Keeping Pedestrians Safe in the Workplace

A Key topic of the #DriveDangerOut is promoting ways in which the workplace can be designed and encouraging the use of safety products to help keep pedestrians safe.

Pedestrians

Where possible keep pedestrians and vehicles separate and allow for maximum distance between the two. Drivers and pedestrians need enough time to react effectively if they meet one another.

It is advised that the routes used by vehicles and those used by pedestrians should be separate. The most effective way to do this is to clearly mark the various routes and where possible pedestrian traffic routes should represent the paths people would naturally follow, to encourage them to stay on them. This can be done by using Floor line marketing tape and graphic floor stickers

If the vehicles must be operated inside the building, signage, and floor markings must be used to inform both the drivers and the pedestrians of the risks and where to stay safe. HSENI advises the use of barriers or guardrails for pedestrian walkways that lead directly onto a vehicle route.

On shared routes used by both pedestrians and automatic (driverless) vehicles, ensure that vehicles do not trap pedestrians, these vehicles should be fitted with safeguards to keep the risk of injury low.

Temporary Signage and road closures

In some cases, temporary signage and road closures are needed, especially in the construction industry. The law states that you must organise a construction site so that both vehicles and pedestrians using site routes can move around safely.

The route used must be suitable for the persons or vehicles using them, the majority of construction transport accidents result from the inadequate separation of pedestrians and vehicles.

HSENI has published the following actions that will help keep both parties safe:

Entrance and Exits, provide separate entry and exit gateways for pedestrians and vehicles
Walkways, provide a firm, level, well-drained walkway for pedestrians to avoid slips and trips
Crossings, where walkways and roads cross, provide clear signage and well-lit crossing points where everyone can see each other clearly
Barriers, this is about how you can install barriers between the roadway and walkway

Barriers and Markings

The HSENI advises the most effective way to keep vehicles and pedestrian areas separate is to

Use protective barriers and guardrails at the entrance and exit to the building, corners, and at any pedestrian walkway that leads directly onto a vehicle route
Clear marking to set apart vehicle and pedestrian routes
Raised kerbs to mark vehicle and pedestrian areas

Visitors

When you have visitors on site it is important they fully understand the H&S of the site and know who to report to when present. There are ways in which you can make visitor information clear including using Document Pockets to prevent information from being destroyed and this also allows you to place important information around the site in a prominent position for all to read.

Following these simple steps helps to reduce the danger around the site, helps to keep all persons on-site safe, and encourages good communication and behavior from all employees and visitors. If you wish to find out more about Heyn Environmental’s site safety products, visit our website Heyn.co.uk/Environmental

Environmental

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