What are safety barriers used for in the workplace?

Safety barriers in the workplace are used to segregate pedestrians from vehicles, protect machinery and equipment from impact damage, demarcate hazardous areas, guide pedestrian flow along safe routes, and prevent falls from edges and platforms. They form a key part of any workplace traffic management plan under the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992.

What HSE regulations apply to workplace safety barriers?

Key UK regulations include the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 (traffic routes, pedestrian segregation), the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (general duty of care), and the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER — machine guarding). HSE guidance INDG199 (Traffic at Work) provides practical advice on implementing barriers and safe systems of work.

What is the difference between a safety barrier and a crash barrier?

Safety barriers are designed for pedestrian management, area demarcation, and light-duty impact protection — guiding people and preventing them straying into hazardous areas. Crash barriers (or vehicle impact barriers) are engineered to absorb and redirect vehicle impact energy, protecting structures, machinery, and personnel from vehicle collision. Both serve safety functions but at very different impact energy levels.

How high should safety barriers be in a warehouse?

Pedestrian safety barriers in warehouses are typically 1,000–1,100mm high, which is the standard height for preventing falls and providing a visual and physical boundary. Machine guarding barriers may be taller to prevent access to moving parts. For vehicle impact protection, the barrier height must correspond to the impact point of the vehicles operating on site — typically 400–550mm for forklifts.

Can safety barriers be installed without specialist contractors?

Many safety barrier systems are designed for straightforward installation by maintenance teams without specialist contractors. Bolt-down systems use anchor bolts into concrete floors. Modular systems simply link together. More complex installations involving ground core drilling or welded fixings may require a competent contractor. Always follow the manufacturer's installation instructions.

Safety Barriers

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Safety Barriers UK — Workplace, Warehouse & Site Safety Barriers

Safety barriers are a fundamental element of any well-managed workplace, protecting employees, equipment, and the public from the everyday hazards of vehicle and pedestrian interaction. Whether you're demarcating a factory floor, protecting racking in a warehouse, or creating safe pedestrian walkways on a construction site, BarriersCo's extensive safety barrier range provides the solution.

Types of Safety Barriers

Pedestrian Safety Barriers — Designed to guide and protect pedestrians in mixed-traffic environments. Typically 1,000–1,100mm high, in high-visibility yellow or red. Used in warehouses, factories, and logistics hubs.
Vehicle Impact Barriers — Engineered to absorb and redirect forklift and vehicle impacts, protecting racking, machinery, walls, and columns. Rated to specific impact energy levels for different vehicle types.
Machine Guarding Barriers — Perimeter fencing systems that prevent unauthorised access to machinery and automated equipment. Compliant with PUWER and Machinery Directive requirements.
Area Demarcation Barriers — Lightweight, modular barriers for defining zones, aisles, and work areas. Easy to reposition as operational needs change.
Expandable Safety Barriers — Accordion-style barriers that extend and retract rapidly for temporary hazard cordoning.
Traffic Safety Barriers — See our dedicated traffic barriers range for highway and road use products.

Key Applications

Warehouses & Distribution Centres — Pedestrian/forklift segregation, racking protection, loading bay safety
Manufacturing & Industry — Machine guarding, robot cell perimeters, hazardous process zone demarcation
Construction Sites — Edge protection, pedestrian exclusion zones, temporary hazard marking
Car Parks — Level change barriers, pedestrian pathways, column protection
Retail & Logistics — Queue management, delivery zone separation, forklift exclusion

UK Regulatory Compliance

Under the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, employers must organise traffic routes so vehicles and pedestrians can circulate safely. The HSE's Traffic at Work guidance (INDG199) recommends physical separation of vehicles and pedestrians as the highest level of control. Safety barriers provide this physical separation and should be specified as part of a documented risk assessment.

Related products: column protectors, guardrails, traffic barriers, and traffic cones.

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