A-Safe (UK) Ltd - DHL case study

Having previously supplied safety barrier products to the DHL distribution depot in Banbury, DHL Location Support Manager, Paul Riley, found our details on the DHL Intranet and contacted A-Safe with regard to supply of barriers for their Doncaster sites. A-Safe products were duly specified, supplied and installed.

Paul's requirement was to implement a protection solution for people, equipment and structures "that didn't rely on the traditional approach of endless angle iron and steel box section that require constant maintenance including repair, re-painting and frequent replacement."

The A-Safe safety barrier and safety protection product range certainly provided Paul with a unique, innovative and cost effective solution that doesn't rely on the traditional approach or require constant maintenance. Manufactured from extruded plastic sections the products are lightweight, very quick and economical to install, flexible and extremely strong in operation, and virtually maintenance free. A-Safe's modular design means it can be easily expanded to accommodate for changes in both site layout and size and its visual appeal is guaranteed to enhance the working and operational environment.

What this provided the Doncaster sites with was protection products that suffer little or no damage on impact, will not cause damage to the vehicle causing the impact, and do not need frequently repairing or re-painting to maintain their appearance and effectiveness. It also dramatically reduces the risk of expensive floor damage. On impact with metal barriers the bulk of the impact force is transmitted to the barrier anchor points, which can often cause the barrier fixings to be ripped out of the ground.

A-Safe products also offer other additional features and benefits. They won't rust or rot, are coloured all the way through, so don't need re-painting when they get scratched or chipped on impact. They are easily cleaned, corrosion resistant, and impervious to environmental conditions, meaning they can be used internally or externally. The products are lightweight, with no sharp edges, and don't use nuts and bolts, welding or fixing brackets for assembly, allowing quick and easy installation. They also have a low maintenance requirement and are highly visible.

Like most Warehouse and Logistics facilities, DHL sites need different protection solutions in different areas on the same site. To provide solutions to all the on-site protection requirements, A-Safe have supplied and installed their Pedestrian Barrier, Traffic Barrier, Bollard and Vehicle Kerb/Wheel Alignment Guide products to both Doncaster sites.

The Pedestrian Barrier has been used in conjunction with signboards, also supplied by A-Safe, to prominently display safety signage and other information required by H & S regulations at the depot's entrance, additional Pedestrian Barrier is to be installed to designate and protect pedestrian walkways. The Traffic Barrier has been used internally to prevent impact damage from vehicles to vulnerable equipment and structures. The bollards have been installed both internally and externally to protect equipment and structures such as electrical equipment and downpipes. The Vehicle Kerb has been used internally to prevent vehicles straying off their allotted routes and externally as alignment guides in the loading bay vehicle manoeuvring area

Since the installation, Paul has found the A-Safe Barriers have met the requirements of the protection solution he was looking for. They have significantly reduced the site's barrier maintenance costs in terms of savings on labour, time and replacement costs. He also commented that some of the installed barrier sections have taken some hard knocks - which is what they're there for - without needing repair, re-painting or replacement, further commenting that the A-Safe barriers certainly absorb impact.

He also confirmed that the A-Safe barriers have met his requirements for an alternative to the traditional protection solution to such an extent that he definitely plans to install A-Safe products to meet future on-site barrier requirements and that he would recommend both the A-Safe barrier products, and the installation service provided by A-Safe, to other potential users and sites.

A-Safe's barrier systems are tested and certified to British Standards, are strong, durable and flexible, aesthetically pleasing and highly visible. Installation is quick and easy, they require little or no maintenance and once installed never need painting. Quality, re-usable components and simple repair procedures mean A-Safe's products provide an economic and highly effective solution to varying protection requirements.

Extruded plastic has a very high tensile strength, with the ability to flex under impact conditions thus absorbing and dissipating the impact forces before returning to its original shape and form. The more traditional approach referred to by Paul (using metal barriers) tends to provide a rigid obstacle to an impact source that can quite easily result in permanent damage, to the barrier, the vehicle, and the floor/surface on which the barrier is installed.

Granting of preferred supplier status for the A-Safe Barrier products to the DHL Group within the UK means that other DHL Site Location Managers should agree with Paul and find that the A-Safe Barrier products will provide them with the same performance and cost saving benefits that Paul has found at the sites for which they are responsible.

A-Safe (UK) Ltd
Tel: 01422 344402
www.asafe.co.uk