Safety proofing your warehouse is paramount for safeguarding employees, visitors and pedestrians, streamlining the workplace, and health and safety compliance.

This article takes you through the legal stipulations for warehouse safety, provides tips for the safety proofing process, and suggests the best safety barriers for the task to ensure for the safest operation possible.

CT safety barriers offer products for a wide range of warehouse environments.

Warehouse health and safety regulations

The UK has various health and safety regulations in place that apply to warehouse environments:

Health and Safety at Work Act 1974: This establishes the duties of employers to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of employees and the public. It comprises of the provision of safe systems, maintenance of safe equipment, and sufficient safety training for staff.
Risk Management (MHSWR 1999): Shows why conducting risk assessments and implementing preventive measures around the workplace are important.
Equipment Safety (PUWER 1998): Stipulates the safety of work equipment, as well as regular maintenance, and the training of staff and users.
Manual Handling (MHOR 1992): This regulation is to do with minimising risks from lifting and moving heavy loads.
Workplace Standards (1992): Regulates the maintenance of clean, safe, and well-lit environments with appropriate facilities.
Lifting Safety (LOLER 1998): Outlines the importance of inspecting and safely using lifting equipment.
PPE Requirements (1992): Details that employers provide and maintain suitable protective gear for their staff, remains in good repair and working order.
Incident Reporting (RIDDOR 2013): Enforces the reporting of serious accidents and near-misses.
Hazardous Substances (COSHH 2002): Details the rules and regulations for environments where workers are using dangerous chemicals.
Safety Signs (1996): This mandates that working environments use clear, standardised safety signs that are easily recognisable.

Warehouse safety barriers and railings

There are several safety barriers and railings you can implement to ensure a safe warehouse environment:

Armco barriers: Known for their durability, Armco barriers absorb impact, making them sturdy solutions for permanent protection for warehouses.
Warehouse protection barriers: These are useful for a variety of warehouse-based purposes and include rail protectors, rack protectors, bespoke barriers, posts, guardrails and column protection.
Bollards: These can be used to protect assets like machinery, and are highly visible, acting as a deterrent to vehicles and pedestrians. Whether you need stainless steel bollards, telescopic bollards or static steel bollards, they can provide a solution for every hazard.
Safety handrails: Handrails provide security around elevated areas, roofs, and walkways, minimising the risk of falls while increasing stability with a durable and long-lasting solution.
Hoop barriers: A robust option, hoop barriers offer perimeter protection, which is useful for protecting static objects from collisions and subsequent damage and repair costs.

Warehouse forklift safety

If your warehouse often uses forklifts, it’s vital to safeguard against accidents or the risk for accidents, as well as breakages.

Frameworks like Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (HSWA), Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER), and Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER) all mandate that employers prioritise the safety of employees, pedestrians and staff from forklift use.

Forklift training programs

It’s key that you implement and enforce sufficient forklift training such as:

Road Transport Industry Training Board (RTITB): This offers certification for forklift operators through an extensive network of approved centres, enforcing standards and compliance under PUWER and LOLER regulations. Ideal for forklift trucks, pedestrian-operated trucks, and plant machinery.
Independent Training Standards Scheme and Register (ITSSAR): ITSSAR focuses on operator competency and safety, certifying training providers to deliver courses compliant with UK safety standards. It offers courses for forklifts, cranes, and other mechanical handling equipment.

Forklift maintenance

It’s necessary to maintain forklifts daily, with pre-use checks of lights, tires, brakes, and hydraulics. This identifies potential issues before operations begin. The proper use of PPE like high-visibility clothing and safety footwear are also vital to do quality checks on.

Warehouse pedestrian safety

Warehouse pedestrian safety involves a mix of physical, procedural, and behavioural strategies to protect individuals in high-traffic areas.

Traffic management: Clearly marked walkways, crossing points, and adequate signage will separate pedestrians from vehicles and reducing the risk of collisions. You can also implement speed limits in these zones.
Safety barrier placement: Identifying the areas where safety barriers best separate pedestrians from hazards increases safety, especially with the addition of mirrors and proper lighting for blind spots.
Technology: Fitting vehicles with proximity sensors, integrating wearable tech, and adding CCTV to the environment will help detect and monitor pedestrian-vehicle interactions, minimising the risk of accidents.
Procedural controls: Providing restricted access to high-risk zones and integrating clear communication protocols ensures safe navigation within the warehouse.
Promoting awareness: Encouraging situational awareness throughout the warehouse will foster a safety-first culture where employees report and monitor hazards while adhering to standardised safety protocols.

Warehouse safety improvement tips and ideas

There are many steps you can take to improve warehouse safety, many of which don’t cost anything and can be implemented immediately:

Identify and mitigate hazards

The first step in auditing the workplace to find the hazards. Potential risks could include uneven surfaces, obstructions, and poorly lit areas. This process shows you what corrective actions you must take to minimise or eliminate these hazards.

Implement emergency procedures

Developing clear protocols for situations like fires, spills and accidents will mitigate risks and improve safety around the warehouse. Regularly practicing evacuation drills can prepare your workforce for these events too, as well as ensuring that emergency equipment is accessible to all and placed where everybody knows.

Use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Ensure your establishment is providing PPE like safety boots, high-visibility clothing, helmets, and gloves. Also, if you have high-traffic areas or sharp corners, install mirrors for enhanced visibility.

Install safety barriers

Install safety barriers to separate pedestrian zones from vehicular pathways, or to cordon off heavy duty areas. To protect equipment and structures, install bollards and guardrails.

Establish proper manual handling

You can also train staff on correct lifting techniques to avoid injuries and provide aids like trolleys to ease the handling of heavy or awkward loads.

Use safe equipment

You can inspect the tools currently in operation to ensure they’re in good working condition, replacing any equipment that’s damaged or broken promptly. Implementing regular equipment inspections will help to identify and ameliorate related future issues.

Enforce vehicle safety

Introducing or refining traffic management systems like designated forklift routes and pedestrian zones creates a streamlined environment. You must also ensure that operators are trained, certified, and follow speed limits and operational rules.

Implement work environment organisation

Encouraging employees to keep workspaces clean, tidy, and free from clutter will reduce slip and trip hazards. You should also ensure that storage areas are clearly labelled and shelved, minimising the risk of falling objects.

Conduct risk assessments

Conducting workplace hazard evaluations on a periodically basis will unearth emerging risks early. You can then document findings and update safety procedures as necessary.

Include and promote staff training

Integrating comprehensive training for all employees, including new hires and temporary staff will promote a safe workplace culture. You can also present regular refresher courses with updated safety procedures, reinstating the requisite awareness.

Safety-proof your warehouse with CT Safety products

At CT Safety, we have the high-quality barriers that are a welcome addition to any warehouse safety proofing scheme. Ideal for isolating hazardous areas, pedestrian zones, and forklift pathways, our safety barriers are sturdy, durable, and easy to install – we can even install them ourselves on site with minimal operational disruption to your workplace.

We suggest discovering the full range of Armco barriers in stock and then reaching out to our team of professionals to talk through your needs.

Call us on (01977) 666 818

Email us at sales@ctsafetybarriers.co.uk