Walk through any warehouse, factory, or even a multi-storey car park, and you’ll spot them.
Safety barriers. Usually painted yellow. Sometimes a bit scuffed. Supposedly there to stop a disaster.
But here’s the big question –
how do you actually know if that barrier is safe?
And more importantly, compliant with UK safety barrier standards?
Is it built to withstand a 4-tonne forklift at speed, or is it just a glorified speed bump made of steel?
If you're a warehouse manager, safety officer, or compliance lead, this stuff matters.
You don’t want to get caught out by regulations and standards, or worse, by an incident that proves your system wasn’t fit for purpose.
This article outlines – in plain English – who decides if your barrier is safe enough, and what the safety barrier compliance UK rules really say.
If you're not complying with this stuff, you're breaking the law.
There’s no single “Safety Barrier Law” in the UK, but there are core regulations you’re expected to follow:
➡️ PUWER 1998 - Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations
If you install a barrier, it’s classed as “work equipment.” That means:
Put simply: a dented barrier that can’t stop a FLT? That’s not “suitable.”
➡️ Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992
This regulation highlights the need for pedestrians and vehicles to be able to move safely.
So far as is reasonably practicable, pedestrians and vehicles should be kept apart.
So if your staff regularly walk through areas where FLTs operate, you should have something sturdy in place between them.
Read more on the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992.
Let’s clarify something that trips up a lot of managers:
Standards are not laws.
But...they’re what courts and HSE inspectors look at when judging if you were being responsible.
Health and Safety Executive Guidance
The HSE’s guide on workplace transport safety recommends barriers in loading bays, walkways, and vehicle routes.
It doesn’t specify barrier types, but it does suggest assessing:
BS EN 1991 & PAS 13:2017
If your barrier is tested to PAS 13, it’s far easier to prove due diligence.
Here's one of our products undergoing testing:
There's a simple answer here:
You do.
Not the manufacturer. Not the HSE inspector. And not the courts.
You - as the employer - must assess the risks and pick the right barrier.
But don’t panic. That doesn’t mean guessing.
You can (and should) rely on:
HSE inspectors (and the courts if there's a potential prosecution) have the final say if something goes wrong. So it’s worth getting it right the first time.
Here’s how smart safety teams simplify compliance:
▶️ Do a proper risk assessment
Suitable and sufficient is the key when it comes to risk assessments.
Look at:
▶️ Choose Barriers with Proven Testing
If it hasn't been tested under controlled conditions, don't trust it.
▶️ Keep Inspection & Maintenance Logs
Just because barriers are safe at the point of installation doesn't mean you're covered. Keep a log of checks, repairs, and upgrades.
▶️ Train Staff
Do pedestrians keep within barriers? Do drivers respect the fact that pedestrians should have the right of way?
Before you sign off on any safety barrier, make sure you can tick these boxes:
| 1 | Is it tested to PAS 13 or an equivalent recognised standard? |
| 2 | Does it match the risk level of your workspace (vehicle weights, speeds, and layout)? |
| 3 | Do you have documented proof of suitability for your workplace transport? |
| 4 | Is it being inspected and maintained on a regular schedule? |
Barrier compliance isn’t about hoping for the best; it’s about evidence.
If your barrier has been properly tested, matches your risk assessment, and has documentation to prove it, you’re on solid ground.
Otherwise? When it comes to safety barrier compliance in the UK, you’re gambling.
At Clarity, we offer site assessments to help you decide what "safe" barriers look like for your facility.
👉 Get in touch to book your site assessment.