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Did you know that warehousing and construction sites are statistically the two most dangerous workplaces in the United States? According to data from the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the total number of preventable workplace fatalities in these two industries accounted for nearly 40% of all fatal injuries in 2021.
This is a long-standing problem in the US, which is why the Occupational Health and Safety Administration has been implementing and developing safety regulations since its inception in 1971. However, despite OSHA’s efforts to ensure the safety of workers throughout every industry and occupation, there are still thousands of fatal and non-fatal incidents every year.
The most common incidents resulting in injury involve motorized vehicles, falling objects, slips, trips, and falls, which means that most of these occurrences are completely avoidable. As such, it is crucial for businesses and organizations to provide adequate safety equipment and install permanent safety fixtures.
Wherever there is heavy pedestrian activity and work vehicle traffic, it is especially important for safety leaders to implement specific measures to prevent these kinds of injuries. In this article, we will be discussing some of the essential practices that can improve safety awareness and reduce workplace injuries.
We will also discuss a few pieces of equipment that can be used to keep employees safe, such as barrier gates, mirrors, traffic control signs, and more.
High pedestrian traffic in areas where vehicles are in use is one of the most common causes of workplace injuries in warehouses, construction sites, and transportation terminals. Here are a few tips for maintaining a safe environment for employees as they work around each other throughout the day:
When it comes to keeping pedestrians safe around moving vehicles, most of the responsibility falls on the vehicle’s operator. Whether they are driving a forklift, truck, motorized pallet jack, scissor lift, or any other type of vehicle, it is important that the operator is always on the lookout for pedestrians.
Whenever a driver is about to cross paths with someone who is on foot, they should always slow down or come to a complete stop to give pedestrians the right of way. Additionally, drivers should always be aware of areas with higher traffic volumes while taking the time to slow down and proceed with caution through these high-traffic zones.
Even if it seems unnecessary or obnoxious, drivers should make frequent use of their horns and alarm when navigating a warehouse or job site. A few of the areas where drivers should always use their horns include blind corners, near doorways, when entering or crossing an aisle, and around designated walkways with limited visibility.
Another time drivers should always use their horns is when they are driving in reverse. When drivers move in reverse, they will have a larger blindspot on one side since they must turn in one direction to see behind them. Tapping the horn and turning on the reverse alarm will ensure that pedestrians know the vehicle is present while also making them aware of the driver’s intentions.
It is important to note that drivers should never allow another person to ride on the vehicle unless the vehicle is designed to carry a passenger. In the case that a vehicle is designed for more than one person, the spotter can help by watching the driver’s blind spot while advising them of obstructions and pedestrians.
If the vehicle is not designed for multiple riders, or if the spotter is unable to make visual contact with the driver’s blind spot, they should stand in an area that is:
If the driver is unsure whether or not their intended path is obstructed, they must put the vehicle in park and walk to the area where they intend to drive to ensure that there are no obstacles or pedestrians in the way. They can also use this as an opportunity to advise others around them about what they intend to do.
If their path is obstructed by objects, drivers should take the time to remove the obstructions from their intended path if possible. However, if they are unable to sufficiently clear the area, drivers should choose another route altogether.
Making eye contact with other drivers and pedestrians is a great way to ensure that they are aware of the driver’s presence and intentions. This also gives drivers and pedestrians an opportunity to stop and communicate with one another if it is unclear what either of them is planning to do.
When driving in congested areas, vehicle operators should maintain a safe speed to avoid sudden encounters with pedestrians and other vehicles. It is also important for drivers to accelerate, travel, and brake smoothly.
When operating a vehicle in a high-traffic area, it is important for the driver to have sufficient experience to anticipate how their vehicle will move. For example, forklifts have a wider turn radius when reversing than they do when advancing. It is crucial for forklift operators to take this into account no matter what direction they are moving in since forks can easily damage their surroundings.
Also, when maneuvering the forks up, down, right, or left, operators need to be aware of the size, shape, and weight of the load they are carrying. When drivers miscalculate their movements as they lift or lower their load, this can cause objects to fall, get knocked over, and break.
Forklift operators must always ensure that the area is clear of pedestrians any time they are lifting or lowering a load to avoid injury from falling objects. When lifting a load that is not properly secured, it is possible for loose objects to fall or for the entire load to slide off the forks. Although it is rare for the whole load to fall off, it is possible, especially when the forks are tilted forward.
Also, if the operator attempts to lift a load that is too heavy for the forklift, it can cause the entire vehicle to tip over. Events like these can cause serious damage or injuries, possibly even creating a domino effect throughout the entire warehouse.
Another important safety precaution that forklift operators should always observe is never allowing someone to walk under the forks when they are elevated, especially if there is a load on the forks. Ensuring that pedestrians are never allowed to walk under the forks will prevent many different kinds of injuries. For instance, if someone walks under the forks as they are being lowered, they could sustain a serious neck or head injury if the forks come into contact with the person as they are moving down.
There are several pieces of equipment that warehouse safety managers should install throughout the work environment to prevent accidents involving vehicles and pedestrians.
By strategically placing convex mirrors near areas where there are blind corners and other visual obstructions, drivers and pedestrians can see around corners and behind barriers without needing to physically approach them.
Traffic signs can act as indicators of oncoming vehicular and pedestrian traffic while also serving as important safety reminders for drivers. Traffic signs are valuable resources for helping pedestrians and drivers navigate through areas that they are unfamiliar with, notifying them of walkways and speed limits while also reminding them to use their horns and signals.
There are many different types of guard rails on the market, so it is important to install a guard rail that is designed specifically for its intended purpose. For guard rails meant to protect pedestrian walkways against moving vehicles, the guard rail needs to be constructed from materials capable of withstanding potential impacts.
Additionally, guard rails need to be correctly installed to ensure that they are properly anchored into the surface where they are placed. If the rails are not adequately secured to the ground or floor, they cannot absorb an impact and stop a moving vehicle.
Barrier gates are some of the most important pieces of safety equipment in a warehouse environment. These crucial safety installations come in a few different models, but they all work in the same manner.
One model of barrier gate is a simple, high-visibility bar that swings in one or both directions, depending on how it is installed. Barrier gates are also available in a model that includes two horizontal bars and three vertical bars to connect the top and bottom.
While these double-barred barrier gates add some extra visibility and allow safety managers to attach signs to them, they also feature another useful function. Double-barred barrier gates can extend to fit different sizes of openings, reaching anywhere from 30 to 48 inches.
Barrier gates are made from sturdy, UV-resistant polyurethane and PVC. They include a gravity-closing hinge to ensure that the gate is always in the closed position when not in use.
Although barrier gates are not designed to stop a moving vehicle, they are extremely effective in alerting pedestrians of oncoming traffic and other potential hazards.
A barrier gate should be strategically installed in every area where pedestrian walkways intersect or come close to paths where vehicles are traveling, as well as any other areas where collisions and falls may occur. Areas that should be blocked off by a barrier gate include:
By ensuring that there is a barrier gate in every one of these locations, you can guarantee employees will have to stop at least long enough to open and close the barrier gate. This not only gives them a few extra seconds to become aware of their surroundings, but it also serves as an important reminder that they should look both ways to check for oncoming traffic.
There are also some useful accessories that can be used to enhance the functionality of the barrier gate, such as universal installation kits and motion-activated warning lights. The installation kit will allow safety managers to install the barrier gate virtually anywhere it is needed, such as posts, handrails, and walls.
Also, by adding a motion-activated warning light to the barrier gate, drivers will be notified whenever a pedestrian approaches a high-traffic area.
Here at Intrepid Industries, we know that keeping your employees safe is what matters most, and that’s why we have been designing and creating high-quality industrial safety equipment for over 40 years.
Our unparalleled manufacturing process utilizes strong, UV-resistant materials that will hold up in tough environments and stand the test of time. And with our state-of-the-art injection molding equipment, we can create custom products with specialized designs to meet all of your safety needs.
So if you are in need of pedestrian barrier gates, drop and fall prevention equipment, toeboards, or safety hooks, Intrepid Industries has an extensive line of products that are ready to ship and easy to install.
Have something else in mind that we didn’t mention? Then give us a call! You will be able to speak with one of our experienced safety equipment experts to discuss your needs. With your input, we can design a product made specifically for you.Click here to learn more!
Intrepid Industries Inc.
2305 S Battleground Rd
La Porte, TX 77571
Phone: 281-479-8301 | 866-479-8301
Fax: 281-479-3453
Email: sales@intrepidindustries.com