Call us: +44 (0) 1202 868000
Workplace Transport and Pedestrian Safety:
Enhancing Health & Safety in Ports & Terminals
ZoneSafe’s proactive proximity detection enhances health and safety in ports and terminals by protecting at the people-plant interface.
What are the dangers to health and safety in ports and terminals?
In the constant motion of UK ports and terminals, the primary dangers to health and safety in ports arise from the unavoidable interaction between pedestrians and the integral forklifts and other vehicles. This constant movement, facilitating over 6 million vehicle movements and 500 million tons of freight annually, creates persistent collision risks despite robust traffic risk management.
Visibility is often obstructed by heavy loads and other obstacles, directly impacting driver awareness and creating dangerous blind spots. This significantly increases the risk of collisions, which can lead to fatal and severe injuries.
The consequences are clear in national data:
- Within the Transportation and Storage sector, being struck by a moving vehicle remains the primary cause of fatal injuries, responsible for 32% of deaths in this industry.
Given these inherent challenges, implementing robust and proactive measures is critical to ensuring effective health and safety in ports.
Our ZoneSafe pedestrian detection system significantly reduce collision risks between pedestrian workers and vehicles like forklifts and HGVs.
We’re proud to protect workers in the Ports and Terminal sectors, delivering tried-and-tested proximity warning systems that promotes a ‘Zero-harm’ culture. Find out what our customers in our case study videos.
*These provisional figures will be finalised in July 2025. This allows HSE to account for any necessary adjustments or late reports that may come in.
Sector Statistics up to 2023/2024*
%
Workers Who Incurred Non Fatal Injuries
x
Higher Fatality Rate Than Average Across Industries
%
Deaths Caused by Collision With Moving Vehicle
Help your employees
to feel safe at work
Protect your
employer reputation
Improve your
safety culture
How does ZoneSafe enhance health and safety in ports by addressing collision risks?
ZoneSafe significantly enhances health and safety in ports by actively mitigating collision risks through its proactive, line-of-sight independent proximity detection technology. Unlike traditional solutions like AI camera systems, ZoneSafe’s RFID-based system detects pedestrians even when they are hidden behind walls, racking, pallets, or in vehicle blind spots.
Keeping your workforce safe on busy worksites operating heavy plant machinery is no easy task, as vehicle blind spots, concealed entrances, blind corners, obstructions, and unexpected behaviours all increase the risk of a pedestrian being hit by a moving vehicle.
ZoneSafe proximity warning systems work by fitting an antenna to the vehicle, creating a 360-degree detection zone. Pedestrian workers wear a ZoneSafe tag, which the antenna detects every time the pedestrian (and tag) enters the detection zone. Once detected, the in-cab control unit warns the driver via an audible and visual alarm, and the tag worn by the pedestrian vibrates, alerting the pedestrian to the danger of the approaching vehicle.
This comprehensive alert system directly addresses the challenges of obstructed visibility and situational awareness inherent in port operations.
Multi-fleet vehicle applications:
Protecting pedestrians around key port equipment
Safeguarding health and safety in ports is achieved through multi-fleet vehicle applications that prioritise pedestrian protection around essential port equipment.
Reach Stackers
Reach stackers are utilised in port areas to manoeuvre large containers, which can obstruct the driver's view and increase the risk of collisions.
Forklifts
Forklifts have many different blind spots thanks to the loads they carry, distorted view from the cab and shape of the vehicle. These significantly increase the risk of collisions.
In what key port areas can ZoneSafe enhance workplace transport safety?
ZoneSafe enhances workplace transport safety in key port areas by providing crucial detection where the segregation of moving vehicles and pedestrian workers isn’t always possible due to site layout and vehicle blind spots. The system is designed to operate effectively across any challenging port or terminal environment where accident risks are high.
ZoneSafe systems are particularly effective in environments including:
-
Loading and unloading zones
-
Internal roadways and walkways
-
Dockside and quayside
-
Container storage areas
Activated Signage
Implementing ZoneSafe's vehicle-activated signage provides a practical solution to enhance onsite safety. Signs only flash when the vehicle is present, warning both site users and visitors located in the area to any approaching vehicles.
Site Access Control
Restricting site access to only your employees or anyone given a ZoneSafe tag reduces the risk of accidents. Only ZoneSafe tags open gates or barriers to a restricted area meaning they'll be detected and warned should they get too close to a moving vehicle.
Vehicle-to-Vehicle Detection
Reduce the risk of accidents between moving vehicles with ZoneSafe vehicle detection anti-collision system. Fitting any type of vehicle, the system provides two configurable warning zones, an outer pre-warning (or early warning) zone and inner (close proximity) warning zone.
Data Management
My.ZoneSafe, is our cloud-based insight and data management platform, which records and displays event data (such as near miss occurrences) to inform Health and Safety managers of potential hazards and collision hotspots.
“ZoneSafe’s proximity warning system has been invaluable in enhancing safety in our warehouse, particularly at exits where visibility is impaired due to food hygiene partitions. After a near-miss between a forklift and a staff member, we realized the need for a robust safety solution. The alert system has significantly reduced collision risks and increased awareness among our team.”
How has ZoneSafe improved health and safety in ports and terminals?
Hear from our customers: Port safety case studies
SAAM offers cargo support services in Chile and South America, employing over 7000 people with an active presence in over 10 countries.
With the growth of global trade, Callao port and terminal operators are handling an increasing volume of cargo and shipping containers.
Other projects we’ve delivered
Virginia Hayward,
Warehousing & Logistics
Warehousing & Logistics
Virginia Hayward has reported a dramatic reduction in the number of near misses and accidents since the implementation of ZoneSafe.
Gray Forklift Services,
Forklift Truck Supplier
Forklift Truck Supplier
Gray Forklift Services Ltd selected ZoneSafe to manage their fleet of trucks and health and safety needs.
Liberty Steel,
Steel Manufacturer
Steel Manufacturer
Liberty Steel implemented a safety and asset protection system designed to stop cranes from colliding.
See how ZoneSafe can provide a solution for you Get in touch