selecting the right system
Key factors when choosing a pedestrian detection system for your workplace.
Choosing the right pedestrian safety system for your MHE can feel overwhelming at first. The good news: you can quickly narrow the field by first understanding six core considerations. While there’s no silver bullet, having a clear grasp of these 6 essentials will empower your decision making and guide you towards the best solution for your workplace.
1. What to detect
Detect anything, or only detect what matters?
Radar systems that alert to any object—whether it’s a wall, pallet, or post—overwhelm operators with constant, irrelevant warnings, leading to frustration, alert fatigue, and the risk of critical alerts being ignored when they really count. Selective detection systems on the other hand, narrow their focus on what matters most—like only detecting people or tagged objects, ensuring that the alerts are timely, relevant, and taken seriously.
If protecting people is your priority, a selective detection system is essential.
The SEEN Safety System provides selective detection of people and marked assets - ensuring alerts are relevant, accurate, and actionable.
2. How to detect
RFID tags, AI cameras, LiDAR? What’s the best fit?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, with each type of system having its strengths and weaknesses. The key is choosing the right tool for your environment and risk profile.
Active RFID / electronic tags
Active send-and-receive systems enable highly reliable detection, but each person must wear a battery-powered tag, which can be difficult to manage at scale. Implementation costs and maintenance demands are high. These systems often provide 360º all-round proximity detection, which can lead to over-alerting.
AI human-form detection cameras
AI cameras use vision processing to detect people in the frame, but lack the reliability of active send-and-receive systems. Detection performance can be inconsistent in real-world conditions (dust, glare, poor lighting, or visual obstructions). Accurate distance measurement—an essential requirement for safety critical applications—can only be achieved with high-spec, high-cost stereo camera systems.
SEEN IRIS technology
An alternative solution that uses LiDAR to detect the retroreflective tape present on high-visibility safety apparel. It offers precise, real-time detection without the need for electronic tags. The only requirement? Everyone must wear standard high-vis clothing with reflective tape—something most sites already do.
The SEEN Safety System delivers the reliability of an active detection system, without the need for tags, by using the retro-reflective tape already found on standard high-vis PPE.
3. Where to detect
360° coverage or focused protection?
While 360° detection may initially sound like a good idea, in practice it often leads to over-alerting, resulting in operator fatigue and disengagement, which ultimately reduces overall safety. In contrast, targeted detection systems focus only on the highest-risk zones, to provide relevant, timely alerts that assist the driver, rather than annoying them with constant irrelevant alerts.
The SEEN Safety System focuses on critical risk zones, delivering timely and relevant alerts.
4. Operational considerations
Rolling out new technology across a fleet isn’t always straightforward. To ensure a smooth implementation, it’s essential to consider the practical details upfront, such as:
Installation time – How long will it take to get each machine up and running?
Compatibility – Can the system be retrofitted to existing equipment, or is it only suitable for new machines?
Flexibility – Does it work across all the brands and vehicle types in your fleet?
Maintenance – What level of ongoing support or upkeep is required?
Scalability – Is it cost-effective enough for fleet-wide adoption?
Implementation support — Who will help you extract the maximum safely value from the system? Installing sensors on your machines is only the start, and proactive staff training and engagement is key to achieving lasting safety benefits.
The SEEN Safety System is compatible with any forklift and cost-effective enough to be deployed across your entire fleet. SEEN’s implementation support program ensures you get the safety outcomes you need.
5. Actionable, secure data
Capturing visual evidence of high-risk events is key to spotting unsafe operations early. But not every solution—especially networked cameras—meets enterprise security and privacy standards. Choose platforms with end-to-end encryption, strict access controls, and clear data-retention policies to protect people and information.
SEEN Insight securely delivers direct visual evidence of near-miss incidents.
6. Versatility
When evaluating a pedestrian detection system, consider whether it's compatible with all the brands and types of MHE in your fleet. Can it be retrofitted to existing equipment, or is it only available on new machines? And if your fleet ever changes, can it be easily transferred? OEM-specific systems often come with limitations, so choosing an OEM agnostic solution can offer greater long-term value and adaptability.
The SEEN Safety System is compatible with all makes and models of MHE, ensuring seamless integration across your entire fleet.