5 Personnel Safety Gate Measures to Implement in Your Automated Warehouse

Industrial Safety Gates – The Physical Barrier Between Your Employees and Automated Equipment 

Going high-tech — we understand the trend towards automation to manage operations better and keep up with demand. However, it is critical to implement your new automation solutions along with safety protections to ensure you can get the most from your new tech and still achieve your safe warehousing goals. Industrial safety gates are a cost-effective and functional way to get there.

Benefits of a Safe Working Environment

• OSHA & insurance compliant
• Improved efficiency
• Minimal expense on workers’ comp claims
• Happier workforce – more likely to retain workers 
• Decreased damage repairs
• Reduced downtime

Warehouse automation solutions have come a long way in functionality and safety in the last few years. So much so that it may seem less critical to add safety gates and barriers to separate pedestrians from the path of AGVs (automated guided vehicles) and AMRs (autonomous mobile robots). However, it’s essential to acknowledge the human factor in the equation. Distracted pedestrians can unknowingly endanger themselves by entering an area that poses a risk to them.

The Gateway to Safe Traffic Flow

Automated Forklift Gates

Brightly colored and strategically located industrial safety gates are a way to alert workers and visitors alike that autonomous vehicles and machinery are in operation. Popular types of industrial safety gates and barriers include:

1. Aisle Gates – Prevent pedestrians from accidentally entering the path of forklifts while in operation. Depending on the area’s amount and type of traffic, you may only need a simple, manually operated foldable gate. However, where the risk is higher, an automated gate that opens or shuts when activity is detected may suit your needs better. Aisle gates are beneficial at entry points, high-traffic areas, and “blind” spots with limited visibility.
2. Automated Forklift Gates/Automated Safety Gates – Motion sensors activate these gates to open and close. Automatic gates are highly effective at preventing collision and injuries/damage in high-traffic zones. Flashing lights and alarms are optional features that enhance gate function. 
   

   Options include: Single and two-gate pedestrian crossing systems use motion sensors to open only when no forklift traffic is detected. Gate-and-arm systems comprised of both pedestrian gates and boom arms across the forklift path. Motion sensors control these systems, and you can choose which side has priority if both are detected.

3. Door Gates – Choose folding, swinging, or automated gates to protect pedestrians from entering an area with active vehicle traffic. Gates are durably manufactured and available in various sizes to meet your needs.
4. Forklift Cross Arm Safety Gates – Durable steel cross arm gates prevent pedestrian and vehicle collision in heavily-trafficked areas. The size of the gate system is custom-fit to your facility’s needs and can be supplemented with lights and alarms. The WOI team can turn the project around quickly and expertly install it and train your team to operate it.
5. Staircase Gates – Protect high-traffic staircase entrance and exit points from interfering with vehicle traffic. Staircase gates are particularly useful in low-visibility areas where both vehicle and pedestrian traffic are present.
6. Mezzanine Gates – Protect loading areas from falls from elevated platforms.

WOI Makes It Easy to Put a Stop to Dangerous Traffic Flow

Our team is experienced in assessing your need for industrial safety gates and barriers and implementing the best tools to suit your particular circumstances. Our solutions are quick to implement, and our professional installation teams ensure your system is installed correctly and your team understands how to use it safely. Call our experts for a complete safety audit of your facility.

Speaking of safety, the WOI team prides itself on a safety-first policy. Our entire team is dedicated to delivering the WOI 5-Step Total Satisfaction Experience™ for each customer. Our crew is trained on OSHA procedures and is licensed and insured. On average, we complete over 300 builds each year, and at the end of every one of them, we are only done when our customer is completely satisfied.

The WOI 5-Step Total Satisfaction Experience™ guarantees that we will:

1. Listen to your needs
2. Execute your project with special attention to your unique application
3. Stick to project timelines
4. Ensure a safe environment
5. Pay close attention to the detail  of the finished product

Call today to speak with an WOI representative (865) 540-4004  or email at info@warehouseoptimizers.com. We proudly serve customers throughout the Southeast, including KENTUCKY, TENNESSEE, NORTH CAROLINA, ALABAMA, AND FLORIDA.