PAS 13 Explained: The Code of Practice for Safety Barriers

The industry best practice for safety barriers and traffic management in the workplace

PAS 13 was developed as a code of practice for safety barriers by the British Standards Institution (BSI), and is published as a Publicly Available Specification (PAS) 13 - the code of practice for safety barriers used in traffic management within workplace environments with test methods for safety barrier impact resilience.

What is the PAS 13 code of practice?

PAS 13 is the only global code of practice for industrial safety barriers. It is intended to be used as a reference point for engineers, architects, contractors, health and safety professionals, as well as any other stakeholders involved in the design, construction, deployment and maintenance of safety barriers. The code is based on the principles of risk assessment and recommends selecting the appropriate safety barriers based on the potential hazards and risks in the surrounding area.

Compliance with PAS 13 helps to ensure that the installed safety barriers are effective in protecting people and assets from potential hazards and ultimately minimising the risk of accidents and injuries.

Why was the PAS 13 standard created?

The consequences of workplace accidents and injuries can be severe. They can result in lost productivity, downtime, and increased maintenance and repairs, all of which can potentially be very costly. Moreover, they can lead to long-term health problems for employees and possible legal and financial liabilities for the company.

According to the Health and Safety Executive statistics, approximately 50 people are killed each year, and more than 5,000 are injured in accidents involving workplace transport. PAS 13 outlines the best practice traffic management procedures for workplaces and provides a standard for the safety barriers within them.

Mixing vehicle and pedestrian routes will always increase the risk of potential accidents, so it is imperative that steps are taken to minimise this. PAS 13 gives recommendations for impact resistance, dimensions and positions of safety barriers in the workplace; guidance on how to manage the risks associated with vehicles within the workplace; and specifies the criteria for testing the impact resistance of a safety barrier.

Who created the PAS 13 standard?

PAS 13 was created and published by the British Standards Institution in association with the Health and Safety Executive. The BSI worked with a steering group made up of many high-profile blue-chip companies. These companies were able to offer first-hand experience of health and safety initiatives across a range of industry sectors, to create a consistent and transferable set of guidelines for optimal safety barrier installation.

PAS 13 overview

PAS 13 is the global code of practice for industrial safety barriers, which provides comprehensive guidance on the best practices to employ when these safety barriers are installed in the workplace. As mentioned earlier, it is an official document produced by the British Standards Institution (BSI) and is globally recognised as the most reliable code of practice for industrial safety barriers.

PAS 13 is broken down into two sections. The first section provides health and safety and operations managers with detailed guidance on the correct application of safety barriers at busy facilities. This section includes recommendations on how to select the appropriate safety barrier system based on the level of risk, traffic flow, and environmental conditions.

The second section of PAS 13 is primarily for safety barrier manufacturers. It covers how to conduct standardised testing and certification of safety barriers for strength and durability, as well as how to record and publicise these results in a way that is clear and transparent for customers. This section of PAS 13 helps manufacturers ensure that their products meet the required strength and durability standards, giving customers peace of mind when selecting their safety barrier systems.

Advantages of using PAS 13 certified safety barriers

The use of PAS 13 certified safety barriers in industrial workplaces can have numerous benefits, including:

Racking protection

Safety barriers can also provide protection for racking and other storage systems. In busy industrial facilities, forklifts and other vehicles can cause damage to racking, which can be costly to repair or replace. Impact barriers can absorb the force of collisions, minimising damage and reducing maintenance and repair costs.

Pedestrian protection

PAS 13 safety barriers are used to create safe pedestrian walkways in busy workplaces. By separating pedestrian areas from areas where vehicles are operating, the risk of accidents is greatly reduced. This can help to create a safer working environment and reduce the risk of accidents.

Forklift damage

Forklifts are a common cause of impact damage in industrial facilities, and collisions with other vehicles, racking, and equipment can be costly to repair. PAS 13 certified safety barriers will help to deflect and absorb the force of collisions, reducing the risk of damage to forklifts and other vehicles.

Maintenance and repair costs

By reducing the risk of impact damage to racking, equipment, and vehicles, safety barriers can also help to reduce maintenance and repair costs. In addition, impact barriers themselves are designed to be durable and long-lasting, reducing the need for frequent replacement.

Employee safety

One of the most significant benefits of using PAS 13 certified barriers is the increased safety of employees. These barriers are designed to protect employees from accidents caused by moving machinery, falling objects, and collisions with vehicles. By providing a physical barrier between employees and potential hazards, the risk of injury is greatly reduced.

The use of PAS 13 certified safety barriers in industrial workplaces can have numerous benefits, including increased employee safety, protection for racking and other storage systems, safe pedestrian walkways, reduced damage to forklifts and other vehicles, and lower maintenance and repair costs. By investing in these safety barriers and following the guidelines set out in PAS 13, companies can create a safer working environment and improve the efficiency of their operations.

Benefits of following the PAS 13 standard

Health and safety managers, procurement specialists, directors, facility managers, project managers and site safety leaders all benefit from following PAS 13. It will also likely be of interest to those who want to apply traffic management procedures, as well as those who manufacture, test and measure the performance of safety barriers.

Here are some of the ways that implementing PAS 13 can greatly improve the use of impact safety barriers in industrial workplaces:

• Clear guidelines for barrier selection: PAS 13 provides detailed guidelines for the correct application of safety barriers in industrial facilities. This includes information on the selection of barriers that best fit the needs of the facility, taking into account factors such as vehicle types, traffic flow, and the potential for impact.
• Standardised testing for barrier strength and durability: The second section of PAS 13 covers how to conduct standardised testing of safety barriers for strength and durability, and record results in a way that is clear and transparent for customers. This ensures that all barriers used in the facility meet a consistent standard for safety and durability.
• Improved traffic management: The guidelines set out in PAS 13 can also help to improve traffic management in industrial facilities. By using barriers to separate pedestrian walkways from areas where vehicles are operating, the risk of accidents is greatly reduced. This can help to create a safer working environment and improve the efficiency of operations by reducing downtime due to accidents.
• Safety: The primary objective of impact barriers is to prevent accidents and protect workers from hazards. By manufacturers following the recommendations and requirements set out in PAS 13, customers can ensure that their safety barriers are properly designed and installed to provide maximum protection for workers.
• Risk assessment: PAS 13 emphasises the importance of conducting a thorough risk assessment before installing safety barriers. This helps businesses identify potential hazards and ensure that their safety barriers are designed to address these specific risks.
• Cost-effectiveness: Properly designed and installed safety barriers can help reduce the risk of accidents and damage to equipment and products, which can ultimately result in cost savings for businesses.

PAS 13 certified pedestrian safety barriers

Polymer Single Bumper Pedestrian Barriers

The Single Bumper Pedestrian Barriers enhance workplace safety by providing a crucial shield against impacts from Material Handling Equipment (MHE), benefiting both pedestrians and vehicles.

These barriers are rigorously tested according to the PAS 13 code of practice, demonstrating an impressive impact resistance of 11,000 joules and a deflection capability of 224mm, meaning they flex upon impact and return to their original shape.

Suitable for diverse environments, they can be utilised in ambient, chilled, and freezer settings. Available in high-visibility yellow & blue or safety yellow & grey, with bespoke colours offered upon request to meet specific aesthetic needs.

Polymer Double Bumper Pedestrian Barrier

The Double Bumper Pedestrian Barriers provide robust protection for both pedestrians and vehicles. Constructed from heavy-duty polymer, these barriers are designed to offer the highest level of impact safety.

They meet the rigorous PAS 13 code of practice and can withstand impact energies of up to 14,200 joules. Upon impact, they flex to absorb energy and then reform to their original shape, demonstrating excellent resilience.

Suitable for use in various environments, from ambient to chilled and freezer settings, these barriers are available in standard high-visibility yellow and blue or safety yellow and grey. For those requiring a specific aesthetic, bespoke colours can be requested to align with different design requirements.

Summary

In conclusion, the use of safety barriers in industrial workplaces is essential for protecting employees and equipment from impact damage. The implementation of the PAS 13 code of practice for industrial safety barriers provides a reliable and effective means of ensuring that the correct barriers are selected and used in these workplaces. PAS 13 provides clear guidelines for barrier selection, standardised testing for barrier strength and durability, improved traffic management, reduced maintenance and repair costs, and compliance with safety regulations.

By following the guidelines set out in PAS 13, companies can create a safer working environment for their staff and ultimately improve the efficiency of their operations. Investing in high-quality safety barriers that meet PAS 13 standards not only reduces the risk of accidents, but also protects the company from potential liability and will reduce maintenance and repair costs over time.

Therefore, we highly recommend that all industrial workplaces follow the PAS 13 code of practice when selecting and implementing safety barriers. As a leading provider of impact safety barriers, our company offers a range of high-quality polymer safety barriers that have been independently certified to the PAS 13 standard.

Contact us today to see how we can help optimise safety in your workplace.