Safety barriers are reinforced fence-type structures which have many applications across a range of industries and workplaces. So what are they used for and why do you need them? Here’s a definitive guide to safety barriers.
Where are safety barriers used?
Safety barriers are an essential anywhere where the safe management of people and vehicles is required such as:
- Factories
- Warehouses
- Distribution centres
- Car parks
- Construction sites
What are Safety Barriers used for?
Safety barriers have multiple uses. They are mainly used:
To provide protection
They protect people from vehicles, shield vulnerable areas in buildings, and protect stock and goods in factories and warehouses. For example, they can protect goods from getting bashed around by pallet and forklift trucks.
To provide separation
Whether you want to keep people away from moving vehicles or separate opposing lanes of traffic, barriers are essential for maintaining safety.
To mark out safe routes
Barriers clearly mark out things like safe walking routes for pedestrians or safe routes for vehicles on a busy construction site.
Types of safety barriers
There are many different types of barriers to suit everything from construction sites to roadworks and public events. Highways have everything you need to maintain safety from heavy-duty and weather-proof pedestrian barriers to high-performance road traffic barriers.
How do barriers maintain safety?
The main thing they do is draw attention to hazards and steer people away from them, for example:
You might use them to cordon off a dangerous work area on a site or a hazardous spillage in the workplace.
At public events like festivals and concerts, safety barriers can keep crowds moving in the right direction. On motorways, barriers help direct traffic away from hazards or roadworks or keep vehicles in the right lanes.
What are safety barriers made of?
In our range, you’ll find barriers made from robust steel and durable plastic. Most can be adapted to your needs depending on whether you need a temporary or more permanent structure. For example, our Heavy Duty Site Barrier weighs 25kg per unit but can be filled with water to weigh 180kg if you need a more permanent structure.
How much do safety barriers cost?
We happen to think you can’t put a price on safety. According to the HSE, there are over 5000 accidents in the workplace each year involving vehicles. People are struck by vehicles, run over, or suffer crush injuries and this is often due to inadequate safety measures.
The HSE gives an example of a fatality that occurred on a construction site. A maintenance engineer was working on the construction of a new school. He took a shortcut across a vehicle route rather than using the pedestrian route. There were no safety barriers to prevent pedestrians from doing so. The engineer was hit by a reversing dumper truck and died from his injuries.
Safety barriers could prevent so many of these types of accidents. With units in our range priced from less than £70, there’s no excuse to ignore safety on your site or in your workplace.
Frequently asked questions about barriers
Can safety barriers protect stock and goods?
Yes. Whether your goods are in boxes or on racking, a barrier can protect them from damage by an errant forklift or pallet truck.
Can barriers prevent forklift accidents?
Yes. If you move goods around with trucks or forklifts, safety barriers can direct operators around safely and alert workers that there are vehicles in operation.
Can I customise my barrier system?
Yes. You can cordon off an area of any size and shape with our safety barriers. For example, our Galvanised Metal Pedestrian Barrier has a lock-in pin mechanism which means you can easily join it with other safety barriers.
At Highways, we’re all about safety. Whether you need barriers for traffic management, site safety, or crowd control, we’ve got you.
Robust, reliable, and cost-effective, you can use our barriers across a range of sites whether you need a temporary solution or something a little more permanent. Want to know more about our safety barriers and what type would be perfect for your project? Get in touch with our friendly and knowledgeable sales team at [email protected]