Mailer Header 2-2012
Issue: #43
July - 2013
Building Cust Newsleter
Sales Department
Could Bridging the Chasm between Cars and Forklifts Save Lives?
Tom Andel with Material Handling and Logistics recently wrote an article asking this question. An opening quote from the article:

"What if instead of playing 'Call of Duty,' my labor force played 'Called to the Warehouse?' What if instead of navigating through buildings and hallways in the game, they navigated remotely through the warehouse and aisles?"

From forklift video games to questions about Toyota's Systems of Active Stability, read more by following this link.

Interested in finding out more about Toyota's SAS and what it can do for you? Give us a call or connect with us through our website and we'll put someone in touch with you immediately. 
safety stripe

safety triangle
It's summer and we're leaving our dock doors open during the day. Is it true that we can't. 

Of course you can, but like everything else surrounding the workplace, safety has to be addressed. Go out and measure the height of your dock door, most are built to a 44" standard and you'll want to know yours to understand the legal requirements.

The OSHA standard 1910.23(b) "Protection for wall openings and holes." It states: Every wall opening from which there is a drop of more than 4 feet shall be guarded by one of the following.

1910.23(b)(1)(i)

Rail, roller, picket fence, half door, or equivalent barrier. Where there is exposure below to falling materials, a removable toe board or the equivalent shall also be provided. When the opening is not in use for handling materials, the guard shall be kept in position regardless of a door on the opening. In addition, a grab handle shall be provided on each side of the opening with its center approximately 4 feet above floor level and of standard strength and mounting.

But, there is more and isn't that typical with these rules. OSHA in a letter of interpretation states:

To be in compliance with paragraph 1910.32 Special surfaces of the Proposed Rulemaking on Walking and Working Surfaces (55 FR 13407; April 10, 1990), employers would not be required to install guardrail systems on the working side of platforms, such as loading docks, where the employer can demonstrate that the presence of guardrails would prevent the performance of work. All other sides of the loading docks must be guarded. Employers must ensure that employees who may be exposed to fall hazards, are trained to recognize and avoid the hazards associated with work on loading docks.

At a minimum some sort of barrier should be in place to prevent anyone accidentally walking off through the opening. The height of your dock, and possibly to some degree how the next OSHA inspector interprets the standards, will determine just how involved the barrier should be. 
Rental Department 
Choosing the Best Equipment Rental Company
Toyota in lumber yard Through Material Handling and Logistics, a white paper from NES Rentals dealing with the selection of a rental equipment company:

"Choosing the best equipment rental company has traditionally been a difficult decision. There has been no convenient method to objectively compare how different rental providers perform across a wide range of customer services -- from equipment selection and delivery to operator training and on-site service.

This brief white paper describes a new and valuable tool that offers an unbiased and quantitative means of evaluating a rental company's customer service and overall performance, which permits choosing a rental provider more quickly and with more confidence. The paper provides information
tailored specifically for those involved in the decision-making process associated with renting equipment for use in construction, maintenance and repair, specialty trade, facilities maintenance, and other applications.

Remember Toyota Lift of Minnesota for your rental needs. Equipment from aerial work platforms, burden and personnel carriers through the largest rough terrain forklifts is available here. Work with the people that understand how to spec your specific needs.

You will need to fill out a short form to access the paper, but once completed you have access to several others.

For the Veterans - Through Toyota, Free Certification Continues
Know a Vet? Let's Help the Vet!
Sales IconOur next class is scheduled for tomorrow July 17th. You can read more about that and register through this link.

Our next class is scheduled for August 21st. Follow this link for details and the opportunity to register.

We ask that you consider any veteran you know who may be involved in a job search and suggest this certification to them. Logistics is always looking for dependable personnel, and forklift certification is often required prior to consideration for employment.

Through Toyota's generosity, we will be continually offering additional dates through 2013. You can always watch our event calendar for updates as they occur.
Service Department 
Do You Want Fries With That?
Tech and Clipboard In a previous post about our forklift planned maintenance program, we stressed the sort of attention to detail we preach to our technicians. We want to differentiate ourselves from the competition by the level of service we give the customer and in service, the PM is where it should all begin.

The following article was pointed out to me by our technical foreman; I'd seen it earlier and passed over it because it was written by TMHU directed to us the dealer and at first read I saw it only in that light. When I was asked to read it again, I realized it does support the training and direction given to our technicians and agreed that yes, it should be shared.

safety stripe 
safety triangle
We require our operators to wear their seat belts but it's like herding cats getting them to do so. Any ideas?  
 
Our first question would be, have they been trained recently and do they know how important a seat belt is to their safety in the event of a tip over? Then, do the employees feel that they are responsible for wearing them? Are they frequently in the presence of someone who will call them on it when they are not. Accountability will breed responsibility.

Another suggestion is to convert to orange seat belts in order to make it more obvious when the operators are in compliance. It is often difficult to tell at a distance who is and who isn't wearing one due to clothing and other reasons. Making it obvious who is and isn't will make it easier for those responsible for monitoring compliance to act when need be.

You can see an example of the belt and get an offer from us through this link
Parts Department 
Saving on Forklift Parts, What's Stopping You?
Another prime area for saving on forklift parts is break shoes. Let me explain, you can save a ton of dough buying non-OEM brake shoes. It's an industry out there, pumping out shoes that are often only a fraction of the price you'd pay for the OEM equivalent.

Regardless of forklift make, you're leaving a lot of money on the table paying what the dealer wants for the brake shoes he sells.

Easy call right?

 Read More
Forklift Photo Moment
While You Were Out ..
You might want to close your eyes, this is going to hurt.



See more material handling photos and videos [many of them fun] at our Pinterest site. Follow this link.

Warehousing Systems
It's the Latest Buzz Word in the Media, But ....
Warehouse order picker We were introduced recently to Warehouse Flow Consulting, running across their website at warehouseflow.com. Through there we found their blog and some great material for anyone responsible for activities surrounding warehousing and distribution.

Here is the first in a series of warehouse safety articles they share with us all:


You hear about it on the news, you read about it in trade mags and articles and you work about it every day - workplace safety.   It's the latest buzz word in the media, but what does it mean and how do you begin the process of making sure you have a safe place to work?  Well my friends, we are about to embark on a journey down the Green Brick Road for Safety and will show what goes into completing a Job safety analysis to identify potential safety hazards.  A job safety analysis is usually completed by someone trained in the field of safety but there is no reason, whether you're a manager, supervisor or employee, you shouldn't be familiar with the process as an extra set of eyes is always appreciated when it comes to safety.

Grab your pad and pen and let's begin our walk around the warehouse.  The analysis starts as we watch and observe each movement and action an employee takes as they complete their assigned daily tasks.   We are looking for any potential safety hazard that may occur during that action and movement.  So what is a safety hazard?  It is any source of potential damage, harm or adverse health effects on a person under certain conditions at work.  Some are obvious like an open hole in the floor that someone can fall through and some may take time to show their effects like repetitive motions. 

About Us

Toyota Lift of Minnesota has been serving its customers and the industry for over 34 years. Our mission is to improve your productivity and bottom line through better products, services and customer service personnel.

Toyota-Lift of Minnesota
8601 Xylon Court North
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55445
Phone 763-425-9066 Toll Free 800-523-0611

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Save 10%
Do you have an existing service, parts or rental quote from TLM?. Call us with the code 08202013JOS and we'll take ten percent off the amount you were originally quoted [limited to parts, labor or rental fees and cannot be used in conjunction with other specials or discounts nor applied to any services sublet].

Take advantage of this now, we genuinely appreciate your business and look forward to working with you in the future.

Coupon can be used on only one quote thank you, and cannot be used along with any other offer extended or work/sale previously billed.  
Offer Expires: August 19th 2013
In This Issue
Sales - Video Gaming and Safety
Rentals - Choosing The Right Company
Free Veteran Training
Service - Want Fries With That?
Parts - What's Stopping You?
Warehouse - Safety, It's the Buzz
Video - Your Daddy's Safety Training
Factory Links
Quick Links
 
safety poster  
Free OSHA Forklift Rules Poster

Would look great in your lunchroom! 
Call us or email us at
sales@toyotaequipment.com
We'll mail one off to you immediately! 
 
Catelog Splash
On Line Catalog:

Great Source For Warehouse Supplies 
Toyota Lift of Minnesota offers you an easy way to shop for all your associated needs. Follow the link below and see for yourself. From lockers to storage bins, we have it all. 

 

Catalog
Forklift Safety : The Winners & The Losers - 1970's Educational Film
Forklift Safety : The Winners & The Losers - 1970's Educational Film
Most of us can say, "this is your daddy's forklift safety training."

Safety catalog
On Line Catalog:

Great Source For All Things Forklift 
Yet another catalog that brings it all together for you is our "Everything Around the Lift Truck" catalog. Click the link below to review or download it. Call 763-315-9288 for more information or to order! 

 

Catalog
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Toyota Lift of Minnesota's Blog
Updated almost daily with material handling, warehouse and safety tips. We're working to put good information in small bites out to our readers.
 
We are also on Twitter
@ToyotaEquipment
Factory
OEM Links 
Toyota Forklift
Sellick Equipment
Taylor-Dunn
Aichi Equipment
Flexi Lift
JLG
Crown Battery
Enersys Battery