Site safety guidance
Pedestrian & Vehicle Separation
What the law and HSE guidance require where people on foot work alongside forklifts, reach trucks and other workplace vehicles, and the practical steps that keep them apart.
The key point
Separating people from vehicles should be the first consideration, not an afterthought.
Statistics: HSE, INDG199 Workplace transport safety: A brief guide ↗Section 1 · The law
The Problem & the Law
What employers must do where people and vehicles share a workplace
A common problem
Busy sites where people and vehicles share the same space
In busy warehouses and distribution centres, it's common for staff on foot to share aisles, doorways and loading areas with forklifts and reach trucks. Pedestrian routes are often unmarked, or have faded over time, and pressure peaks at shift changes and busy periods. Where people and vehicles mix without clear separation, the consequences of a single mistake can be very serious.
Legal requirements
| Legislation | What it requires | Read it |
|---|---|---|
| Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, Section 2 | Employers must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all their employees. | Section 2 ↗ |
| Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, Regulation 3 | Employers must carry out a suitable and sufficient risk assessment. Workplace transport, including how pedestrians and vehicles interact, should be covered. | Regulation 3 ↗ |
| Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, Regulation 17(1) | "Every workplace shall be organised in such a way that pedestrians and vehicles can circulate in a safe manner." | Regulation 17 ↗ |
| Regulation 17(2)–(3) | Traffic routes must be suitable for the people and vehicles using them. Pedestrians and vehicles must be able to use a route without endangering people working nearby, and where they share a route, there must be sufficient separation between them. | Regulation 17 ↗ |
| Regulation 17(4) | Where necessary for health or safety, traffic routes must be suitably indicated, for example with markings and signs. | Regulation 17 ↗ |
Supporting guidance: the Approved Code of Practice for the Workplace Regulations, L24, explains how to comply with Regulation 17 in practice. HSE L24 ↗
Section 2 · HSE guidance
What HSE Guidance Says
Keeping people and vehicles apart
HSE guidance
HSE's guidance, including HSG136 A guide to workplace transport safety and HSG76 Warehousing and storage: A guide to health and safety, makes clear that separating people and vehicles should be the first consideration. HSG136 ↗ HSG76 ↗
| HSE guidance | What it means in practice |
|---|---|
| Separate routes | "Roadways and footpaths should be separate whenever possible." Plan walkways along the routes people naturally take, so they actually use them. |
| Keep people out of vehicle areas | "Pedestrians should be kept away from areas where vehicles are working unless they need to be there." |
| Barriers & markings | Use protective barriers, clear floor markings and raised kerbs. Guard rails may be needed at entrances, corners and anywhere people could step straight into a vehicle route. |
| Crossing points | Provide designated, clearly marked crossings where "pedestrians, cyclists and drivers should be able to see clearly in all directions." |
| Busy times | Where traffic peaks at set times, such as shift changes, consider restricting vehicle or pedestrian use of routes during those periods. |
| Doors & entrances | Separate doors for vehicles and pedestrians are preferred, with vision panels so people can see when it's safe to approach. |
| Training & visitors | Train staff and new starters on routes and layouts. Brief visitors before they enter vehicle areas; high-visibility clothing may be needed. |
Source: HSE, Workplace transport: separating pedestrians and vehicles. hse.gov.uk ↗
What this means
Unmarked or shared routes are unlikely to meet Regulation 17
Where staff on foot and lift trucks share the same space without clearly defined walkways, barriers or crossing points, it is difficult to show that the workplace is organised so pedestrians and vehicles can circulate safely. The workplace transport risk assessment should identify where people and vehicles meet, and record the controls in place.
Section 3 · Getting it right
Good Practice & How We Can Help
Practical controls, in order of effectiveness
What good looks like
| Control | Why it matters | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Assess: map where people and vehicles meet, including at shift changes, and record it in the workplace transport risk assessment. | MHSWR Reg 3 |
| 2 | Separate: pedestrian-only zones and dedicated walkways, physically protected by barriers where vehicles work close by. | WR Reg 17(1), (3) |
| 3 | Mark: clear, durable floor marking for walkways and vehicle routes, kept in good condition. | WR Reg 17(4) |
| 4 | Cross safely: designated crossing points with good visibility in all directions. | HSG136 |
| 5 | Sign: clear signage at entrances, crossings and vehicle areas, with separate pedestrian doors where possible. | WR Reg 17(4) |
| 6 | Be seen: high-visibility clothing for anyone entering vehicle areas, including visitors and agency staff. | HSG136 |
| 7 | Train and brief: induct every new starter and visitor on routes and site rules, and include route use in supervisory checks. | HSWA s2 |
How Jaybee can help
Floor marking
Durable walkway, crossing and zone marking for warehouse floors.
Barriers & signage
Pedestrian barriers, guard rails and compliant safety signage.
High-visibility clothing
Certified hi-vis for staff, agency workers and visitors, branded if required.
Specialist partners
Introductions to workplace transport and site layout specialists.
Sources
Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, Section 2. legislation.gov.uk · Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, Regulation 3. legislation.gov.uk · Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, Regulation 17. legislation.gov.uk
HSE, HSG136 A guide to workplace transport safety (3rd edition, 2014) hse.gov.uk · HSG76 Warehousing and storage hse.gov.uk · L24 Workplace health, safety and welfare ACoP (2nd edition, 2013) hse.gov.uk · INDG199 Workplace transport safety: A brief guide hse.gov.uk · Separating pedestrians and vehicles hse.gov.uk
