Safety is a main priority here at Si-Tech. As such, we keep safe equipment keypad controls in mind when creating strategies for manufacturing and operations. By crafting versatile and dependable keypad controls, we can help you and your employees remain safe yet stay productive on the job.
Control design brings together a balance of aesthetics, durability, cost, and of course safety features. We can help businesses design controls that will make their equipment safer to use. Here are some factors that go into our strategies for making safer equipment keypad controls.
Visibility Concerns
Does your business have poor visibility conditions that your equipment must endure? Perhaps this equipment will be used on a dusty, dirty construction site. Or maybe you operate within a dimly-lit area. This can make seeing the keypad difficult for your workers, leading to costly and dangerous mistakes.
This is why we advise simple custom keypads, especially where commonly-used controls are involved. It’s important to:
- Group controls by function
- Use contrasting colors
- Separate buttons into groups
- Refrain from lettering
- Use clear and simple symbols
- Use large, clear fonts that are easy to read in low lighting
- Use clear control schemes so employees can respond more quickly in an emergency
Accessible Controls
Excellent ergonomics and rapid emergency response: these are two important features in safe keypad controls. Here are some tips for obtaining accessible control design:
- Lay out controls so they can be reached without straining. This is because you likely have workers who are in varying height ranges.
- Consider a design where users don’t have to strain to reach them, with wrists kept straight. When people must stretch or twist into unnatural positions to reach a particular button, their chance of injury is heightened. Using the same motions over and over can result in a disability.
- Position controls so workers can reach them fast in a crisis situation. Don’t make them search for the right control, as that extra second could mean the difference between life and death.
Operating Conditions
Knowing beforehand how a particular keypad will work for you in the real world is key. That’s why Si-Tech offers quick and convenient prototypes of custom keypads that give you the ability to test them out in a production environment.
You may find that controls that seem OK when standing don’t work as well when sitting. Consider what clothing or accessories your workers will be donning, as heavy gloves don’t work well on small, fine buttons. You may also have to adjust button force depending on the environment.
Sometimes it takes many versions of a keypad to get the best final result. Contact Si-Tech today at 757-887-8488 so we can help you create safer keypad controls.
