Forklift intersection warning systems detect a forklift, a person or both approaching a crossing and signal the other party before they meet. Detection comes from fixed cameras, radar or motion sensors at the corner, or from tags carried by people and trucks. The signal is a light, a sign that switches on, a sound or a projection on the floor, aimed at the pedestrian, the operator or both. Some systems also switch a traffic light or, on compatible forklifts, reduce speed as the truck enters the intersection zone. They supplement the operator's duty to slow down and sound the horn at blind crossings; they do not replace it.
The full guide is forklift intersection safety. Under 29 CFR 1910.178(n)(4), operators must slow down and sound the horn at cross aisles and other locations where vision is obstructed; a warning system makes that rule easier to follow without changing it.
Check three things before installing. Sight-line geometry: the sensor must see the approaching vehicle early enough for a stop at normal speed. Signal design: a light that flashes all the time becomes background noise, so it should activate only on detection. Two-way coverage: a sign that warns only the driver leaves the pedestrian unaware. Mirrors, marked stop lines and barriers that channel pedestrians to a fixed crossing point remain the base layer.