Proximity Alarm System on the Job at Alaska Marine Lines

“We also added reflective tape to the counter-weight of the forklifts to help prevent collisions, which has already proven effective during barge operations,” explains Joe Purcell, Alaska Marine Trucking Operations Manager.

The advantage of SEEN Safety’s alarm is the adjustability. With varying barge operating conditions in Southeast, it is vital to be able to adjust the proximity beam to suit each port.

“For example, when Ketchikan works a barge it is always full, so we adjusted the proximity to a smaller zone compared to Juneau where the barge is more than half empty,” Purcell explains.

“One of the major risks in Alaska Marine Lines’ operations is mixing personnel working on the deck of our barges with 50-ton forklifts,” says Don Reid, Alaska Marine Lines Vice President of Operations.

“The Alaska Marine Lines safety team has been exploring solutions for many years and this proximity alarm technology is a major step toward mitigating that risk and keeping people safe on the barge deck.”