN ISO 3691-1: Industrial trucks - Safety requirements and verification - Part 1: Self-propelled industrial trucks, other than driverless trucks, variable-reach trucks and burden-carrier trucks
• EN 1005-4: Safety of machinery - Human physical performance - Part 4: Evaluation of working postures and movements in relation to machinery