Warehouse Parking Lot Safety – What Are Your Best Protection Options?
Don't overlook where your workers are coming and going
Creating a culture of safety is a high priority (and always ongoing) in any facility that values its operations. Whether it is safer forklift/pedestrian interactions, ergonomic improvements, or machine protection, every warehouse is constantly working to improve the conditions within its walls.
But what about the area outside, say, in the parking lot? Sure, it’s not a glamorous area, but you want to keep your workers safe and secure there too!
Parking lots face constant movement
The level of activity in the parking lot of any operation can vary depending on the number of shifts it runs. This area sees a constant influx of employees arriving in their personal vehicles and disembarking to enter the facility. Additionally, a range of vehicles, such as trucks, delivery vans, and others, may also traverse through the same space.
Of course, your first step is to take the time to observe and evaluate the potential risk areas in your company parking lot. From this, you can look for ways to improve safety.
Safety options
Bollards and/or guardrails
Just as they help protect a facility, bollards and guardrails are a great option for the parking lot. Their purpose remains: provide barriers that slow or stop a moving vehicle, protecting either people or structures behind it.
Bollards are individual posts firmly anchored into the ground, while guardrails consist of a series of anchored posts connected by horizontal rails. These barriers, depending on their design and engineering, have the capacity to either absorb or divert impact forces. They are commonly positioned around the edges of pedestrian walkways or in front of entrances and exits used by personnel. Additionally, they serve to safeguard various structures, such as building fixtures, dock doors, fire hydrants, and other important elements.
An important factor to consider is the impact when choosing either bollards or guardrails. Make sure your solution offers the right impact protection to help keep workers safe.
Along these same lines, there is utilizing protection for those lots that are either partially or completely underground. Bollards and guardrail apply in this area, but the columns holding the structure up need to be addressed as well. Adding a solution like a column protector ensures reduced damage when vehicle and column meet. These easy-to-install modules can be used to create color patterns, fit columns larger than 24″, or replace damaged sections.
Safer parking lot options checklist
- Bollards and Guardrails for barriers to protect workers or structures
- Clear signage for guidance and a sturdy base to display it
- Deterrents like speed bumps or speed humps slow your vehicles down
- Smaller items, like replacing parking blocks, have an impact
Signage for clear communication
Directional signs, as the name suggests, provide guidance on the direction a vehicle should take. Similar to street signs, they may display arrows, written instructions, or a combination of both. In essence, they instruct drivers on their route. Instructional signage encompasses messages and traffic alerts, encompassing elements like stop signs, speed limits, designated handicapped parking spaces, restricted parking zones, and indicators for entrances and exits to lots or facilities.
Combining your clear signage with the right base is also important. A portable base provides standalone signage that can be placed wherever needed, eliminating the cost of permanent construction. It is effective for marking employee and guest parking areas, establishing flexible zones for organization within your warehouse, and ensuring safe management of vehicle traffic on your property.
Use speed deterrents to create slower movement
While bollard protection and clear signage sure help, adding features to the pavement itself is another key. Placing speed bumps and humps along traffic paths acts to slow vehicles down for safer overall movement. Just be sure to remember the differences:
- A speed bump decelerates traffic, bringing it to a near stop. This decreases the flow of vehicles and lowers speeds at intersections, pedestrian crosswalks, gates, checkpoints, and other locations.
- The speed hump doesn’t halt traffic but rather moderates its speed in parking lots where individuals may cross traffic lanes unexpectedly.
Either choice is an excellent way to slow down traffic and keep workers safe in and around your parking lot.
Don’t forget the small things too
Protective items, clear signage, and speed deterrents are certainly key safety enhancements, full stop. But when laying out parking lot protection, make sure to include smaller items that can make a difference. For example, standard parking blocks sure seem like an afterthought, but look closer.
To improve upon the clunky concrete blocks that front each parking spot (not to mention cause a stubbed toe or two), think lighter and better, like a polypropylene option. These considerably lighter (by around 80%) blocks are proven to be a stronger and longer-lasting version. Save your paint, as these won’t need it, and be confident in their ability to withstand all that Mother Nature throws their way.
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Evan Fleishacker