Forklift Pedestrian Safety: Creating Safer Work Zones

Alan Pacheco
Oct 14
2 min read

Warehouses and industrial areas are busy places where forklifts and pedestrians often share the same space. Without clear safety practices, this mix can lead to serious injuries. Creating safe work zones and practicing pedestrian awareness are crucial for everyone’s safety.

Why Pedestrian Safety Matters

High Injury Risk: Forklift-pedestrian collisions cause thousands of injuries each year.
Limited Visibility: Operators can have blind spots, especially with high or wide loads.
Shared Spaces: Warehouses, docks, and storage yards rarely have fully separated pathways.

Strategies to Protect Pedestrians

1. Mark Safe Walking Areas

Use bright floor markings to designate pedestrian-only lanes.
Add warning signage for intersections and blind corners.
Install physical barriers where possible.

2. Control Forklift Traffic

Set and enforce speed limits in busy areas.
Designate one-way aisles to reduce congestion.
Require operators to use horns and lights near foot traffic.

3. Train Both Operators and Pedestrians

Operators should know to yield to pedestrians and maintain safe distances.
Pedestrians should avoid walking behind forklifts and make eye contact with drivers before crossing.

4. Improve Visibility

Ensure forklifts have functioning lights and mirrors.
Encourage workers to wear high-visibility vests.
Add convex mirrors at blind spots.

5. Communication Is Key

Establish hand signals or use radios in noisy areas.
Encourage pedestrians to wait for acknowledgment before crossing forklift paths.

Quick Safety Checklist

✅ Walk only in designated lanes.
✅ Make eye contact with operators.
✅ Stay out of blind spots.
✅ Wear high-visibility gear.
✅ Operators always sound horn at intersections.

With clear markings, better visibility, and shared responsibility, pedestrian safety around forklifts is achievable. Small changes can prevent life-changing accidents.

Tomorrow’s article: Overcoming CPR Fear: Building Confidence to Act in Emergencies.