Logistics Sector Faces Growing Safety Concerns as Vehicle-Pedestrian Incidents Rise

Businesses operating in warehousing, distribution and logistics are under renewed scrutiny following an increase in vehicle-pedestrian incidents within industrial estates and depot environments. Safety professionals say the trend reflects operational pressure, high vehicle movement and insufficient segregation controls in fast-paced commercial settings.

Industry monitoring groups report that near-miss reports involving forklifts, heavy goods vehicles and delivery vans have risen across multi-tenant industrial parks and high-volume fulfilment centres. Although many incidents have not resulted in serious injury, regulators warn that the underlying risk profile is worsening.

A spokesperson for the Health and Safety Executive said vehicle movement remains one of the most persistent causes of workplace fatalities and major injuries. “Where pedestrians and vehicles share the same space without adequate segregation, signage and supervision, the potential for harm is significant,” the spokesperson said. “Businesses must ensure traffic management arrangements are properly planned and consistently enforced.”

Safety advisers say one of the recurring weaknesses is reliance on procedural controls alone. While many sites operate speed limits and induction briefings, physical separation measures such as barriers, marked walkways and controlled crossing points are not always maintained or enforced during peak activity periods.

Operational pressures are also cited as a contributing factor. “Distribution environments are operating at sustained high volumes,” said Mark Reynolds, a logistics safety consultant. “Tight delivery schedules, agency drivers unfamiliar with site layouts and temporary staff during seasonal peaks can create a perfect storm for traffic-related risk.”

Trade bodies representing warehouse operators acknowledge the challenge but say many businesses are investing in improved controls. These include one-way systems, vehicle telematics, proximity warning systems and enhanced supervisor oversight during loading and unloading operations. Some firms are also trialling wearable alert technology designed to warn both drivers and pedestrians when they enter shared-risk zones.

Unions have called for clearer accountability in multi-operator sites where responsibilities may be fragmented. “When several contractors are working in the same yard, it is not always obvious who is in charge of traffic management,” said a representative from a national transport workers’ union. “Ambiguity leads to inconsistency, and inconsistency leads to incidents.”

Insurers are also paying closer attention. Several commercial insurance providers have indicated that vehicle-pedestrian incidents are among the most expensive workplace claims, often resulting in long-term injury and business interruption. As a result, some insurers are requesting evidence of traffic-risk assessments and monitoring arrangements as part of policy renewals.

Health and safety professionals say the issue underlines the importance of proactive hazard identification and regular review of site layouts as operations evolve. “Traffic plans cannot be static,” Reynolds added. “As workloads, staffing and vehicle types change, so must the controls.”

With logistics and warehousing remaining central to modern business operations, regulators and industry bodies expect traffic management and contractor coordination to remain high on the enforcement agenda. Organisations operating under structured safety management systems, including ISO 45001, are increasingly integrating traffic-risk controls into formal audits and management reviews.

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