A shared workspace between pedestrians, mobile powered equipment, and vehicles operating in
a fast-paced environment can create a high-risk scenario and lead to preventable injuries. When
you add in productivity considerations, there is increased potential for costly consequences such
as serious harm or even death, damage to property (including equipment, buildings, or racking
systems), costly downtime and hefty fines.
Employers that invest in Pedestrian Safety by controlling workplace traffic related hazards
mitigate this potential harm to pedestrians in warehouse environments. Pedestrian and mobile
equipment flows should be identified and delineated, so pedestrians and operators are aware of
their responsibilities in maintaining a safe work environment.
These efforts may lead to changes of traffic patterns but also improvements in the general flow of
people and material in the warehouse space. An organized warehouse, with defined traffic flow,
also encourages productivity and has a positive bottom-line impact.
What You Need to Know:
A Warehouse is a busy workplace setting and often has many kinds of traffic flow. What can be
done to better manage associated risks? The most common hazard is struck by, but this is not
limited to mobile equipment!
Struck by mobile powered equipment
Pedestrian walkways that intersect mobile equipment lane ways
Poor visibility and blind spots between aisles, racks, and other obstructing structures
Falling materials from racking structures due to improper storage or damaged racking
systems
Cognitive demands and fit for duty considerations that may impact decision making
Movement of materials in loading dock areas
Pedestrian Safety & Traffic Management
WSPS.CA
