Supporting safer forklift operations in container loading through automation

• Wouter Satijn, Chief Revenue Officer, Joloda Hydraroll

With National Forklift Safety Day on 9th June, it is an important time to review how we continue to keep forklift safety front of mind, while maintaining a profitable operation. Containers are, and will continue to be, a cornerstone of the logistics supply chain. Their versatility, being able to transport them by land, sea or air, makes them perfect for shipping a whole array of goods. Of course containers don’t just suddenly appear where they need to be, they need to be loaded and unloaded, and doing so takes a great deal of care and skill. These environments are often fast-paced and congested, making container loading one of the highest-risk areas for forklift operations, with repeated vehicle movements and confined spaces increasing the likelihood of accidents.

The risks found in the loading area are plain for all to see. The HSE suggests that approximately 13,600 people were injured across 2024/2025 from being hit by moving vehicles during loading operations. Many of these would have resulted in absences from work and potential liability, let alone the human cost to workers.

It is important to note that not all practices are as dangerous as others. For example, nearly 25% of all forklift fatalities involve tip-overs – and a forklift entering a container increases the risk of tip-over accidents significantly.

So how does a business manage risk versus productivity? For many businesses, balancing safety with operational efficiency can feel like an almost impossible task. However, advances in automated loading systems and smarter operational processes are helping businesses improve control, reduce manual handling risks and maintain efficient workflows, without disrupting productivity or impacting profit targets.

Reducing Risk Through Safer Loading Processes

For smart businesses,   planning the container handling workflow is key to creating a safer working environment. While every facility operates differently, there are many steps businesses can take to assess and improve their own operational setup.

For example, creating a loading plan can help logistics teams distribute weight evenly and map out what will go in the container, where it will go and in which order. Additionally, properly securing cargo once it is in place is also important to prevent movement during loading and transit.

In modern logistics operations, the conversation is shifting from simply what gets done to how it gets done. The role of equipment and technology within the workflow is no longer a nice-to-have, it’s fundamental to building safe, efficient, and scalable operations. Manual container loading, for example, is not just impractical; it represents an outdated approach in an environment where precision and productivity are critical.

Forward-thinking organisations are instead looking at how technology can streamline movement and reduce unnecessary handling. Minimising repeated forklift movements inside containers not only improves efficiency but also creates more controlled, predictable environments—without compromising throughput.

This becomes even more critical when considering safety. In busy loading zones where forklifts and personnel operate in close proximity, reducing interactions between vehicles and pedestrians is essential. With OSHA data indicating that 36% of forklift-related fatalities involve pedestrians, designing workflows that actively limit these touchpoints is a key lever for both operational excellence and risk reduction.

How Automation Supports Safer Forklift Operations

Of course planning is not the only way to improve efficiency and many businesses are now using smart automated loading solutions to support them. These systems not only offer operational benefits, including quicker loading times and reduced risk of damage, but safety benefits as well. Automation is reshaping forklift operations by cutting unnecessary movement in high-risk areas and reducing manual handling, especially in confined container environments where accidents are more likely.

By lowering forklift traffic and removing operators from hazardous trailer spaces, it significantly reduces the risk of collisions, near-misses, and injuries. At the same time, automated loading systems can cut manual handling injuries by up to 40%, while streamlining repetitive tasks, improving consistency, and enabling workers to move into safer, higher-value roles without sacrificing productivity.

Conclusion

Automation in container and warehouse environments goes well beyond safety, it fundamentally improves how the entire operation runs. When integrated into a well-designed loading and unloading strategy, they remain a critical part of safe, efficient operations. The challenge is not replacement, but optimisation.

The real value of automation lies in rethinking how and where human involvement is needed. By combining forklift operations with automated loading systems, organisations can significantly reduce unnecessary human exposure in high-risk environments, while creating more controlled, consistent, and predictable container handling processes.

This is where leading operations are focusing: not on removing people or equipment, but on designing smarter systems that elevate both safety and performance.

In the long term, investing in the right equipment and processes not only improves safety outcomes, but also helps create a healthier, happier, and more profitable loading environment. In short, automation doesn’t just make operations safer, it makes them smarter, faster, and more resilient.