In busy warehouses, manufacturing facilities and other workplaces, forklifts, power jacks and other heavy materials handling equipment is often whizzing around quickly, creating a potentially dangerous environment for workers who are walking around the facility on foot.
When workplace accidents occur, it’s usually the pedestrian who is the one that is injured. So it’s important to look for ways to protect pedestrians whenever possible.
One of the easiest ways to protect pedestrians is to keep them out of the way of vehicles altogether whenever possible. If it is practical for your operations,eliminate the requirement for people and vehicles to operate at the same level. For example, you could try to design the hazard out by building raise loading docks in new facilities.
Keep Them Separated
Provide separate footpaths or walkways and eliminate pedestrian traffic wherever vehicles will be operating. In common areas, install pedestrian barriers, such as inward opening gates, at building entrances and exits to prevent pedestrians from inadvertently walking in the path of moving vehicles.
When separating pedestrians and vehicle traffic is not possible, make traffic routes that are wide enough for pedestrians to have safe passage and mark traffic routes by painting directional lines on the floor and/or on walls.
Provide separate access ways for vehicles and pedestrians into buildings or enclosures and provide vision panels in pedestrian doors that enter into areas where vehicles may be present.
In areas where pedestrians must cross vehicle routes, make sure routes have clearly visible signs and ground markings. Pedestrians also should have optimal vehicle visibility, adequate lighting and established and communicated right-or-way rules.
Separating Private and Work Vehicles
Pedestrians aren’t the only ones potentially endangered by heavy materials handling equipment. Private vehicles can easily be dented or damaged in collisions with forklifts and other work vehicles. So it’s a good idea to always provide onsite parking that is widely separated from work areas.
Employee parking lots should be located far away from anywhere heavy equipment is behind used. Establish walkways to and from parking areas that are safely surfaced, clearly marked, adequately lit, and unobstructed. Make sure there is adequate signage and that private vehicle and work vehicle routes are kept separate.
Workers and customers who drive their vehicles to your facility should be provided with safe designated routes that are clearly marked. Make sure there are clear safety signs at parking areas, as well as clear speed limit signs and information and instruction on safe driving on workplace routes.
Loading Bays and Platforms
Loading bays and platforms are other potential problem areas. Loading bays should be situated in safe and suitable locations where vehicles can easily be driven and can be protected from weather with tarps or other materials.
Risk assessments should be scheduled on loading bays and other potential problem spots according to a regular schedule.
Raised Loading Platform Safety
When raised loading platforms are being used, they should be provided with safe access, exits and safe bays for people working at ground level. Edges should be clearly marked and rails should be fitted onto the non-loading side to reduce the risk of falls.
They also should be fitted with raised wheel-stop edges to prevent vehicles such as forklifts and power jacks from accidentally rolling over the edge.