Tokio Marine - using eye tracking to help customers prevent accidents

With the aim of preventing accidents at customers' factories, Tokio Marine and Nichido Fire Insurance Co., Ltd. conducted an eye tracking study to determine what behaviors were causing the mishaps. The eye tracking data revealed differences in visual patterns between experienced and inexperienced operators.

The background

Tokio Marine and Nichido Fire Insurance Co., Ltd. wanted to examine a recurring issue within a customer’s factory which involved the frequent occurrence of collisions between forklifts and employees, and forklift rooftops and automatic shutters (doors) inside the factory.

The method

The company conducted an eye tracking study to determine what behaviors were causing the accidents and how they could be prevented. Both experienced (approx. 40yrs experience) and inexperienced (approx. 10yrs experience) operators were studied. They were fitted with Tobii eye tracking glasses to see where they focused their visual attention while carrying out routine tasks.

The conclusion  

The study revealed that experienced operators would look both at the load on the truck and at the faces of other drivers working in the vicinity to try to make eye contact. On the other hand, inexperienced operators, although aware of the presence of the drivers, were not looking at their faces. 

In relation to the collisions with the automatic shutters, the study found that experienced operators visually checked the door had lifted before driving the forklift through despite the sensor light turning green, in contrast, inexperienced operators would begin forklift entry as soon as the light turned green.