Technologies for accident prevention in forklift operations and safety in human–machine interaction: a scoping review

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Accidents involving machinery and forklifts are a major cause of worker fatalities. The Fourth Industrial Revolution and Health 4.0, with technologies such as wearables and the Internet of Things, offer solutions to prevent accidents. Objective To map scientific evidence on the implementation of collision-prevention technologies in forklift operations, with a focus on reducing accidents and promoting a safe work environment. Methods A scoping review was conducted with searches of 11 databases. The research protocol was registered on the Open Science Framework (OSF) (). Articles available in full text, in any language, and without time restrictions were included. Results The initial search yielded 390 articles, of which eight were selected for this review. The main approaches analyzed included the Industrial Internet of Things, computer vision, automation, 3D image capture, and data analysis. Conclusion The studies indicate that the adoption of these technologies in industrial settings represents a significant advance in creating safer working conditions, with great potential to shape the future of occupational safety.