Smart Lifts: the new intelligent collision detection technology
Accidents involving forklifts represent a significant portion of workplace fatalities in Canada and cost Canadian businesses tens of millions of dollars each year in direct compensation. For managers of warehouses, industrial sites, or factories, every incident puts team safety, productivity, and the company’s reputation at stake.
Smart Lifts, a new solution from our partner ProxSecur, offers a different approach: an intelligent system that analyzes each incident with precision, eliminates false alerts, and integrates easily with existing equipment. This article explains how this technology works, why companies are interested in it, and what it can concretely change for your operations.
Key takeaways
• Smart Lifts analyzes forklift incidents and eliminates false alerts using sophisticated algorithms
• The system installs in 5 minutes on any forklift model using commercial magnets
• Managers receive real-time notifications with video, location, severity, and collision angle
• Companies using this type of technology can reduce their collisions
• The system provides documented proof to demonstrate compliance and protect the company in the event of serious incidents
What Smart Lifts actually does
Smart Lifts is a collision detection and analysis system that installs directly on your forklifts. Unlike traditional proximity systems that constantly alert, Smart Lifts focuses on what actually happened when an incident occurs.
The system uses advanced sensors and algorithms that reconstruct each collision with precision. When an impact occurs, you immediately receive:
• The exact date and time of the incident
• The precise location within your facility • The severity of the collision measured objectively
• The speed of the forklift at the time of impact
• The collision angle to understand the trajectory
• A video from the forklift’s point of view
This information is not just for documentation. It helps you understand why the incident happened and how to prevent it next time.
Why companies are adopting this technology now
The reality of forklift accidents in Canada justifies the attention given to safety technologies. According to the Association of Workers’ Compensation Boards of Canada, forklifts are involved in approximately 10% of workplace fatalities and 5% of serious injuries each year. This represents approximately one death and 400 serious injuries annually.
Costs go far beyond compensation. Each collision damages infrastructure – racking, walls, columns, guardrails – equipment, and sometimes inventory. Companies must also deal with operational disruptions, investigations, and in some cases, regulatory penalties.
Smart Lifts addresses three concerns :
Complete visibility You know exactly what is happening in your operations. No more blind spots or uncertainty about minor unreported incidents.
Risk reduction Data helps identify problem areas, times of day when incidents increase, or risky behaviors before they lead to serious accidents.
Better operational control You can adjust sensitivity based on your needs, create multiple administrators with restricted access by location, and integrate the system with other warehouse management tools.
What sets Smart Lifts apart from other solutions
The market offers several types of forklift safety systems: proximity systems that alert before collisions, surveillance cameras, RFID tags for pedestrians, and physical barriers. Smart Lifts takes a different approach.
Installation without heavy infrastructure The system uses commercial magnets to attach sensors. No need to drill, weld, or modify your forklifts. Installation takes about 30 minutes and works on any model, regardless of brand or year.
Elimination of false alerts Many managers complain about systems that constantly trigger alarms for normal situations. Smart Lifts analyzes real impacts with ultra-sensitive sensors and algorithms that distinguish a collision from simple vibration or surface changes.
Actionable data All information is stored in the cloud with high-security encryption. You can access your data anytime, on any device, through a web portal. Authorized managers receive encrypted real-time notifications, even on the go, without needing to log into the portal.
Situations where this technology makes a real difference
| Situation | What Smart Lifts provides | Concrete result |
| Unreported minor incidents | Automatic documentation with video and precise data | Full visibility on all impacts, even those considered “minor” |
| Legal liability in a serious accident | Video evidence and objective data demonstrating exact circumstances | Legal protection for the employer and management |
| Repeated damage in certain areas | Identification of hotspots with location and frequency | Targeted correction of layout or procedures |
| Undetected risky behaviors | Analysis of speed, angles, and incident patterns | Training adapted to real observed situations |
| Insurance audits | Compliance with monitoring, risk assessment, and prevention criteria | Potential reduction in insurance premiums |
What you should do now
If you manage a single warehouse or site Evaluate your incidents over the past 12 months. How many collisions have you documented? How many do you think you missed? If you don’t have clear visibility or rely only on verbal reports, Smart Lifts could transform your safety management.
If you are preparing for a safety or insurance audit Smart Lifts meets several audit criteria: collision monitoring, risk assessment, camera surveillance, and built-in anti-theft features. These elements can positively influence your evaluation.
If your damage costs are increasing Smart Lifts data helps quantify the impact of collisions on your operating costs. You can then justify investments in training or layout improvements with concrete numbers.
Prevent rather than document
Smart Lifts documents incidents, but its real impact comes from what you do with that information. Companies that get the most out of this technology use it to:
Provide targeted training Instead of generic training, you can show operators videos of real situations in your facility and discuss observed behaviors.
Adjust layout If three out of four collisions occur at the same intersection, the problem may not be the operators but visibility at that location. A mirror or layout change can make all the difference.
Strengthen safety culture When employees know every incident is documented objectively—without automatic blame but with a focus on understanding and improvement—attitudes toward safety change.
Optimize operations Incident patterns often reveal organizational issues: too much traffic at certain times, inefficient routes, poorly designed storage areas. Fixing these elements improves both safety and productivity.
A realistic approach to warehouse safety
Forklift accidents will never completely disappear. That’s the nature of active industrial environments. But you can reduce their frequency and severity with the right tools and the right approach.
Smart Lifts does not replace training, procedures, or human judgment. It is a tool that provides a clear and objective view of what is happening in your operations. This visibility allows you to make informed decisions and continuously improve the work environment.
Need help assessing your needs?
Our team can help you assess your current risks, understand configuration options, and determine whether this technology aligns with your safety and operational efficiency priorities.
Contact us now!
Frequently asked questions
Does Smart Lifts work on all forklift models?
Yes, Smart Lifts is compatible with all forklift models and brands. The sensor installs using commercial magnets and provides accurate data regardless of the vehicle.
How many administrators can access the system?
You can create multiple administrators with restricted access by location. Access to configurations and information can be limited based on users for full control.
Is the data secure?
Yes. All data is stored in the cloud with high-security encryption. You can access your information at any time, on any device, through a secure web portal.
Can the system sensitivity be adjusted?
Yes. Sensitivity can be adjusted by location for different operations and environments. You can modify it over time to find the optimal configuration for your situation.
What happens when an incident is detected?
Authorized personnel receive encrypted real-time notifications with video, date, time, location, severity, speed, and collision angle. Supervisors can access the information without logging into the portal.
