Purchasing A Personnel Carrier

8 Questions to Ask When Purchasing a Personnel Carrier

Pedestrian interaction with material handling equipment traffic is one of the most dangerous situations in a manufacturing, warehousing or distribution environment. Without protected walkways it is difficult for operators to visually locate pedestrians. Personnel carriers can not only increase the safe transport of employees but it can also increase their productivity.

Forklift Pedestrian Safety

Forklift fatality statistics teach us an operator is more likely to kill a pedestrian than themselves in an accident. 

Putting an employee in a personnel carrier with running lights or a flashing beacon and horn reduces pedestrian traffic and risk of injury. Visibility of personnel is also increased while riding on this equipment.

Operator Productivity

Employees have limited hours in a workday, and time spent walking around the facility reduces the time available for other tasks. This often leads to rushing, with employees taking shortcuts through the facility instead of using designated walkways.

In some cases, workers may think, "If I follow safety protocols, it will slow me down." For example, a maintenance worker might need a specific tool to safely complete a repair but may choose not to return to the shop to retrieve it. Instead, they might use whatever tools are nearby, increasing the risk of injury.

The right machine for the job is as important to safety as it is to productivity, customer satisfaction and reliability. 

Ask these 8 questions when considering a personnel carrier for your facility:

1. What distances do you need to travel?
2. How many trips through the facility do you expect to make with the equipment per shift?
3. Will you need to travel outside, even when it rains or is dark?
4. Do you have grades or rough areas to travel?
5. How tight are areas you must maneuver?
6. Will you need to carry materials or tools? If yes, what is the combined weight of the load and personnel?
7. How big are the materials you need to move?
8. Will you need to tow product?

A personnel carrier may be seen as a luxury item for the warehouse; however, it can reclaim production time lost during walking through the facility. It also decreases the risk of workplace accidents or injuries. Learn about our line of Taylor-Dunn utility vehicles.