Nobody comes to work expecting to get hurt. But in a busy warehouse or industrial facility, the gap between a normal day and a serious incident can be smaller than most people realise, especially where forklifts and people share the same space.
That's where pedestrian barriers come in. And if you're trying to figure out what you actually need, Astrolift can help you work through it.
At their core, pedestrian safety barriers are physical structures that separate pedestrians from vehicles, machinery, and hazardous areas. In a warehouse setting, that usually means creating clearly defined walkways so your team isn't sharing the same path as a forklift travelling at speed.
But they do more than just block things off. A well-planned barrier system organises your entire facility; it tells people where to walk, tells vehicles where to go, and removes the guesswork that leads to near-misses. Done right, it also shows your team that safety isn't just a poster on the wall. It's built into the place they work.
Barriers come in a few different materials: steel tubing, flexible polymer, and galvanised steel, and can be permanent or temporary, depending on your site's needs.
The question that trips most people up is where to install them. It's not just about ticking a compliance box; it's about genuinely thinking through where the risk is in your facility. The most common areas include forklift and vehicle routes, entry and exit points, loading docks, blind corners, aisle intersections, around machinery and designated walkways.
There's a useful reference point here, too. PAS 13:2017, a safety standard recognised in New Zealand, specifically states that barriers should be used to separate pedestrians from vehicles, control entry points, prevent shortcuts through hazardous areas, and protect critical equipment. It's a solid checklist if you're not sure where to start.
The trick is matching the right barrier to the right situation, rather than just going with whatever's cheapest or easiest to install. And the good news is there's no shortage of options from steel tubing and flexible polymer barriers to expandable, temporarily galvanised and those with retractable belts.
Sometimes, you don't need a full barrier run; you just need to protect a corner, a column, or a piece of machinery from getting taken out by a slow-moving vehicle. That's where bollards earn their keep.
At the same time, if you have elevated storage, mezzanine gates are non-negotiable. They allow your team to safely load and unload from height without the risk of a fall, and they're designed to keep the gate in a safe position when the edge is exposed.
Whatever direction you go, look for barriers that comply with New Zealand safety standards, are highly visible, and are genuinely suited to your specific environment. Indoor vs outdoor, wet vs dry, light traffic vs heavy forklifts, all these things matter.
If you're not sure where to start, Astrolift has been helping New Zealand businesses sort out their warehouse safety setups since 2006, and has the widest range of pedestrian barriers in the country.
No pressure, no jargon, just straight-up advice from people who know this stuff.
Browse Astrolift’s Pedestrian Barriers range here or contact sales@astrolift.co.nz
More about warehous safety in the latest issue here
