Meeting supply demands in the new normal
The coronavirus pandemic has brought a significant number of changes in all aspects of our daily lives. For example, lockdowns and travel restrictions have resulted in people cancelling their holiday plans and becoming more housebound. Rather than spending their money on hotel accommodations, plane tickets and other vacation-related expenses, people the world over have been buying consumer goods, thus, increasing demand.
With this massive demand for consumer goods and the worldwide closure of borders, shipping companies could not catch up. As they handled about 90 per cent of the world’s trade, shipping companies were overwhelmed (and possibly overcome) with the volume of goods they needed to transport. There was also a shortage of shipping containers, causing a temporary halt in shipping activities. Finally, trucks began to pile up at the ports with no goods to move.
How can we improve Australia’s roads to help meet the demands?
As more countries lift the lockdown and slowly open their borders, more people are also beginning to resume their travels. The urgent need for personal protective equipment (PPE), medical supplies, masks and home office supplies has somewhat stabilised, allowing local transport companies to catch up. However, some measures can be taken to speed up the process.
1. Make the loading docks safer.
The road to a more efficient transfer of goods starts at the docks. Make sure loading docks are safe for both their personnel and the transportation people. Using forklift safety barriers will make transportation lanes more organised, They will also make workers feel safe to move around them.
Having organised transportation lanes will also make workers become more focused on their tasks. Because they don’t need to dodge any errant forklifts or to keep looking behind, these more focused workers help to increase the efficiency of the entire workplace.
How do you choose forklift safety barriers?
In New South Wales alone, nearly 600 incidents involving forklifts were reported over the last two years. Five of these incidents resulted in workplace fatalities. This astonishing number has prompted SafeWork NSW to conduct a safety crackdown to apprehend erring companies. So, choose forklift safety barriers that adhere to the Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws.
Other things to consider when choosing forklift safety barriers include:
- ease of installation
- customisable lengths
- plenty of length options
2. Safer truck stops
Every vehicular accident can impact the logistics chain, no matter where it happens. Unfortunately, accidents at truck stops are no exception.
Trucks stops are convenient locations where drivers can eat, rest, shower and even sleep. Therefore, it is necessary to provide a safe environment for these tired drivers while accommodating their basic needs. Unfortunately, there are truck stops that are poorly lit, making them liable to cause accidents amongst vehicles and pedestrians.
Truckstop safety barriers can help to prevent these accidents. Additionally, when placed in strategic locations, they can control pedestrian and vehicle access, making the place organised and secure.
What do truck stop safety barriers do?
These safety barriers help to prevent commercial vehicle collisions, which are likely to cause serious harm to both the people and the establishment. They can guide vehicles to avoid head-on collisions with oncoming trucks whilst exiting the stop. On the other hand, durable rubber wheel stops are placed to effectively prevent trucks from rolling into other vehicles and running off the road.
3. Bollards mitigate risks
Bollards have been around since the 17th century. They were mainly used for mooring boats, and were originally made from old cannons. Today, bollards are sturdy vertical posts installed to control road traffic and prevent vehicles from crashing into structures and pedestrians. Whether these collisions are vehicle-ramming attacks, ram raids or unintentional losses of control, bollards can be counted to mitigate, if not prevent, fatal injuries and fatalities.
What are the other uses of bollards?
Bollards have evolved over the past 300 or so years. So do their purpose. From simply aiding to moor ships, bollards now have a variety of uses for workplace and road safety.
- Traffic management
Vehicle traffic in warehouses, loading docks, factories, and other industrial settings are easily controlled with the use of bollards. They help in the safe movement of trucks, cars forklifts and other vehicles inside the establishment. They can be placed near loading zones or forklift routes to prevent unauthorised parking. On the other hand, they can be set up to mark exclusive parking zones, waiting areas, and similar spots.
Bollards also ensure the safety of road users, contractors and traffic controllers where roadworks are ongoing.
- Pedestrian safety
Bollards are put in place where pedestrian safety is on the line. For example, supermarkets, hospitals, parks and schools require more vehicle access restrictions due to heavy pedestrian traffic. Gardens, paths, buildings and other streetscapes, on the other hand, might only require low security levels and temporary access control.
Safety bollards are also used as barriers between pedestrians and the area where construction and maintenance roadworks are being carried out. Parking lots, factories and warehouses can also utilise these barriers to ensure that workers can safely walk around the premises.
4. Dome mirrors prevent blind spot accidents.
A blind corner is one of the most common places where accidents occur. It is a corner on a road where drivers are unable to see what’s behind the corner. Whether it is an oncoming car, a parked vehicle or a pedestrian crossing the street, it will be pretty tricky for a driver to avoid them, especially if they are going at high speed.
Placing warning signs helps alert drivers of what might lie ahead. However, some drivers tend to disregard these warning signs. Placing dome safety mirrors allows drivers to actually see what’s in front of them, something they cannot ignore.
Dome safety mirrors help to maximise visibility by allowing you to see a large portion of the street behind the blind corner, making the road a much safer place.
Safer roads to better meet the demands
Demands for consumer goods and other products may continue to rise. Still, the shipping container shortage is yet to stabilise. Practicality calls for safer roads and organised workplaces with the right safety barriers to help ease the challenges that Australia and the rest of the world have been experiencing.
