Forklift trucks make the lives of warehouse and factory workers so much easier. They increase productivity, are incredibly time and cost-effective, and can minimize the risk to workers caused by heavy lifting. But of course, the use of forklift trucks come with its own health and safety risks, relating to those operating the machines but also to pedestrians who are working around them.

To minimise the risk of any accidents and to ensure pedestrian safety around forklift trucks, we’ve pulled together some tips.

Designate different lanes and crossings for pedestrians

In extremely busy warehouses, and especially in large scale operations where many forklifts are in use in conjunction with a high number of pedestrian employees, it’s a good idea to use marked pedestrian lanes and crossings that designates separate areas for forklifts and pedestrians.

These markings help to increase awareness for everyone involved and can help to reduce the chance of accidents.

You can either create physical barriers with guard rails or if you find them too intrusive, use paint

Make use of mirrors in blind spots such as sharp bends

Limited visibility is often a problem in warehouses and can cause accidents. Intersections or sharp corners can have reduced visibility due to tall storage racks or highly stacked pallets which means the risk of collisions is increased. By strategically placing mirrors at these kinds of intersections, both pedestrians and forklift truck drivers can see each other coming and have a higher awareness of each other.

Ensure up to date training for both forklift drivers and pedestrian workers

Health and safety training should be regularly given to all employees, both forklift truck users and pedestrian workers, to ensure they are aware of the dangers that can occur in a warehouse environment. It’s important that pedestrian workers understand the dangers of forklift trucks even if they’re not driving them. Similarly, risk assessments should be carried out on a regular basis to highlight any areas of concerns and find ways to rectify them.