TB 400 Plus Fence - Effective crash protection with machine guard fencing
TB 400 Plus Fence
TB 260 Plus Fence - Built-in fencing to protect machinery
TB 260 Plus Fence
TB 550 Armco - Close off openings easily with robust, high-visibility barriers
TB 550 Armco

This TB 260 Plus Fence is low to the ground for effective crash protection. The low centre of gravity gives the barrier extra strength and prevents goods or pallets sliding under the barrier. This makes them ideal for use in areas where forklift manoeuvres take place. The built-in fence is made from glass fibre reinforced resin and acts as a safety barrier between pedestrians and machinery. This minimises the risk of people getting caught in machinery or machinery being tampered with by unauthorised personnel.

Low to the ground to provide extra shock absorption on impact

All of our FLEX IMPACT® barriers are designed to absorb shock and then return to their original shape and appearance. They retain their strength and protective properties after impact. The fencing has also been specially designed with flexible properties to minimise injury to pedestrians and damage to vehicles on collision. Due to its flexibility, it requires less maintenance than standard metal fencing. Our traffic barriers are extremely easy to install and can be configured to suit the specific requirements of your workplace. 

TB 260 Plus Fence
Our flexible safety barriers and handrails are coloured yellow as standard but other colour options are available where required. We recommend yellow as it is a highly visible colour so offers extra safety benefits within high traffic environments. However, depending on the size of your order, we can provide alternative colours to blend into your workplace or complement your company branding. You can select one colour for tubes and up to two colours for the horizontal strip on handrails to customise your barriers as required.
Multiple Optional Colours

The axes gate comes with the additional option of a fixed signholder. This useful accessory allows you to attach a safety sign safely to the gate as a further safety measure. The optional signholder is fastened securely to your safety gate by four bolts The additional signholder allows to you display important information, safety warnings or instructions clearly. You can warn people of any dangers or let them know of any precautions that must be taken.

Optional Signholder

This optional dust cap can be fitted to your RackBull protectors to prevent dust and small debris such as cardboard and plastic from collecting in between the RackBull and the racking. It also prevents anything from being accidentally or purposely dropped inside your RackBull such as keys, coins, rubbish and other small items This small plastic dust cap fits neatly on top of the RackBull around your racking completing the professional appearance of your rack protectors.

Optional Dust Cap
Our range of KP Protectors can be fitted to masts, pillars and load-bearing columns to increase visibility and protect them from the shock of a collision. The protectors absorb impact to minimise damage to your structure and your vehicle. They are very simple to install; each protector consists of two parts which clip around your column or pillar. They are then secured in place with strong Velcro strips. Should you wish to bolt your KP Protectors in place, the bolt holes are neatly positioned behind the Velcro strips.
Velcro
As standard, the SG Swing gate can be opened in both directions, but this optional gate stop can be installed to prevent the gate from swinging out in one direction if required. This prevents the swing gate being opened out into traffic areas and causing a potential safety hazard. It can also be used where there is not enough room for the gate to swing out in both directions. This optional gate stop is designed for easy installation.
Optional Gate Stop
Our single and double axes gates have been designed for easy installation within your workplace. They can be installed on ladder cages, walls and work platforms. This small adapter allows you to safely install the axes gate hinge to a ladder cage or handrails with a round tube. This adapter is only necessary on round tube profiles. Walls, square ladder cages and angle profiles do not require this adapter for installation. This adapter is easy to fix to your axes gate.
Optional Adapter
RackBull has been designed for easy installation. Simply click your Rackbull into position around your racking. Where multiple units are being installed, we recommend our optional installation kit to make installation even easier. The installation kit includes two metal handle bars that make it simple to click each RackBull unit into place. This installation tool gives you extra leverage, so you can quickly manoeuvre your RackBull around your rack. If you are installing RackBull in large quantities this will speed up installation.
Optional Installation Kit

The TB Plus fence provides the same shock absorbing properties as the TB 400 flexible barrier with the added protection of a built-in fence. The TB 400 tube provides excellent resistance where there is a risk of impact from vehicles such as forklifts. The built-in fencing offers further protection by guarding machinery from falling goods or nearby pedestrians.  The fencing is made from flexible materials to minimise damage caused by impacts.

Flexible traffic barrier with built-in safety fence

All FLEX IMPACT® barriers are specially designed to absorb the shock caused by collisions. This reduces the force of the impact, minimising damage to vehicles and their drivers. After impact, the barrier returns to its original shape and retains all its strength and shock-absorbing properties. These flexible safety barriers with fencing can be easily installed where needed. The modular design allows for easy expansion or relocation to fit the changing requirements of your individual workplace. 

TB 400 Plus Fence
All of the handrails on the safety barrier plus systems are available with the option of a glow in the dark strip on the rails for extra visibility when lighting is compromised. The strip is not a reflector and does not require any electrical connection to work. The strip will absorb environmental lighting and look white when the area is well lit. Should you lose power to your lighting, the strips will glow for approximately half an hour, giving your workers ample time to make their way to the exits safely.
Glow In The Dark
Our Double Axes Gate has been specifically developed to offer fall protection for ladder cages and work platforms and safely restrict access to machinery. The double axes gate is cut to size to meet your requirements and this results in the top and bottom bars not being connected. However, this optional end cap can be fitted to the ends to close the gap. Although the end cap does not provide any additional safety benefits, it bridges the gap to form a more integrated solution.
Optional End Cap
Our KP Protectors have two installation options. This allows them to be fitted to different sized pillars to offer maximum protection. By rotating the angle of the KP Protector slightly, different recesses become available to fit your column more effectively. This feature maximises the benefits provided by the KP Protector by ensuring a better fit to your column. The KP Protectors are easy to install and can be fitted to all sizes of columns, pillars and masts.
2 Installation Possibilities
Our SG Swing Gate is a safety gate that swings in both directions to make access easy. This optional closing block can be installed to your SG swing gate to prevent the gate from being fixed in the open position. The gate will return to its closed position, reducing the risk of exposure to dangerous areas and keeping your access points closed to unauthorised personnel. SG Swing gates are modular in design to be easily used in conjunction with our FLEX IMPACT® handrails.
Optional Closing Block

The KP Protector is a round column protection for round load-bearing pillars or for columns with an H beam. This pillar protection helps you prevent collision damage to masts and load-bearing pillars and columns in factories and warehouses. The KP Protector consists of two parts which you can easily snap shut around the pillar.

 

Durable synthetic pillar protection in a variety of colours and sizes

The KP Protector belongs to the FLEX-IMPACT® family and, like the other products of this series, is extremely impact-resistant. It meets and absorbs the impacts with the slightest of collisions. This durable synthetic pillar protection is available in a variety of colours and sizes and is maintenance-free. After impact, this pillar protection retains its shape, appearance and characteristics.

Column protection for round load-bearing pillars or for columns
Our single and double axes gates have been designed for easy installation within your workplace. They can be installed on ladder cages, walls and work platforms. This small adapter allows you to safely install the axes gate hinge to a ladder cage or handrails with a round tube. This adapter is only necessary on round tube profiles. Walls, square ladder cages and angle profiles do not require this adapter for installation. This adapter is easy to fix to your axes gate.
Optional Adapter
Our optional impact foam can be added to your RackBull protectors to provide an extra impact absorption feature. This small rubber accessory fits perfectly inside your RackBull between your racking and the protector. RackBull is already extremely shock absorbent and strong but this optional foam will offer extra fortification. This is particularly beneficial if your RackBull is being installed in areas where there is a high risk of collisions taking place, as it will strengthen the impact protection.
Optional Impact Foam
Our Rack End offers excellent protection in traffic areas. However, where additional strength is needed, a central support post can be added. The support post is positioned in the centre of your Rack End providing additional stability and protection. This is particularly beneficial in longer Rack Ends or in areas where there is a higher risk of impact. The additional support post further increases the protection provided by the flexible Rack End system within your warehouse or factory.
Optional Support
The optional wheel support can be fitted to your SG Swing Gate to provide additional support. This solution is ideal for longer Swing Gates as it prevents the outer end of your gate hanging out due to its own weight The wheel support is added to the opening end of your gate and helps to support the weight of the gate and reduce the stress on the hinges. For gates longer than 1.5 metres in length the wheel support is fitted as standard.
Optional Wheel Support
Our KP Protectors are available in different sizes to fit different needs. However, for smaller and non-standard sized columns, we offer this additional foam fill-up. This optional foam fill-up accessory adds extra shock absorption properties and can be used to allow you to perfectly fit your KP Protector to smaller columns, pillars and masks. This performant foam offers added resistance against impact and maximises the effectiveness of your KP Protectors in high-risk areas, or where your columns are of a non-standard size.
Optional Fill-Up Foam

Our Rack End provides an excellent level of protection but to maximise its effectiveness we offer the option of an outer rotor for the corner posts. Should a vehicle collide with one of the corner posts, the rotor will deflect the impact by spinning. This means that your corner posts do not take the full force of the impact so damage to your vehicle and rack end is reduced. This is beneficial in areas where there is an increased risk of an impact, such as high traffic areas. 

Optional Rotor for RE Rack End

The TB Armco Plus Fence is specially designed for use in car parks and on access ramps. The strong flexible traffic barrier resits impact and absorbs shock whilst the built-in fence protects pedestrians. The TB Armco Plus Fence is available in two sizes; 5 metres or 10 metres. The bright yellow colour increases visibility so that the barrier can be easily seen even in compromised lighting.  

Impact-resistant traffic barrier with built-in fencing

As is the case with all our FLEX IMPACT® barriers, the TB Armco Plus Fence is designed to absorb the shock caused by a collision or impact. The flexible properties allow the barrier to return to its original shape and appearance after a crash without losing any strength. The specially designed fencing adds an extra means of protection. Due to the strong but resistant materials used in these amazing barriers, they require very little maintenance and can be easily fitted to suit your requirements.

TB 550 Armco

All TB Plus products are fitted with these flexible rubber caps to provide even more flexibility and shock absorption. Unlike the rigid caps, the flexible caps allow for more movement which reduces the impact of a collision. The flexible cap fits on any TB Plus safety barrier at the point where the post is attached to the traffic barrier. The addition of the flexible rubber cap increases the impact resistant properties of the TB Plus products.

Flexible Cap for TB Plus Products

Our HP Handrails are available with the additional option of our PL Kick protection at ground level. The PL Kick is specially designed for low impact protection. It will prevent items from rolling underneath your handrails into traffic or pedestrian walkways and causing a safety hazard. The PL Kick is made from a thick-walled impact resistant polymer that is shock absorbent, strong and resistant to damage. If you would prefer the PL Kick in an alternative colour then this can be arranged, depending on the quantity of your order.

Optional PL Kick

This optional outer rotating protector can be added to the outside of your Bollard Impact protective post to deflect impact. When a vehicle makes contact with your Bo Impact protective post, the outer rotor will spin. This helps deflect the impact and reduce the risk of damage to the vehicle. This optional extra provides an additional level of protection in areas that are at risk, such as gates, access ways and corners. Bo Impact protective posts and the optional outer rotor are exceptionally durable. 

Rotor for BO Impact

The TB 400 Plus safety barriers can now be fitted with an optional SG Sliding gate to create a convenient access point. The sliding gate is ideal for areas where there is limited space and an outward opening gate cannot be added. The sliding gate can be integrated with TB 400 Plus flexible barriers to form a continual traffic barrier across a section of your traffic area. The gate can be easily opened to allow access from one area to another for pedestrians.

TB 400 Plus with SG Sliding Gate

When it comes to safety, the most important factor in a safety implement’s performance is the durability. It doesn’t necessarily have to look attractive so long as it serves a protective purpose. However, our flexible safety barriers here at BoPlan subvert this statement. We believe the aesthetics play a crucial role in the performance of our barriers!

Normally we wouldn’t hammer home the importance of how barriers look but we believe the visual benefits are just as life-saving as the physical benefits they provide. Read on to see exactly why yellow is the preferred colour of our safety barriers.

24/7 Visual Access

There isn’t really any point in having a safety barrier if it isn’t visible. A well-seen safety barrier can act as a comfort blanket for factory workers, knowing they are in the vicinity of possible hazards, therefore increasing their vigilance when working in that particular area.

It’s not just pedestrian workers that benefit from visible safety barriers, though. Vehicle drivers can use safety barriers as guidelines when controlling and steering their vehicle, combining this helping hand with their standard training to keep their vehicle and themselves safe at all times.

Modern Beats Traditional

Traditional steel barriers don’t possess the same visible qualities that our safety barriers do and painting steel barriers can turn them into unattractive eyesores. Also, steel barriers no longer boast the best protective qualities, as the result of a collision in a steel barrier is extensive damage to the barrier, the floor and all involved.

Our modular safety barriers are bright, vibrant and most importantly – cost effective with protective qualities that can be deemed as priceless. Upon collision, no further damage is dispersed to the floor or the vehicle/driver. The façade isn’t altered post-collision either, meaning no repair works are needed.

Barrier Makeover, Please!

Usually with traditional barriers, their limited attractive appearance tends to wear away, meaning replacements or repainting in some cases. With our safety barriers, due to the fact they disperse any energy from a collision amongst itself, they keep their appearance for a robust period of time.

That way, not only are they cost effective to install and run, but there’s no need for you to worry about repainting. Your safety barrier will remain vibrant and visible through any collision you may throw at it!

Find Out More

If you’re looking for a more robust yet gleaming safety barrier to keep all involved with your business safe, get in touch with us on 01902824280 for more details or to see if you can make a difference!

 

Why Yellow is the Preferred Safety Barrier Colour

If you were to look at your business, you may already have some safety measures implemented to ensure your workforce is well shielded from your vehicle fleet and other potential hazard zones. However, if you were to take a look at your racking – is that as adequately protected? If not, you could be looking at an economic crisis, where you could be kissing goodbye to thousands of pounds.

It is vital that your racking is as well protected. This is for two reasons – the main one being that racking that isn’t protected adequately is a danger to the workforce. In the unfortunate event of a collision with the racking, segments can become disjointed and could fall on pedestrian workers below.

The other reason for racking protection is to avoid the scenario in the first reason – with racking protection the vehicle collides with the barrier and absorbs the shock, before dissipating it amongst itself. No harm is caused towards your racking, the vehicle or the operator. This also means no damage occurs to your floor, which in itself is a financial life-saver!

Consider the FLEX IMPACT®

Collisions with racking and fleet vehicles are amongst the most common of warehouse accidents. The pressure that warehouse operatives are under to meet certain targets means quick manoeuvres in tight spaces and, under said pressure, can lead to these kinds of circumstances. Although the scenario is self-explanatory and somewhat limited, the consequences can be endless. Consider the domino effect, if you would. Once one rack collides with another, one by one, the end result financially could be crippling. However, you could avoid this with the installation of some FLEX IMPACT rack protectors.

With this energy-absorbing innovation, your racking will remain intact – as well as the barrier! Upon impact, the shape and appearance of the barrier returns to its original shape – like a memory foam mattress, only much more resilient. The added benefit to the FLEX IMPACT is you can relocate, adjust, adapt and build with ease; meaning there’s no such thing as over-protection! This can lead to a significant decrease in racking damage and post-collision human injuries, too.

A Choice to Suit All

There are three racking protection products within the FLEX IMPACT family. Starting with the Re Rack End, there will be no re-racking for you as the durability of this product means that even after a crash, the appearance and purpose remain intact! The perfect tool that adds that extra layer of crucial racking protection.

If you’re in need of a sturdier level of protection there is the Re Rack End with Support. A more fortified model of the existing Re Rack End, the inclusion of a sturdy mid-post means extra protection and even more durability, whilst still maintaining the appearance and purpose post-collision.

For a universal level of protection, we have the Re RackBull®. No longer will you have to search high and wide for racking protection to fit, or even go as far as ordering bespoke protectors. Our diverse, universal racking protectors are guaranteed to fit any size and shape, meaning that no-one is at risk in the event of a crash – and your racking doesn’t suffer the consequences, either!

Let’s Chat!

If you’re interested in giving your warehouse a protective makeover then we are more than happy to listen to your enquiries. We always jump at the opportunity to show businesses how our externally tried and tested safety barriers could save you thousands in potential repairs!

If you want to follow in the footsteps of global businesses such as Nike and Coca-Cola, then please do give us a call on 01902 824 280.

Racking Protection – Why Protecting Racking Could Save You Money

When your workforce arrive to their jobs on a day-to-day basis, they expect to turn up to a safe working environment. Not only is it a lawful obligation on the business owner’s behalf, but it is a basic human right that runs parallel with toilet access, break times and in some cases, smoke breaks.

But when it comes to physical human safety, how seriously do you as a Business Director or a Health and Safety Officer think about it? Does it even come to mind? It is extremely easy to fool yourself into thinking you have an adequate level of safety implements that run alongside your Health and Safety policy, but this isn’t always the case.

Everybody Has a Right

We at Boplan believe that every employee, from the top level to the production line, has a right to come to work in a safe environment. We also believe that the families of your employees have a right to have their relative come home from work as safe as they left. You as a business owner can help achieve this belief with the installation of some flexible, easy-to-install safety equipment to create the safe environment that is to be desired.

From our FLEX IMPACT safety barriers and racking protectors to our XTRA GRIP stair steps, with each product you install within your work area, you can radically reduce the thousands of potential hazards within a working day. This starts a chain reaction in reducing accidents, injuries and even fatal casualties.

Safety to Benefit Everybody

Pedestrian workers, vehicle drivers, warehouse managers, even delivery drivers coming from the outside in will benefit from your safety measures. Remember, with each accident comes the bill to repair any potential damage. Your swift action of installing some Boplan safety products will save you a lot of money over time with a reduction in repairs and maintenance work.

Not only will you be saving money, you’ll be coinciding with the stringent criteria set by the Health and Safety Executive who visits your company by law; so, you can boast a high level of safety and compliance in your business!

Make a Difference – Today!

Take the first step to achieving a safe environment with our help and you can get in contact on 01902 284 820. It is important to remember that no company is hazard-proof, but you can make great strides to reducing workplace accidents – one Boplan product at a time!

Should You Be Doing More to Protect Your Warehouse Staff?

Regardless of where you work, whether it be in a warehouse or an office, there are always potential hazards that can lead to accidents. It is imperative that as a business owner and a business runner, you are aware of the dangers that hazards can pose and that you act upon them swiftly.

It doesn’t take much for an accident to occur – loose cables along the floor or a dodgy ceiling tile – there is the possibility of danger in the most secret of places. The health and safety of your workforce is paramount to the success of your company, so why would you allow them to work in potentially dangerous situations?

Below are 7 risks relevant to your workforce. Have a read and see if any apply to your business. We are working hard to ensure that any customer of ours has the safest working environments possible. From flexible safety barriers to racking protection and column protection – we have what you need to protect your business from hazardous damage!

Risk One – Forklifts

Due to the immense pressure that most forklift drivers are under to meet certain targets, it isn’t uncommon to hear forklift related accidents due to the shortcuts taken. These shortcuts include driving with more than the allowed weight in goods or speeding within the confinements of the warehouse. The consequences of these shortcuts can include hitting your racking, damaging a wall and any products, or even colliding with a fellow colleague.

It is imperative that you make sure the drivers are fully trained and qualified by law to drive your vehicle fleet and that they know what measures to take when in control of the vehicle. To give you further piece of mind, consider the FLEX IMPACT forklift barriers for further protection to your equipment. Our flexible impact safety barriers absorb the shock of any collision and disperse the energy amongst its own body, rather than having the vehicle and driver take most of the shock. What’s better is that the barrier will not lose its appearance or robustness, as the barrier will retain its original shape post collision.

Risk Two – Working at Height

With companies able to store more stock than ever before, rather than have a head-height level of racking stretching for hundreds and hundreds of meters, the stock instead goes above. Five, ten, even fifteen shelves high! Not to mention large factories such as Amazon, who hold millions of pounds worth of stock in their warehouses. Any worker who is doing their job at a certain height is at obvious risk of falling, so appropriate measures must be taken.

In the unfortunate case that something does happen, you want to make sure that no further damage is done. Products such as FLEX IMPACT racking protectors and universal fitting rack protectors means that no damage can come to the stock or the equipment by avoiding accidents, such as a rack collapse. Other products, such as the Single or Double Axes Gate and HD Mezza handrails, give workers at height that much-needed protection in case of any trips or slips.

Risk Three - Pedestrians

Bear with us on this one, it’s not as outrageous as it may sound! Pedestrians on the floor are actually a risk that any vehicle drivers have to take into consideration. However, pedestrians themselves have to think about the hazards around them, including the vehicles. That’s why our flexible safety barriers don’t just benefit the drivers, or your vehicles, it benefits your pedestrian workers as well. Should they be well informed, they know when they can clearly see a safety barrier nearby, they are in a zone where they should keep an eye out for any vehicles within that perimeter. Other basic measures such as bright lighting and hi-vis clothing is another huge step towards avoiding any accidents in the workplace.

Another handy product to consider is the XTRA GRIP stair-steps, which can be implemented on any staircase within your warehouse. This avoids any trips or falls when going up and downstairs, especially if your workers are carrying stock whilst walking up or downstairs. Little things like this may seem picky, but when it comes to worker safety, there is no such thing!

Risk Four – Poor Housekeeping

Again, this may seem picky but poor housekeeping is a significant cause towards pedestrian trips and slips and even a hazard for vehicle fleet drivers too. Floormarking alone doesn’t enforce a structure of where to place goods. Therefore, mistakes such as cluttering up fire exit doors and emergency exit routes poses a severe hazard towards everybody in the event of a fire. Another example of fire-safety abuse is stacking up stock too high so it intercepts the range of the emergency sprinklers. Fallbacks such as these can lead to detrimental circumstances in the worst possible scenario.

Housekeeping doesn’t just apply to emergency exits, though. Poor hygiene in places such as staff toilets and kitchens can pose a real problem, such as bacteria multiplication and even rodent infestation. It is just as important to have a clean warehouse as it is to have a safe warehouse. Nobody wants to work somewhere that's not only dangerous but unhygienic as well!

Rather than solely depend on the cleaning staff to maintain the hygiene level of your workplace, why not take on some of the responsibility yourself and try the ‘clean up as you go’ approach. We know that it isn’t the best job in the world, but it is essential for yourself and your fellow colleagues.

Risk Five - Noise

Let’s face it, it is impossible to work in an environment without any level of noise – unless you’re a librarian! Whether it be the repetitive typing of the keyboard or the constant reversing noise of your vehicle fleet, there is noise to be heard everywhere. However, if you’re working in an environment with a higher than tolerable decibel level, this could lead to significant damage to eardrums. Simple measures such as ear protectors can mean your workers can go home and be able to hear the radio on the journey home!

Noise can be construed to be a good thing, however. Hearing hazards around you is pivotal to help your workers avoid any accidents. For example, a forklift with a reversing signal will allow workers to be vigilant when walking around the warehouse. Either that, or give your workers a helping hand by installing a flexible safety barrier which can act as a signal all on its own. Areas clearly marked for vehicular movement means extra vigilance for pedestrian workers.

Risk Six – Electrical Cables

We’re not saying that every single electrical cable is a hazard, but extension cords are quite hazardous if not securely placed out the way of pedestrian workers and vehicles. This tends to be a problem during the winter period, where companies like to get into the festive mood with Christmas lights. As much as you like to bring some festive cheer to the workplace, you can do this in a safe and secure matter. Wayward cables and loose plugs are just a handful of hazards waiting to be tripped over or stood on. Ever stood on a piece of Lego? It’s déjà vu waiting to happen!

Where possible, keep electrical cables to the side and secured safely to avoid them getting in the way. If they do need to be on the floor, especially cables, ensure that they are taped properly to the floor and there is a clear warning about cables within the workplace.

Risk Seven – Lack of Health and Safety

We can go on forever about the potential hazards within your workplace but arguably the biggest hazard you can possess is a lack of health and safety altogether. If you don’t have a stringent health and safety policy with ease of access to information and resources such as first aid kits, you’re asking for trouble.

Every company in the UK should be visited by a HSE (Health and Safety Executive) to inspect the premises. They are there primarily to ensure that your business is operating within the safest possible means. Every company is different and therefore health and safety policies will differ, but there are some common rules that apply across the board. Make sure you’re within the law and you should be absolutely fine.

Don’t Take the Risk, Get in Touch!

After reading the top 7 risks to the safety of your workforce, has it opened your eyes to any possible hazard zones within your own business? If so, then we want to hear from you. Here at Boplan, we thrive in making every business a safe place to work in and be around. Conglomerates such as Coca-Cola have taken us up on our services and have not looked back since. You too can benefit from the safety products we provide and our excellent customer service.

Our wide variety of safety barriers ensure that your stock, your equipment and your workforce are all kept safe from tragedy. To get in contact with us to talk about the range of safety barriers you can take advantage of, simply call 01902 824 280. We are here to help make your business as safe as possible, so don’t delay – protect today!

 

7 Common Risks to Your Workforce

Make no secret of it – you can never have too much protection within your warehouse. Here at Boplan, we’re always thriving to make businesses as safe as possible and with our vast catalogue of safety implements, you could be making strides in achieving just that.

There are many ways you can improve your business’ safety. Clear fire exits, a high standard of housekeeping, up to date Health and Safety policies and assembly points in the event of a fire – the list goes on. There is, however, one way you can drastically improve the safety of your warehouse interior without worrying about ongoing costs.

 

Safety Barriers – What Can They Prevent?

Installation of FLEX IMPACT safety barriers from Boplan can help prevent a number of atrocities. First and foremost, no longer will your vehicle fleet take the brunt of the damage in the event of a collision. If you have any safety barriers made from steel, they will bend or tear and disperse the shock back towards the source of the collision, in most scenarios this would mean the vehicle and the vehicle driver. And, consequently steel safety barriers will become too weak to stop the next impact.

It will also lead to both vehicle and floor damage due to the way the safety barrier is installed. The last thing your warehouse needs is disruption whilst the barrier, the vehicle and the floor are replaced – at a significant cost. With a Boplan safety bollard or barrier, you can rest assured that any shock generated from a collision will be dispersed amongst its own body, whilst retaining the original shape and appearance afterwards.

Our flexible safety barriers also reduce the level of pedestrian related accidents. They act as a warning towards pedestrian workers to be aware of any vehicles within the vicinity of the safety barriers, making it easier for them to avoid contact with vehicles.

 

Safety is No Laughing Matter

As mentioned at the beginning, there’s no such thing as over-protection in the warehouse. Accidents can occur from nothing but with the help of our safety barriers, you can radically reduce the likelihood them occurring. Warehouses are dangerous places if they are not maintained in a safe and legal manner – don’t take the risk.

If you feel like you could benefit from some flexible safety barriers and improve your safety levels, then do not hesitate to get in contact on 01902 824 280. Protect your warehouse, one FLEX IMPACT safety barrier at a time!

How Can Safety Barriers Help To Reduce Accidents In Your Warehouse?

When working in an intense environment such a factory, there is an underlying need for stringent safety measures. This ensures the protection and safety of everybody involved in the factory’s day-to-day running. One safety measure that can be implemented with many benefits included are pedestrian safety barriers.

Safety barriers are handy in a number of scenarios and we have compiled a useful list of the key advantages that they can bring to your workplace. Their modular design and easy installation make for a flexible piece of protection that can shield your most important assets from damage in the event of a collision. Read on to see just how important a safety barrier can be for your business.

Stock Protection

Factories nowadays tend to stack their products vertically rather than horizontally, to allow for more stock to be stored within a particular space. However, the higher you store your items, the more at risk you are of harm to yourselves and damaging the products as well. Safety barriers give a helping hand to your vehicle drivers to be more vigilant of possible incoming pedestrians, although this should be covered in depth in their vehicle training.

Remember, in the event of any collision, you want to ensure minimal damage occurs to all parties involved. Without the implementation of a safety barrier, for example, the potential damage can be extremely costly. This includes vehicle repairs/replacements, injuries to your workforce and if a vehicle collides with your stock – product damage. Calculate these scenarios up and you have one hefty bill, all for the sake of one accident that can be avoided.

Our safety barriers are cost-effective protection solutions, easy to install and even easier to modify to your specific requirements. Once installed, their vibrant colour will stand out across the factory and act as a warning for everybody involved. Reduce the likelihood of an accident radically and feel safe at the same time!

Pedestrian Safety

As much as your vehicle drivers need to be vigilant about potential hazards, so do your pedestrian workers. Potentially, your on-feet workforce are most likely at risk due to the mileage they cover in a typical working day. Their concentration levels must be at their peak to keep themselves safe. The presence of safety barriers will not only reassure your workforce that their safety is paramount in the eyes of the management team, but will act as an indication to watch out for incoming vehicles.

However, this can sometimes be tricky. For example, if a pedestrian worker is carrying stock incorrectly, such as overhead height, they are reducing their vision and therefore increasing the likelihood of a collision, slip, trip or fall. Should this occur into racking or other stock, it could be quite a nasty injury for your worker. This obstacle should be overcome with the use of correcting lifting and carrying procedures, but the sight of a pedestrian safety barrier will offer an extra layer of protection.

Pedestrian workers themselves can also make sure that they are just as visible as the safety barriers. The most common form of workforce safety in a factory is the use of Hi-Vis clothing, meaning they can be seen from a distance and in the vehicle driver’s peripheral vision.

Vehicle Protection

As important as it is to protect your assets, your vehicles should be equally protected. As mentioned briefly above, equipment such as vehicles can become the victim of a collision and therefore extensive repairs are needed. This is the case even if you have a level of protection installed, for example a traditional steel barrier. These types of barriers send the force of the collision back towards the source of the impact, which writes off your vehicle entirely. It also leads to further damage to your floor due to the way a steel barrier must be installed.

With a BoPlan FLEX IMPACT safety barrier, you are removing the risk of extensive damage. It’s core material means that any collision force is dispersed amongst its own body, rather than back to the source of the collision. This radically reduces the damage caused to the vehicle and the vehicle driver involved. What this also reduces is damage to the floor. There no longer needs to be time and money dedicated to repairing the floor surface area surrounding the barrier!

Racking Protection

Because most factories prefer to stock vertically rather than horizontally, there is more racking in warehouses than ever before. In some cases, the racking can simply go from the floor to the ceiling, meaning workers could end up working at some dangerous heights. Not only is the safety of the worker at risk, but in the event of a collision down below, if there isn’t a safety barrier in place, it could cause the racking to come away from the wall and cause a domino effect with the rest of the racking. Needless to say, this can lead to a Health and Safety nightmare.

There are ways you can reduce the risk across the board. First and foremost, it is pivotal that your racking is securely fixed to the wall and of an acceptable, safe height - therefore rendering your racking unable to move when it encounters any impact. Secondly. A safety barrier down below will act as a shield between the vehicle and your racking, meaning no damage is caused to either due to the barrier’s ability to absorb the shock. Thirdly, adequate protection for the worker when working at height, for example caging for them to safely stand and work within, can be crucial to the wellbeing of your workforce.

Machinery Protection

Machines in factories can be expensive at the best of times and therefore a lot of work is put into keeping them safe from danger. However, an accident can occur from nothing sometimes. All it takes is a careless manoeuvre or turn that leads to a vehicle driver losing control of his forklift and heading straight towards a piece of machinery.

Areas that are designed for the storage and location of machinery should be protected with a safety barrier. Much like how they protect the racking, a safety barrier acts as a shield between the vehicle and the machinery. Replacing your vehicle in comparison to replacing your machinery puts this into perspective, but with our barriers, neither need to be replaced. If your vehicle is operating within the UK law speed limit for an interior workplace, the damage is nothing more than aesthetic damage to the paintwork. Our barriers are designed to not only prevent further damage but absorb the shock of any collision.

Wherever it is possible to install a cost-effective layer of protection, it should be considered. A slapdash attitude towards factory safety will only lead to accidents and some very expensive repair work. Don’t allow your factory to be disturbed by maintenance work and allow yourself to operate as normal, knowing you’re in the safest environment to do your job in.

It All Comes Down to Health and Safety

What we’re trying to deliver here is the importance of excellent Health and Safety. It is imperative that every company has a stringent Health and Safety policy for all workers to abide by. Your policy is essentially your core safety measure, presented to your staff as an indication as to how important their safety is to you.

However, further safety measures like our range of safety barriers act as further layers of protection and safety, meaning that with every installation of one of our products, you’ll be further reducing the likelihood of a workplace accident. Remember, it is impossible to have too much protection, as accidents can occur from the simplest of scenarios. A slip in concentration and suddenly it’s too late! If everybody working within the factory is on the same page when it comes to workplace safety, you’ll see the difference in no time.

Protect Today with Boplan

If you have come to the conclusion that you can see the advantages of installing our pedestrian safety barriers within your factory, then do not hesitate to give us a call on 01902 824 280 and talk to one of our team. They will be happy to talk in more detail about the difference our products can make to your business’ success!

If, by any chance, you still need more details about anything to do with our products, then again do not hesitate to get in contact. We understand that each factory is different in terms of how it operates and what happens on a day-to-day basis, but we’d be more than happy to see if we have something to help you.

It’s never too late to make a change to your business’ safety perspective and as mentioned above – you can never have too many safety measures in place!

 

6 Key Advantages of Pedestrian Safety Barriers in a Factory

What makes a happy, enjoyable working environment? Is it a positive attitude? Staff morale? Or maybe the knowledge that everyone within that environment is safe to work there? Boplan wants to ensure that you’re able to keep your workers safe and happy, all whilst keeping your factory compliant with safety regulations. Read on to see how this can be achieved!

The Stats Don’t Lie

In 2009/2010, over 8,500 work related accidents in warehouses and road haulage industries were reported to the HSE (Health and Safety Executive) and local authorities. Out of those 8,500 reports, almost 1600 were categorised in the “major injuries” area.

Granted, this report is nearly seven years old and although the regulations have improved significantly, it is still a haunting statistic. That’s why we at Boplan want to make sure that your business is operating within the laws of safety regulations – especially when it comes to protecting your pedestrian workers.

Introducing the FLEX IMPACT®

To give you a helping hand in maintaining an outstanding level of protection, we give you the FLEX IMPACT safety barrier. Constructed from recyclable and sustainable plastic, this barrier offers you an adaptable level of protection suitable for various different industry purposes. Moulded in polypropylene, the FLEX IMPACT is corrosion and chemical resistant.

Its main purpose is to absorb the shock of an impact, therefore minimising the harm and damage inflicted upon an industrial vehicle and the driver behind the wheel. What makes this possible is the polymer material enveloping the impact and distributing it amongst its own body, rather than the vehicle absorbing the shock itself.

What This Means for You

We understand that different businesses require alternate levels of safety, although the basic foundations of safety in the workplace should be the same across the board. For that reason alone, we have a diverse choice of safety barriers available to you to choose from. It is important, however, that you choose a barrier that best fits the purpose you are installing it for. For example, if your vehicle fleet is of a heavier make and model, then lightweight impact safety barriers will not serve the purpose you want it to.

It has to be said though that the majority of our factory safety barriers are adaptable and interchangeable. This means you will always be one step ahead in keeping your factory compliant and constantly adhering to your promise of protection towards your workers. After all, a safe employee is a productive employee.

What is My Responsibility?

As a business owner, you should always be aware of what is happening within your company and more importantly, if there are any potential hazards to avoid. You can do this simply by walking around your workplace and identifying any potential hazard zones.

Once you have completed this, you can now think about what implications you’re going to put in to make sure the risk of harm is as low as is physically possible. If your business has any vehicle fleets operating within the same zone as pedestrian workers, that’s where FLEX IMPACT pedestrian safety barriers may come of good use to you.

Remember, the worker’s responsibility is to be knowledgeable of the company’s Health and Safety Policy – it is your responsibility to make sure it is as clear for them to understand. It is also paramount that the measures installed ensure the lowest level of risk for your workers.

Like to Know More?

If, after reading this, you think your business could benefit from a safety barrier, then please do give us a call on 01902 824 280. We are on hand to listen to your safety requirements and would be more than happy to help you act upon them.

Pedestrian Safety Barriers – Keep Your Factory Compliant

If you’re a business owner, you may have several questions running through your mind. Are my staff happy? What’s my financial outlook for the next quarter? Is my business premises safe to work within? If the answer to the latter question isn’t crystal clear, maybe it’s time for a change.

It is impossible to make a business accident-proof, as an accident in the workplace can spring from absolutely anything. What you can do, however, is implement some standard safety measures to dramatically reduce the likelihood of an accident. That is where Boplan comes in extremely handy!

Cut Out the Risk with FLEX IMPACT

Here at Boplan, we have a tremendous variety of flexible health and safety barriers that can provide peace of mind for your workers and yourself. You can rest safe in the knowledge that your staff members are protected, and so is your stock. Our FLEX IMPACT safety barriers not only stand out due to their vibrant colour, but their robust durability means that in the case of an accident, the safety barrier will absorb the force and shock of the collision and disperse that energy amongst its own body.

This is far more beneficial for the worker and the vehicle, as neither come off worse. At best, a little bit of shock on the worker’s behalf. As for your pedestrian workers, they should be made aware of the presence of factory safety barriers, as they know where to be vigilant and keep their eyes out for any incoming vehicles or dangers.

What are the Benefits?

A huge benefit of our safety barriers is that they are extremely easy to install, causing minimal fuss to your daily activities. They are also modular, meaning you can customise the look of your safety barriers depending on how high you want them or how far along your racking, for example, you want them to be.

Another benefit is that once installed, the ability to absorb the shock means that, unlike traditional steel barriers, there is no damage to your floor post-collision; meaning no extra cost will appear to repair or replace your floor. Not only that, the safety barriers have an incredible ability of retaining its original shape and appearance even in the event of an accident, meaning they truly can stand the test of time!

Don’t let safety get in the way of business success – if you feel your business can do with a protective makeover, please do get in touch on 01902 824 280.

Are Your Safety Systems Up To Scratch?

 

Flexible Safety Barriers – Protecting People & Equipment

The important thing to remember when it comes to protecting your business’ assets and the occupants within is the adaptability it brings. No longer do you have to rely upon permanently-fixed applications to prevent any vehicular accidents! Boplan has a variety of flexible safety barriers to ensure that any and all people and equipment within your business are well shielded from the worst-case scenarios.

 

The Key Benefits of the FLEX IMPACT

We pride ourselves on distributing only the highest level of protection towards businesses up and down the country, as well as globally. Conglomerates such as Volkswagen, Ikea, and Coca-Cola have taken the decision to use our equipment to make sure every drop of fizz and every skeletal bone of their employees are kept safe and protected. But what exactly are the benefits of using a FLEX IMPACT barrier?

 

Avoid Floor Damage

Usually, with traditional barriers, the force upon impact is distributed back towards the source of contact, in most cases the vehicle involved in the accident, whilst also focusing on the baseplate of the barrier resulting in the floor bolts bending and cracking the concrete floor. This is not the case with flexible plastic safety barriers. With the FLEX IMPACT safety barrier, the shock is absorbed by the barrier and dissipates it amongst its own body. What this means is no force and shock is distributed towards the baseplates of the barrier, which allows the barrier to remain in place even after a collision.

This will do wonders for your floor, as the damage is minimised significantly and avoids any lengthy disruption to the warehouse floor whilst repairs are taking place. Yes, the impact a collision can have on an employee does still present itself, but that’s in the hands of your Health and Safety guidelines to appropriately treat the employee concerned. Rest assured however your floor does not absorb the shock and therefore no damage occurs.

 

Tried and Tested – Just Elsewhere!

A key benefit of the FLEX IMPACT range is that the barriers are excruciatingly tried and tested by the Transpolis Laboratory and TÜV Nord. We decided not to perform interior test crashes or rely upon our employees to analyse or influence the results – all of this is done externally. By working quite closely with Dr. Edmondo Di Pasquale with a PHD from Princeton University, we are ensuring ourselves and all of our customers that our barriers are built for purpose!

 

Self-Install Our Product!

Our safety barriers possess much more modularity compared to traditional steel barriers. This allows for easy installation which means you can save money by not having to hire somebody to fit the equipment!

Also, should a barrier need any kind of repair or maintenance, rather than removing the entire barrier, the section in question can be removed and replaced without compromising the remainder of the barrier.

 

Flexibility at its Best!

After reading the benefits that a FLEX IMPACT safety barrier can bring, it’s clear to see that flexibility is a key factor – the clue is in the name! Whether you’re installing barriers for your vehicle fleet or pedestrian barriers to protect your workers, you’ll see that our barriers aren’t limited in their capabilities when it comes to safeguarding your business.

We have 14 different types of safety barriers to choose from, from the lightweight TB Mini to the extra-sturdy TB Triple Super. It is down to you to decide which barrier would be best placed within your warehouse, maximising the potential that they can bring!

 

Don’t Delay, Protect Today!

We know that you like to ensure your business is kept safe on a swift level, so we are on hand to answer any questions you may have about our products. During the working hours, you can gladly give us a call on 01902 824 280. However, if you would like to contact us via email, outside of our working hours then, by all means, drop us an email!

Flexible Safety Barriers – Protecting People & Equipment

Repairing Damaged Warehouse Safety Barriers

If you look around your warehouse and allow your eyes to be drawn to your safety barriers, are you greeted with the best in ultra-modern and durable technology or do you see tired, 20th century concrete and steel?

Traditional or retro safety barriers, such as steel barriers, require regular maintenance. To ensure that they are seen from vehicle operators it is imperative that they are regularly cared for and maintained. This means they must be cleaned and painted accordingly to ensure maximum visibility.

Traditional safety barriers are solely designed with the purpose of protecting whatever it is they surround, be that machinery such as a conveyor, a pillar supporting the structural integrity of a building, a walkway for pedestrian workers or simply the surrounding walls of the warehouse.

What Occurs When a Vehicle Collides with a Steel Barrier?

When a vehicle collides with a traditional safety barrier, the vehicle takes the brunt of the impact. This puts the health and safety of the employee operating the vehicle at risk and in high impact situations, resulting in the vehicle being severely damaged. The safety barrier will be weakened and require a replacement or a thorough repair.

Floor space in which the barrier was installed will also need to be appropriately mended. The bolts fixing the barrier into place will be forced out of the ground or bent into an unsafe shape resulting in cracks and chips in the concrete foundation. Repairing the floor takes time, is costly and means that area of the warehouse is off limits which may cause manoeuvring or task issues.

Why FLEX IMPACT® Products Are Superior

Our FLEX IMPACT® safety barriers are the most durable available. Our industry leading products are now used all over the world by some of the world’s biggest brands. Our safety barriers require little maintenance, the highly flexible polypropylene material retains visibility over time due to being coloured yellow right throughout, from the external surface area to the very core of the product.

If an impact does occur, our flexible safety barriers aren’t designed to solely protect properties or pedestrian workers within the barricade. The vehicle operator and floor will also be sufficiently protected. No bolts will be forced from the ground due to the amazing ability of FLEX IMPACT®, which absorbs impact and dissipates the force throughout the entire barrier rather than deflect it.

Unbeatable Protection

The protection available with our impact safety barriers with all people, structures, objects and machinery involved in the accident accounted for is a stark contrast from what is exhibited with traditional barriers. Our safety barriers absorb the shock of the impact as it is disbanded throughout the body of the barrier. Traditional barriers act as a force against a force, the result is a damaged safety barrier, floor, vehicle and potential harm to your employees.

Enquire Today for Your Safety

Why not enquire today and find out how we can upgrade your tired, old safety barrier network to one of our modern, sustainable systems? Our Flex Impact safety barriers are as strong as their steel counterparts with superior protection and a lot less hassle. Our product range is extremely adaptable compared to steel alternatives too. You can select a mix of protective barrier products and combine them into a single blockade to protect your workforce, building and the various expensive assets which keep operations running smoothly.

Our friendly staff will help guide you from conception to completion so you can be sure you are receiving the best possible service and product. For added peace of mind, it’s important to know that our Safety Barrier crash tests are not conducted in-house! We have our products tested by the Transpolis Laboratory, with research being led by Dr. Edmondo Di Pasquale of Princeton University. Results are completely independently analysed and concluded, without any influence from Boplan.

Health & Safety: Flex Impact® - Repairing Damaged Warehouse Safety Barriers

 

Amazing Airport Safety Barriers

For councillors and private airport owners, security and safety are a central focus to ensure the likelihood of continuous travel, without disruption. With the congested nature of airports, accidents involving vehicles unfortunately do occur. Here at Boplan, we have a vast range of modern airport safety barrier products for you to choose from. Helping to protect your dedicated workforce as well as the dollies, chocks, refuelling vehicles, buses, aeroplanes and other vehicles in your fleet.

 

What is FLEX IMPACT®?

Our airport safety barrier options are part of our FLEX IMPACT® range, a revolutionary product innovatively moulded in polypropylene. This fully recyclable and sustainable plastic is extremely adaptable and is used for a range of products across numerous different industries. Polypropylene is also resistant to chemicals and is an anti-corrosive material.

Our state-of-the-art products are far more superior than the traditional available options. Our flexible and durable safety barriers can reduce the power of a collision and absorb the shock of an impact, captivating and minimising the damage inflicted upon the operator and vehicle. This is due to the versatile polymer material engulfing the impact and dispersing the shockwaves of the collision across it’s body. As opposed to countering the force of the impact as it hits the surface of a barrier.

 

Impact on Impact

Consider the impact you would feel if you hit a hammer against a block of steel. The shockwaves conducted by the force of your arm and the weight of the hammer hitting the steel block would be slightly absorbed by the steel block and then transmitted back to you via your fingertips, hand, wrist, elbow and arm.

Now, imagine the impact you would feel if you used the same hammer against a rubber block. The rubber would absorb the majority of the impact. The sensation or pain you would feel would be much less than before, when you were hitting a block of steel. Our airport safety barrier products work in a similar way.

 

Looking After Your Foundations

When collisions against steel barriers occur, the impact is concentrated into the barrier baseplates. This causes costly damage to the foundations of the barrier. Bolts holding the barrier into place are contorted or ejected and the concrete floor is cracked in the process. This can have a considerably negative effect on operations, as sections and routes are closed off whilst time-consuming repairs, like a resin mortar solution, are applied. The shock-absorbing ability of our barriers prevents this from happening, avoiding any damage to the floor.

Options Available to You

The FLEX IMPACT® airport safety barriers and bollards catalogue holds a diverse array of products fit for any airport needs. At Boplan, we understand that across the world, airports greatly differ in sizes and traffic. For that reason, we have 14 different safety barrier products for you to choose from with different capabilities. Our products range in capabilities but our higher specification flexible safety barriers such as the TB Double and above, finalising at the TB Triple Super, are fortified to offer maximum protection. Purposely designed for shielding against high impact collisions.

All of our products are versatile and entirely modular, offering protection to structures, pedestrian workers, expensive machinery and vehicles. Our barriers can be upgraded or moved relatively easily. We offer you the option to create a bespoke airport safety barrier system, combining and intermixing different barrier types in a single line-up. This is not a common feature in steel barrier systems.

 

Tested to Stringent Standards

Our products including flexible safety barriers are independently and externally tested by the Transpolis Laboratory, a European lab devoted to road equipment and innovative transportation systems. The research is being led by Princeton Universities, Dr. Edmondo Di Pasquale, who over 25 years has dedicated his career to improving research and innovation activities for his company’s customers. This means we do not conduct our own crash tests and cannot influence the independent results in any way.

 

Like to Know More?

If you would like to know more or are interested in purchasing or leasing any of our safety products, the friendly Boplan team are waiting to take your calls. If you would like to contact us outside of our operating hours, simply send us an email and someone will get back to you shortly.

To find out more view our previous Airport safety barriers blog - Health & Safety: Flexible Airport Safety Barriers

Health & Safety: Flex Impact® - Amazing Airport Safety Barriers

 

Top 5 Tips for Safety Barrier Design in Your Warehouse

At Boplan, we love to see warehouses implementing appropriate measures in order to develop a safe working environment for their employees. We believe safety is key to creating an atmosphere people want to be a part of. When employees feel cared for and appreciated, loyalty and productivity rates increase and employees often become proud ambassadors of your company.

By introducing modern safety measures to your warehouse, your business can significantly reduce the risk of errors and accidental harm to your employees. You can help minimise the chance of accidents and errors by implementing safety procedures such as:

 

Independent Testing Procedures

You can be confident our products are as good as we say they are. We believe in external testing without any in-house influence, so we liaison with the trusted Transpolis Laboratory to independently crash test our products, analyse the data and conclude the results. Transpolis Lab’s sole purpose is to improve innovation in the transport and road sector. The research is led by Doctor Edmondo di Pasquale of Princeton University, who has over 25 years’ experience in the industry and has worked with the likes of Renault and Ferrari.

 

FLEX IMPACT® Safety Barriers

 

The FLEX IMPACT® range includes a variety of safety bollards and barrier products fit for any warehouse requirements. The different sizes, strength capabilities and unique purposes available allows business owners to purchase or lease a handpicked bespoke product. The materials are anti-corrosive, chemical resistant, easy to transport and require little maintenance.

The ultra-durable polypropylene material used to create the FLEX IMPACT® safety barrier range reduces the power of a collision by absorbing and isolating the impact of the crash. The impact is captivated within the safety barrier, lessening the damage to the driver, vehicle and floor.

Integrating this flexible and versatile solution to your warehouse will bring your business up to speed with modern day safety standards. It will also ensure the continued peaceful operations of your business with minimal disruptions.

 

Determining the Suitability for your Warehouse

 

The aforementioned benefits of FLEX IMPACT® products can be applied to a plethora of industries, from food storage and manufacturing to retail products and wholesale. This adaptable product can be added to sites which are small, medium, large or colossally sized and it is suitable for all warehouse environments. The first and most obvious tip for any business owner considering adding a safety barrier to their warehouse is to answer - what are my needs?

Calculating which areas of your warehouse you would describe as being ‘risk’ or ‘sensitive’ points will assist us when determining your protective needs. Areas containing things like fridges or pedestrian walkways, shelves holding fragile items or surfaces with expensive machinery which your business depends on, need to and should be appropriately protected. Consider what kind of industrial vehicles will be regularly present in your workforce, how much traffic there will be and the route they will be taking. If you have a forklift using the same corridor as your delicate products or valuable machines, you can consider this an area which needs protection. Consider a FLEX IMPACT® forklift barrier to protect your valuable products.

 

It’s Not Worth the Risk

 

Imagine the devastating effect a collision involving a heavy-duty forklift and a conveyor belt could have on your businesses operations. By outlining key areas you feel are at risk of collision from industrial vehicles, you can pre-emptively stop accidents from occurring. There really isn’t anything more important than the wellbeing of your workforce and the welfare of your machinery. So why take the risk?

 

It’s Better to be Overprotected

 

You may or may not consider the floor of your warehouse to be an extremely important asset but if it is damaged, it can cause serious complications to your business. How can your floor be easily damaged you may be thinking? When steel barriers are hit with force, the impact is pushed down to the baseplates which fix the barriers into the ground. Bolts are twisted and unearthed, cracking concrete and creating havoc for your commercial operations as vehicle and pedestrian routes will be temporarily unsafe and unusable. Mortar mix restorations combined with a self-levelling compound will need to be actioned. Our FLEX IMPACT® barriers absorb the impact of the collision and disperse the power across the body of the barrier rather than direct it to the baseplates.

Before choosing a state of the art safety barrier capable of adequately protecting your warehouse’s current needs, it is important to consider what lies ahead in the near future. The movement of vehicles in your warehouse might seem one dimensional or straight forward now, but it is important to prepare for the future and to ensure adequate safety measures are put into place now to save on costs later.

 

Completely Modular and Adaptive

Unlike traditional steel barriers, our products are completely modular. This makes for an adaptable product range, allowing you to be thoroughly selective when choosing your protective barrier options. You can combine various FLEX IMPACT® barriers to create a tailored barricade, within one line-up. At any time, they can be upgraded, adapted, increased and transported to different places on your site as your business evolves. If you anticipate an expansion soon, or a different or more diverse working environment could be a possibility, then you should prepare accordingly. This can be achieved in a number of ways:

 

How to Choose Suitable Products

Once you have identified ‘risk’ points or regions you want to give optimum protection to, you need to decide on a safety barrier which is right for you. Some areas may require a stronger more resilient option, whilst areas containing things of smaller monetary worth or less pedestrian activity may require a lighter, more affordable safety barrier. This is one of the many great reasons why the team at Boplan are industry leaders, they appreciate that every business is different and requires safety measures which are unique to their needs. By providing ample choices, Boplan have created a distinctive product catalogue of damage preventive safety barriers like no other.

As previously stated, the FLEX IMPACT® range contains a vast catalogue of modern, high-performance products. Beginning with the TB Mini, the lightest and smallest safety barrier on offer, right up to the TB Triple Super, providing a robust defence, with protection from large vehicles and high-impact collisions in mind. The TB Double looks just like a typical guardrail but is capable of safeguarding your workers, even from the heaviest of industrious vehicles. Whereas the TB 200 is a unique wheel stopper, mounted low to the ground and used as a separation zone for vehicles.

When browsing the product catalogue, you will notice just how extensive the range of FLEX IMPACT® safety barriers is. The all-encompassing product availability allows you to rest assured knowing you have the right amount of protection. Some of the most well-known household names use our products and in return receive sufficient protection for their workers, pallet racks, conveyors, and products.

 

Deciding on an Appropriate Layout

With proper preparation, you can create an optimized work space for you and your colleagues to enjoy and be proud of. By now you should have an idea of which sections of your warehouse you think require safety barriers. Don’t worry if not, we will guide you all the way. Next, you should be looking to determine how the safety barriers can be installed onto the premises without creating an obstruction for your vehicles or workforce.

It is imperative that you are aware of the spaces your vehicles use up to manoeuvre, and the routes they will regularly take, so that no potential issues in the layout of the safety barrier system are overlooked. With thoughtful planning and consideration, we can help you predetermine new routes and adapt old ones for your vehicle fleet. To ensure pedestrian workers can get to where you need them to be efficiently and safely, integrating crossing points to your layout allows for movement of workers freely and securely around the warehouse.

 

Include Convenient Crossing Points

Most company warehouses will attempt to avoid having vehicles and pedestrians sharing the same workspaces in order to minimise the risk of accidents. However, in reality, it is sometimes unavoidable. In the instances when it is necessary for vehicles and workers to cross paths, to help create a safe working environment, designated crossing points for workers should be made apparent and be clearly visible to both pedestrian workers and vehicle operators.

These crossing points should be well lit and employees should be informed and instructed to solely use these specific tracks when moving around the warehouse. Crossing points should be kept to a minimum when possible so that vehicles are able to move as freely as possible throughout the warehouse and easily recovered or moved when a breakdown occurs.

 

There You Have it!

Boplan are quality manufacturers of safety materials and flexible guardrails for ultra-demanding environments. The company’s products are available to either purchase or lease and have already secured the support of global brands such as Ikea and Coca-Cola. At Boplan, the team truly believe they are changing the world with their lifesaving and warehouse safety products.

Boplan aren’t finished just yet either, as they are consistently growing and evolving in order to remain industry leaders and ahead of the pack. This ensures the products and service you receive are the most innovative and the best performing solution available on the market today.

The UK headquarters for Boplan is based in the lovely city of Wolverhampton. If you would like some more information on their products and services, you can contact them directly on 01902 824280 or visit their contact page to send a direct message. The company has a number of representatives worldwide, so it may be worth looking on their site to find your best option.

Remember, safety is paramount for any operating business and as a business owner it is your duty to ensure it is upheld at all times. Safety barriers are just the tip of the iceberg, but they are a fantastic place to start, considering the number of vehicle related accidents there are in the UK every single day!

Health & Safety: Top 5 Tips for Safety Barrier Design in Your Warehouse