Smart Manufacturing

CASE STUDY 3Improving Safety with Computer Vision

Anthony Tarantino, PhD

Introduction

Navigating around industrial forklifts is a common experience for anyone who has worked in manufacturing or distribution. When I started working in manufacturing as a summer hire in the 1970s, workplace safety was often an afterthought. Typically, forklifts had the right of way, and the person on the floor was supposed to get out of the way. This was especially important because some drivers were paid bonuses for moving higher volumes of materials. It was also common to use forklifts as convenient extension ladders, and young summer hires were the first choice to be lifted on a forklift blades to fetch hard-to-reach items, sometimes 10 feet above the floor. I remember this well, as I had a fear of heights and always dreaded being volunteered to ride the blades.

Later in my career, I was in charge of supply chain operations for the world's largest lockset facility, and they had a 250,000-square-foot warehouse. I liked to stay late and walk the facility during the swing shift. We had some impressive forklift drivers operating on swing shift, almost all of whom were temporary contract workers. When I asked why we did not hire some of best drivers, the answer was simple: none of them could pass the drug tests. After that, I proceeded with more caution when walking the shop floor.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was formed in 1970 under the US Department of Labor to ensure ...