What is BS EN 16842‑1 Visibility test methods and verification about?
BS EN 16842‑1 gives the common test requirements for powered industrial truck visibility testing and is intended to be used in conjunction with EN 16842 parts 2 to 17.
The EN 16842 series specify requirements and test procedures of all-around visibility of self-propelled industrial trucks in accordance with ISO 5053-1 with a sit-on or stand-on operator, without load, and equipped with fork arms or load platform.
The truck-specific requirements in EN 16842 parts 2 to 17 supplement or modify the corresponding clauses of this part EN 16842-1 and provide the relevant requirements for the specific truck.
The visibility test requirements of the applicable part of EN 16842 for each truck type are used to fulfil the visibility requirements of the EN 16307 series.
Note 1: BS EN 16842‑1 does not apply to:
- Industrial, rough terrain variable reach or rough terrain masted lorry mounted trucks
- Trucks with elevating operator position, when the operating position is elevated above 500 mm
- Rough terrain variable reach trucks – within the scope of EN 15830
- Centre controlled order picking trucks
- Pallet truck end controlled
Note 2: The following trucks in normal operation have excellent 360° visibility and therefore will not be part of this series of standards:
- Ride-on pallet truck
- Pedestrian controlled pallet truck.
Who is BS EN 16842‑1 Visibility test methods and verification for?
BS EN 16842‑1 on visibility test methods and verification is of relevance, in particular, for the following stakeholder groups representing the market players with regard to machinery safety:
- Machine manufacturers (small, medium and large organizations)
- Health and safety bodies (regulators, accident prevention organizations, market surveillance, etc.)
- Machine users/employers (small, medium and large organizations)
- Machine users/employees (e.g., trade unions, organizations for people with special needs)
- Service providers, e.g., for maintenance (small, medium and large organizations)
Why should you use BS EN 16842‑1 Visibility test methods and verification?
Powered industrial vehicles, such as forklifts, are widely used in manufacturing and other industries. Potential safety issues exist due to limitations in the operator’s ability to see all around the vehicle.
Powered industrial trucks can be a hazard to drivers and pedestrians if not operated properly or if non-visible regions due to trucks’ structure and loads they carry are not addressed.
The test method of BS EN 16842‑1 applies to all configurations, including additional tests for various types of masts, external fuel tanks, counterweights, cabs, etc. that adversely affect visibility. The visibility from the self-propelled industrial truck shall be deemed to meet the requirements of BS EN 16842‑1.
Visibility tests in BS EN 16842‑1 help the operator to stack goods correctly and evenly, avoiding damage to goods and racking or risk tip-over. By conducting visibility verification specified in BS EN 16842‑1, the manufacturers can demonstrate the safety and reliability of their industrial trucks increasing the operator’s confidence and ultimately reducing the risks of hazardous situations.
