If you're planning a warehouse layout, or retrofitting an older site, one of the most important decisions you'll make is where to place your pedestrian walkways.
Get it wrong, and you risk near misses, poor traffic flow, and compliance or even legal issues. Get it right, and you create a safer, smoother, and more efficient environment for everyone.
This article covers how to approach walkway planning the right way.
Before marking any lines on the floor, ask:
"Where are people naturally walking now and is it safe?"
"Where do visitors enter? Where do teams cross into work zones? Where are the common hold-ups?"
A good walkway plan works with your operations, not against them.
At Clarity, we always recommend beginning with a site safety survey, or what we call a "lighthouse area; this is a section of the site that you optimise first. This approach lets you prove the concept, show results, and gain internal buy-in without redesigning the whole facility at once.
Every site is different, but here are the typical zones that should always have clear pedestrian segregation:
Between loading bays and offices
Around packing stations or assembly lines
Near FLT traffic routes or turning zones
Across access points to toilets, canteens, or rest areas
Along racking aisles where foot traffic and machinery mix
If you’re unsure what’s safe or compliant, we’ve written a full guide that you can download below.
Marking walkways is only one piece of the puzzle. To truly protect your people, use physical barriers alongside them, especially where heavy MHE is in operation.
At Clarity, we supply a wide range of flexible polymer barriers that absorb impact instead of transferring it, helping reduce injuries and damage.
Each has its place:
Tape like Mighty Line Floor Tape is fast to install, long-lasting, and ideal for flexible layouts
Paint offers a budget-friendly start point but wears quickly under traffic
Projected walkways (laser or LED) offer premium, zero-contact options for high-wear zones or when temporary markings are needed
It’s not enough to have a walkway, it needs to be seen and understood at a glance.
Use high-contrast markings (green and yellow work well)
Add signage or projection where sightlines are limited
Consider pairing with sensors or gates at busy intersections
At Clarity, we offer on-site surveys and consultancy, full layout drawings, and modular barrier recommendations, all designed to help you meet PAS 13 standards and protect your people.