A-Safer place for warehouse workers

A Safe is helping companies around the world to improve their health and safety standards and improve the on-site protection of its workforce through its innovative plastic barrier systems.
Not only are the highly visible plastic barrier systems proven to protect pedestrians from collisions, but they also help reduce damage to factory vehicles, for example fork lift trucks and machinery. The patented and patent-pending plastic systems can withstand impacts from factory vehicles up to 304KN (the equivalent of a 3.5 tonne vehicle travelling at 10mph with a direct head on impact into the barrier) and its durable and resilient nature has helped boost A-Safe’s claims of its superiority over its steel competitors.
James Smith, Company Director at A-Safe explained: “We often have to overcome client’s initial doubts over the benefits of plastic versus steel in a safety barrier system, but the simple answer is that A-Safe’s systems provide the strength and durability of steel, with the flexibility, and reduced maintenance of plastic.
“The plastic used has a special in-built memory, similar to an elastic band, so any impact will be absorbed and then will automatically spring back to its original shape. Therefore, unlike its steel contemporaries, the A-Safe plastic does not need to be replaced or repaired each time it is hit. Any vehicle contact is also deflected away reducing damage to the vehicle and driver.” Traditional steel barriers have always been synonymous with strength, however A Safe’s systems have advanced technology, design and manufacturing processes, using alternative materials with equivalent physical strength but offering significant advantages and benefits. Each system has been manufactured from special high-impact coloured polymer and provides high impact absorption with little or no damage so maintenance and long term upkeep costs are minimal, if non-existent. Whilst traditional steel barriers may fulfil its function under impact, this will cause damage to both the barrier structure and the vehicle itself.
A-Safe’s system is already universally used amongst international companies, and continues to lead the way in providing improved safety standards for these global brands.
In 2005, A-Safe embarked on a trial with Kimberly-Clark at their site in Flint. Five years later, and A-Safe barrier systems are now installed across its sites including Europe and the United States of America and is the company’s recognised approved safety barrier supplier worldwide, with trials now going ahead in Asia too, helping them to maintain their enviable safety record.
Andy Linkman, Site Safety Advisor, at its Flint factory explained; “A-Safe has proven time and again that the plastic barriers are superior to steel in all areas, offering my team peace of mind that what we are installing is not only doing its job of protecting the workforce and machinery but also cost-effective in the sense that repairs, maintenance and damage to the barriers, vehicles and equipment is negligible.”
While across the Atlantic Scott Basom at Kimberly-Clark’s Washington Mill added; “Safety is obviously a top priority and with over 1,000 employees on-site we need to eliminate risk at all levels. Due to the resilience of the material and its ability to deflect and bend under loads, damage to the driver or pedestrian is reduced as is the need for constant repair.”
The same has applied with A-Safe’s work with leading car manufacturer Toyota. Toyota Motor Manufacturing (UK) Ltd (TMUK) further enhanced its award-winning Health & Safety standards across its 100,000 sq m site in Derby, UK, by installing a range of A-Safe plastic barrier systems throughout the site.
The innovative and flexible plastic barrier systems were the preferred method of TMUK following a company-wide risk assessment of the vehicle and pedestrian interface across its manufacturing plants. The review highlighted the potential to improve segregation between vehicles and pedestrians in the production environment. Vehicle/ pedestrian interaction within the plant is one of the biggest Health & Safety focus area for the car manufacturer. The A-Safe barrier system has supported TMUK in taking a big step towards controlling this issue and reducing Toyota’s risk.
This has also applied to Supermarket giant ASDA. At its largest warehouse at Brackmills, Northampton, A-Safe has supplied a series of pedestrian and rack end barriers across the 984,000 sq metre clothing distribution centre. The barriers play a vital role in this part of the site, by de-marking and protecting all adjustable pallet racking and pedestrian walkways. This is vitally important, as 130 of the 550-strong workforce are likely to be in the building at any one time.
Mark Wilkins, Facilities, Safety & Health Manager said: “A-Safe plays a major role in overall warehouse safety by clearly marking out designated pedestrian routes and providing effective workplace transport protection.”
Asda’s ambient food warehouse in Normanton has also adopted A-Safe safety barriers and Jack Lawtey, Facilities Manager at the site added: “A-Safe products are saving us thousands of pounds a year.”