ENHANCED WORKPLACE safety is one of the key features of Toyota SA’s recently introduced Toyota 8-Series forklift. “It incorporates some of our most important durability, safety and performance features that will no doubt enhance workplace safety, productivity and save on fuel expenses,” says managing director of Toyota Forklift SA, Gary Neubert. Its System of Active Stability (SAS) essentially enables the forklift to sense instability and then instantly engage the Swing Lock Cylinder which in turn reduces the risk of lateral tip-overs, says Neubert. An Operator Presence Switch (OPS) detects the presence of a driver, and should the driver jump off the forklift at anytime, the switch will automatically disengage the transmission, stop all hydraulic functions and sound an alarm. “In addition, a tilt angle control which senses load weight and mast height will automatically override the operator’s manual control to decrease the chance of spilling a load or tipping the forklift forward or backwards.” Environmental concerns are also an essential part of the mix with the machine boasting lower noise levels and low CO2 emissions. Fully-stamped steel side panels withstand the harshest environments while rear combination lights offer improved protection and reliability, he added.