Warehouse Equipped with Armco Barriers!
Warehouses, with their heavy machinery, forklift trucks, and HGVs, can pose significant safety risks. According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), over 5000 accidents involving transport in the workplace occur every year, with about 50 resulting in fatalities [2]. To mitigate these risks, Armco Barriers have emerged as an essential element of warehouse safety infrastructure.
These robust, heavy-duty barriers are designed to provide impact protection in high-traffic, collision-prone zones where forklifts, trucks, and pedestrians interact. They are typically used in various areas within warehouses, including:
- Ends of Aisle Racking: Armco End of Aisle Barriers help prevent collisions between forklifts and racking systems, reducing damage and maintaining operational safety [1].
- Pedestrian Walkways: Installing Armco or polymer safety barriers along pedestrian routes within warehouses creates dedicated pathways, effectively separating foot traffic from vehicular movement [1].
- Loading Bays and Docks: Armco barriers safeguard loading bay areas where vehicles and heavy equipment operate, providing impact protection to structures, personnel, and parked vehicles [1].
- Corners and Column Edges: Protection posts and corner barriers made from Armco steel can shield vulnerable building features like columns and edges from accidental impacts by vehicles or machinery [1].
- Vehicle Access Control Points: At entry and exit points, Armco-style crash barriers and bollards manage vehicular movement and prevent unauthorized or unsafe access to sensitive areas [1][3][5].
Armco Barriers are made of corrugated steel that is galvanized to BS 1461 standards and 100% recyclable. They are painted bright yellow to ensure they are easily seen, and their height can be customized to ward off the effects of a heavy impact. Armco Direct offers four different heights of warehouse safety barrier: 560mm, 610mm, 760mm, and 1100mm.
Moreover, Armco Barriers can withstand various impacts from moving vehicles and guide HGVs in a loading bay correctly. They can also protect warehouse stock from damage and offer conveyor belt protection.
To ensure a safe working environment, warehouse managers must assess the skill levels of people who drive the heavy machinery and provide them with information which enables a good understanding of vehicle and pedestrian routes and the risks involved. The HSE advises that suitable traffic management arrangements should be made to control pedestrian access, separate people from vehicles, and control vehicle movements [4].
Lack of risk awareness and inadequate plans can lead to accidents and collisions in a warehouse. By implementing Armco Barriers strategically, warehouses can significantly reduce these risks, ensuring a safer working environment for all.
[1] Armco Direct. (n.d.). Armco Barriers. Retrieved from https://www.armcodirect.co.uk/armco-barriers/
[2] Health and Safety Executive. (2021). Workplace transport safety. Retrieved from https://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/
[3] Health and Safety Executive. (2021). Loading bay safety. Retrieved from https://www.hse.gov.uk/toolbox/transport/loading-bays.htm
[4] Health and Safety Executive. (2021). Warehousing and storage. Retrieved from https://www.hse.gov.uk/toolbox/industries/warehousing/index.htm
[5] Armco Direct. (n.d.). Customised Warehouse Safety Barriers. Retrieved from https://www.armcodirect.co.uk/customised-warehouse-safety-barriers/
- In the manufacturing industry, Armco Barriers, designed for impact protection, are integral to warehouse safety, particularly in distribution sectors, as they safeguard both human and material resources during the movement of heavy machinery such as forklifts and HGVs.
- Financial institutions might consider the long-term cost-effectiveness of investing in Armco Barriers for their warehouses, since these barriers can prevent damages to stocks, structures, and vehicles, thereby reducing potential losses due to accidents and collisions.
