FAQs Forklift Strobe Lights

Other important forklift safety products are safety lights. Safety lights can help alert workers of the proximity of a forklift when there is too much noise for them to hear a backup alarm. Lights are available in a variety of colors and types. All of these lights are specifically designed to attach to a forklift.

Here are answers to frequently asked question concerning safety lights.

Q: What is a strobe light?
A: A strobe light is an emergency or safety light that attaches to a forklift and visually warns pedestrians of the presence of the lift. Many strobe feature LED lights. They almost never have to be serviced and have a long life. The LED light lifespan is rated at 50,000 hours compared to 5,000 hours for a strobe using incandescent lights.

Q: How does the strobe light work?
A: The light from the strobe illuminates the floor and moves along the floor in front or behind the forklift as the lift moves. Since the light moves only when the vehicle does, pedestrians can understand when the vehicle is stationary or moving.

Q: What colors are available?
A: There are four colors that are available –- blue, red, green, and amber.

Q: What styles are available?
A: Lights are available in low and high profile with permanent, pipe or magnetic mounting. Styles include square work lights, or square lamps. They are designed specifically to accommodate areas of the lift including left and right sides, rear and front.

Q: What are included with the strobe light?
A: The strobe light kit comes with a light, power cord, and control box with integral voltage regulator. The lights feature multi-voltage input from 12 volt DC to 48 Volt DC.

Q: Are there battery-powered strobe lights?
A: Yes, there are battery-powered strobe lights.

Q: Does the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) require that strobe lights be on forklifts?
A: OSHA requires Strobe lights in environments where the light is visible. So they are required in a warehouse environment that has less light. The light emitted from a strobe light would therefore be visible to pedestrians and other drivers and has the ability to make the work area safer. If the warehouse is well lit, there is no OSHA requirement that a strobe light is used.