The official best practice for safety barriers and traffic management in industrial facilities

Overview of PAS 13

PAS 13 is a code of practice for industrial safety barriers that provides comprehensive guidance on good practice for using industrial safety barriers. As mentioned earlier, it is an official document produced by the British Standards Institution (BSI) and is globally recognised as the most reliable code of practice for industrial safety barriers.

PAS 13 is broken down into two sections. The first section provides Health and Safety and Operations managers with detailed guidance on the correct application of safety barriers at busy industrial facilities. This section includes recommendations on how to select the appropriate barrier system based on the level of risk, traffic flow, and environmental conditions.

The second section of PAS 13 is primarily for safety barrier manufacturers. It covers how to conduct standardised testing of safety barriers for strength and durability and record results in a way that is clear and transparent for customers. This section of PAS 13 helps manufacturers ensure that their products meet the required strength and durability standards, giving customers peace of mind when selecting their barrier systems.

Advantages of using impact barriers in industrial workplaces

The use of impact barriers in industrial workplaces can have numerous benefits, including:

Racking protection

Impact barriers can also provide protection for racking and other storage systems. In busy industrial facilities, forklifts and other vehicles can cause damage to racking, which can be costly to repair or replace. Impact barriers can absorb the force of collisions, minimizing damage and reducing maintenance and repair costs.

Pedestrian protection

Impact barriers can be used to create safe pedestrian walkways in busy industrial facilities. By separating pedestrian areas from areas where vehicles are operating, the risk of accidents is greatly reduced. This can help to create a safer working environment and reduce the risk of accidents.

Forklift damage

Forklifts are a common cause of damage in industrial facilities, and collisions with other vehicles, racking, and equipment can be costly to repair. Impact barriers can help to absorb the force of collisions, reducing the risk of damage to forklifts and other vehicles.

Maintenance and repair costs

By reducing the risk of damage to racking, equipment, and vehicles, impact barriers can also help to reduce maintenance and repair costs. In addition, impact barriers themselves are designed to be durable and long-lasting, reducing the need for frequent replacement.

Employee safety

One of the most significant benefits of using impact barriers is the increased safety of employees. Impact barriers are designed to protect employees from accidents caused by moving machinery, falling objects, and collisions with vehicles. By providing a physical barrier between employees and potential hazards, the risk of injury is greatly reduced.

The use of impact barriers in industrial workplaces can have numerous benefits, including increased employee safety, protection for racking and other storage systems, safe pedestrian walkways, reduced damage to forklifts and other vehicles, and lower maintenance and repair costs. By investing in impact barriers and following the guidelines set out in PAS 13, companies can create a safer working environment and improve the efficiency of their operations.

PAS 13 benefits 

Health and safety managers, procurement specialists, directors, facility managers, project managers and site safety leaders will benefit from PAS 13. It will also likely be of interest to those who want to apply traffic management procedures and those who test and measure the performance of safety barriers will also benefit from PAS, and manufacturers and distributors of safety barriers.

Here are some of the ways Implementing PAS 13 can greatly improve the use of impact barriers in industrial workplaces:

• Clear guidelines for barrier selection: PAS 13 provides detailed guidelines for the correct application of safety barriers in industrial facilities. This includes information on the selection of barriers that best fit the needs of the facility, taking into account factors such as vehicle types, traffic flow, and the potential for impact.
• Standardised testing for barrier strength and durability: The second section of PAS 13 covers how to conduct standardised testing of safety barriers for strength and durability, and record results in a way that is clear and transparent for customers. This ensures that all barriers used in the facility meet a consistent standard for safety and durability.
• Improved traffic management: The guidelines set out in PAS 13 can also help to improve traffic management in industrial facilities. By using barriers to separate pedestrian walkways from areas where vehicles are operating, the risk of accidents is greatly reduced. This can help to create a safer working environment and improve the efficiency of operations by reducing downtime due to accidents.
• Safety: The primary objective of impact barriers is to prevent accidents and protect workers from hazards. By manufacturers following the recommendations and requirements set out in PAS 13, customers can ensure that their safety barriers are properly designed and installed to provide maximum protection for workers.
• Risk assessment: PAS 13 emphasises the importance of conducting a thorough risk assessment before installing safety barriers. This helps businesses identify potential hazards and ensure that their safety barriers are designed to address these specific risks.
• Cost-effectiveness: Properly designed and installed safety barriers can help reduce the risk of accidents and damage to equipment and products, which can ultimately result in cost savings for businesses.

In conclusion, the use of impact barriers in industrial workplaces is essential for protecting employees and equipment from harm. The implementation of the PAS 13 code of conduct for industrial safety barriers provides a reliable and effective means of ensuring that the correct barriers are selected and used in the workplace. PAS 13 provides clear guidelines for barrier selection, standardised testing for barrier strength and durability, improved traffic management, reduced maintenance and repair costs, and compliance with safety regulations.

By following the guidelines set out in PAS 13, companies can create a safer working environment and improve the efficiency of their operations. Investing in high-quality impact barriers that meet PAS 13 standards not only reduces the risk of accidents but also protects the company from liability and reduces maintenance and repair costs over time.

Therefore, we highly recommend that all industrial workplaces use the PAS 13 code of conduct when selecting and implementing impact barriers. As a leading provider of impact protection barriers, our company offers a range of high-quality barriers that meet PAS 13 guidance.

Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you improve safety in your industrial workplace and view our range of barriers.

Rack Group and Brandsafe, both part of the IWS Group, have successfully impact tested their range of polymer safety barriers according to the PAS13 code of practice.

The testing measures the impact resilience of the barrier products, ensuring customers can confidently choose the right barrier for their industrial workplaces. By choosing to adhere to PAS13, the only code of practice for traffic management within workplace environments, IWS Group are one of only a handful of companies committing to the highest benchmark in the industry today.

Testing of the barrier range recently took place at Rack Group in Barnsley, where the barriers are designed and manufactured. A custom-built pendulum was used to strike the barriers at various points to measure the resilience of the barrier. How much force the barrier could take, as well as how much it deflected was recorded.

Commenting on what the testing means for distributors and customers, Stuart Ovington, MD of Rack Group said “This testing is an important step for distributors to be confident in providing barriers that adhere to a high standard and for customers looking to purchase impact protection barriers for their workplace. Knowing what impact forces a barrier can take, is a vital first step in choosing the right barrier. Not every barrier manufacturer undertakes testing to this standard, so we are proud to be amongst the industry leaders. We will also be shortly receiving TUV Nord, who will be attending our testing and reviewing our test data to ensure it abides by the PAS13 guidelines.”

To find out more about the polymer barrier range visit https://therackgroup.com/product-category/impact-protection

Overview of our PAS 13 testing

A weighted pendulum was used to strike the barriers at various points to measure the resilience of the barrier. How much force the barrier could take, as well as how much it deflected was recorded. These measurements enable customers to choose the right type of barrier for their warehouse, depending on the amount of impact they need to withstand. The testing also advises the distance behind the barrier that is considered the ‘safe zone’, which is identified following installation of the barrier.

• Polymer barrier range from IWS Group has been tested in line with the PAS13 code of practice
• Range includes pedestrian, racking and low level protections barriers, plus bollards and a metal guardrail
• Testing took place at Rack Group Training Centre in Barnsley, where the barriers are manufactured and shipped to customers
• Teams from IWS Group companies Brandsafe and Rack Group carried out the testing using a custom built pendulum
• Testing took place over 5 days where each barrier was tested multiple times in accordance with PAS13, the code of practice for safety barriers
• The barriers were hit with the pendulum at the end post and in the middle of the rail
• High speed cameras, industrial scales and load cells were used to verify the equipment
• PAS13 is the industry’s only code of practice that advises on the types of barriers that are suitable for use within the workplace to segregate vehicles and pedestrians. It also includes guidance on how safety barriers should be tested to demonstrate their resilience.
• The pendulum tests are weighted to mimic the impact force experienced by material handling equipment colliding with safety barriers.

KEEPING PEOPLE, PRODUCTS, AND PROPERTY SAFE