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.
PEDESTRIAN SAFETY & TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT
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
WSPS.CA
