Posted By J Knight Hi Julia, Have you seen this http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg199.pdf? The Workplace regs do say that you should segregate pedestrians and vehicles where its reasonably practicable. If you can't, for example for reasons of space or other valid operational; reasons, you need to look at whatever else you're doing to ensure safety, such as operator training, choice of equipment, warning devices such as bells or sirens, speed limits and so on. In short, where you can provide walkways, you really should, but if you can't, do whatever you can, John

Posted By Peter Moran Julia..in a 'busy' environment like this you need to separate vehicles from people...especially at points of entry and exit for forklifts. Elsewhere get some walkways marked out even if forklifts may have to get access to the same area...at least people will know where to walk and it will highlight the presence of pedestrians to the drivers. You can only do what is 'practicable' but doing nothing is asking for trouble. Bit concerned about your 'guidelines'...you really need 'rules'.

Posted By Merv Newman Look, I'm going strongly with all the above replies. Just adding one small comment : OFFICE PEOPLE MUST NOT BE IN THAT ENVIRONMENT WITHOUT SAFETY SHOES. OK. SO THEY ARE TOO BLASE, OR TOO ARROGANT, OR TOO IGNORANT OR WHATEVER. BUT ONE OF THESE DAYS THEY ARE GOING TO FIND THEMSELVES WITH ONE OR MORE FEET THAT ARE JUST TOO TOO PAINFULL. Sorry about the shouting. Merv

Posted By Merv Newman Don't have any actual numbers, just a number of accidents that have occurred over the years. * Lower leg amputated after being knocked down by FLT * Toes amputated after being run over by FLT (2 incident, no safety shoes) * Toes bruised by being run over by FLT (at least 6 incidents, safety shoes worn) * Supervisor's left foot caught under FLT wheel. Driver then moved FLT off left foot and parked it on right foot. I do have a photo of a rather crushed looking safety shoe still trapped under a FLT wheel. No injury to the wearer. Statistically, the incident frequency is not very high. But the exposure is "continual" and the potential for serious injury is such that any RA would put the risk in the "high priority" group. Control measures are obviously total separation of FLTs and pedestrians (can be done, but not easy) or suitable protective equipment such as safety shoes. And this includes office people "just passing through" plus all the other control measures I can't be bothered to list Merv

Posted By Merv Newman The first three incidents listed ie the more serious injuries did occur to unprotected office people. And while the actual exposure of a specific individual may be minimal you may notice that there is nearly always one of 'em on the shop floor.

Posted By Is Kismet Hi John I was trying to be a little more proactive, rather than instigating blanket bans that I am unable to support without some idea, other than intuitive, of the risk. The only way I know of how to do that is to research the statistics for office workers and FLT - and limited to foot injuries only. The system we have in place works, and the monitoring of it, is the way we ensure the safety of our people. But if similar industries show an injury problem despite taking similar precautions, we will review it.

Posted By John Murgatroyd You don't need boots, safety footwear is available in many styles now. you can even get them in "trainer" styles....brogues [yeuch] and loads of others.