Powerfleet Focuses on Workplace Accidents in Intralogistics

The number of workplace accidents in logistics has significantly increased over the past years, and this trend continues in the German logistics sector. Particularly concerning is the frequency of accidents compared to other industries. According to the statistics from the German Statutory Accident Insurance (DGUV), there were around 86,000 reportable accidents in lifting, transport, and storage facilities in 2022, including 37 fatal accidents, twelve of which occurred during the operation of material handling vehicles and forklifts.

(Düsseldorf) These figures are alarming and require swift action. Therefore, Powerfleet aims to draw public attention to the workforce in intralogistics, who perform physically demanding tasks with a high risk of accidents.

Current Situation in the Industry

Operational efficiency represents a crucial competitive advantage. At the same time, recruiting qualified professionals such as truck drivers and warehouse workers is becoming increasingly important. The reason: Companies must compete even more for new talent in light of rising accident numbers. As a survey by Statista shows, German logistics companies were already missing 85 percent of the qualified drivers they actually needed in 2022. For IT specialists, the figure was 62 percent, and for warehouse workers, it was a total of 55 percent.

This trend is also linked to the changing requirements for professionals and demographic shifts. This means that many qualified employees approaching retirement age gradually leave gaps in the workforce within intralogistics, resulting in a loss of know-how. At the same time, new employees are under performance pressure – and this in an industry where safety and health are already at risk. Therefore, it is essential to at least temporarily compensate for missing skills through technology, enabling staff to safely complete all tasks and find fulfillment in their work.

Implementing Appropriate Safety Measures for Business Success

It is essential for the industry to respond appropriately to current developments and, above all, to improve workplace safety. In this regard, Powerfleet supports any company with modern IT solutions for analyzing data from intralogistics, sourced from various platforms and other data sources. These analyses provide operations and fleet managers with a real-time overview of all processes and deliver insightful findings to identify and mitigate risks.

With these tools, it is possible to warn drivers of potentially dangerous situations in real-time by evaluating camera footage during driving. Acoustic warnings can thus enhance the safety of pedestrians in production and storage areas. In retrospect, important performance indicators for driver training and facility optimization can be derived from data analysis to mitigate risky driving behavior with vehicles as well as hazardous areas within the building. Through comprehensive accident analysis and the subsequent implementation of preventive measures, companies can quickly identify causes, improve their own safety standards, and reduce legal risks.

Everyone Wants to Get Home Safely After Work

“The challenge of attracting young people to a career in intralogistics is significant. The industry faces the task of giving the profession a new image and creating attractive working conditions with a focus on safety at work, as everyone wants to get home safely after work,” explains Heinz-Hermann Tiben, SVP Sales EMEA at Powerfleet. “Real-time analyses of the driving behavior of specific individuals and individual accident situations contribute significantly to making everyday work in intralogistics safer and reducing the risk of accidents in the long term. Acoustic warning signals, access controls for material handling vehicles, measures to optimize routes and driving conditions, as well as driver training play a major role in this.”

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