Warehouses can be hazardous environments, particularly large ones where a sizeable amount of goods are stored and stacked high. People working in these environments need to take great care and must keep an eye on everything that is happening if they want to avoid hazards. The amount of risks increases exponentially when you factor vehicles into the equation, whether it is trucks at loading bays or forklifts moving items around. A full range of safety measures needs to be put in place to protect everybody.
Many warehouses are utilising Armco barriers to keep forklifts and pedestrian areas separate in warehouses. This is an effective way to improve safety because it increases the separation between people and vehicles, thereby dramatically reducing the risk of accidents occurring. Forklifts are limited in terms of speed, but they can still move fast enough to cause serious injuries. The barriers will prevent them from colliding with people in areas where both must move around in close proximity.
In warehouses the barriers need to be compact and durable. There are spatial limitations so small models are more appropriate than large bulky ones. Forklifts move slower than other vehicles and are normally restricted in terms of their top speed. This means that barriers in warehouses don’t need to be able to stop 40 mph impacts. On the other hand they do need to be equipped to handle various angles of impact, particularly because traffic will be moving in both directions and forklifts have smaller turning circles than other vehicles.
When thinking of installing Armco barriers, you need to ensure they will be clearly visible. Having them painted so they stand out is the best way to do this. It is also important to position them properly, taking care to leave enough space for both vehicles and pedestrians to move around safely. If there are columns in the property you may need to consider adding a protective barrier to them.
As well as the installation you should also ensure everybody is advised about their barrier safety obligations. Pedestrians should be advised to take care when moving around and make sure the vehicle ways are free before they enter or cross them. Vehicle operators should be qualified and highly trained so they have the skills to drive and operate machinery safely. All staff should be able to identify hazards and take action to correct them.