Creating Safe Walkways In Your Warehouse

Forklifts and industrial trucks are one of the most important and widely used pieces of equipment to lift and transport materials for short distances. Therefore, forklift truck accidents in which workers are hit and seriously injured are quite frequent.

Object Collisions

Careless driving can lead to collisions with lockers, desks, or racking. Objects falling can cause severe injuries. Drive attentively and with patience. As a preventative measure look at using crash barriers.

Pedestrian Collisions  

Accidents involving pedestrians are avoidable. Pay close attention while driving to avoid any collisions and be extra cautious when around others. Using pedestrian barriers is an easy way to keep your team safe.

Vehicle Collisions  

If multiple forklifts are in use, collisions between them can cause damage and potential injuries. Drive cautiously and be aware of other forklifts operating nearby.

At Axelent, we supply a range of impact protection products that helps to protect employees from vehicle collisions. Take a look at our impact protection page to find out more. 

How to Create Safe Walkways  

Now that we understand the importance of safe walkways let's explore how to create them within your warehouse. Here are some key steps to consider:

Protecting Walkways With Impact Barriers  

One of the fundamental strategies for creating safe walkways is to protect them with impact barriers. These barriers serve a dual purpose: preventing accidents and injuries while also maintaining a clear separation between pedestrian pathways and vehicle routes. Here's how you can effectively protect your walkways with impact barriers:

• Identify High-Risk Areas: Begin by identifying high-risk areas where the potential for accidents is greater, such as intersections or blind spots. These are the places where you'll want to install impact barriers.
• Choose the Right Barriers: Select impact barriers that are designed to absorb or redirect the force of collisions. These barriers should be sturdy and resilient to withstand the impact of industrial vehicles.
• Proper Placement: Install the barriers strategically to create a physical barrier between pedestrian walkways and vehicle paths. Make sure they are clearly visible and placed in locations that effectively prevent accidental entry.
• Regular Maintenance: Periodically inspect and maintain the barriers to ensure they remain in good condition. Any damage or wear should be promptly addressed to maintain their effectiveness.

Legal Requirements for Pedestrian Safety in the UK  

The HSE prioritises warehouse pedestrian safety and provides clear guidelines on keeping people safe from moving vehicles and machinery.

To meet legal standards, ensure your traffic management systems keep pedestrians and vehicles on designated paths with clear signage and separate operational areas and walkways.

How Can Axelent's Pedestrian Barier Support You?  

An impact barrier will withstand the force in most cases or at least reduce the seriousness of the consequences. At the same time pedestrian barriers keep people from walking unintentionally into the path of vehicles. A combination of impact and pedestrian barrier is often the best solution.