Bollards are short vertical posts that are typically used to create barriers or guides in a variety of settings. They are often used to:

• Control vehicular and pedestrian traffic
• Protect buildings, pedestrians, and other property from vehicle collisions
• Define boundaries for outdoor spaces and parking areas
• Create barriers around sensitive areas such as government buildings, power plants, and airports
• Guide traffic in parking garages and other facilities

Bollards can be placed in a variety of locations, including on sidewalks, in parking lots, at building entrances, around perimeter security, on bridges and medians, in retail centres, and industrial or commercial settings.

Bollards are important for protecting car parks and storefronts because they can be used to physically block vehicles from entering or exiting certain areas. This can help to prevent accidents or intentional damage to buildings and other structures, as well as to pedestrians. 

Bollards can also be used to create designated areas for cars to park, helping to improve traffic flow and prevent congestion. Additionally, bollards can be used to enhance security by blocking access to buildings and other restricted areas, or by creating barriers that make it more difficult for vehicles to approach a building at high speeds.

What areas are the risk of collisions?

Vehicle crashes are more likely to occur in areas where there is a higher concentration of traffic, such as in urban areas or near major intersections and transportation hubs. They can also occur more frequently in areas where visibility is limited, such as in construction zones, near curves or hills, or during poor weather conditions. Some other places where crashes might occur at a higher rate are

• Highways and freeways, which have high-speed limits and high traffic volume
• Residential areas, which often have a mix of cars, bikes, and pedestrians
• Shopping centres and other commercial sites, which have heavy pedestrian traffic
• Intersections, particularly those with complex or confusing layouts
• School zones and areas around parks and playgrounds, which have a high concentration of children
• Construction zones or areas with heavy equipment
• High-risk intersections and locations with poor infrastructure or inadequate traffic controls.

These are some examples, but they can occur anywhere where human error or hazardous situations can cause incidents.

What are the types of bollards?

There are a variety of bollard options available, which can be broadly grouped into two main categories: fixed bollards and removable bollards.

• Fixed bollards: These are permanent structures that are anchored in place and cannot be moved. They can be made of a variety of materials such as steel, concrete, and plastic. They come in different shapes such as cylindrical, square, and triangular. They also come in different finishes like powder coating, galvanization and can be painted.
• Removable bollards: These bollards can be removed and reinstalled as needed. They are often used in situations where access is needed for vehicles or pedestrians at certain times, but needs to be restricted at other times. They usually come with locking systems, some can be padlocked, some use keys, and some are electronic.

In addition to these two main categories, bollards can also be further customized to suit specific needs. Some examples of customizations include:

• Reflective tape or paint, which can increase visibility at night or in low-light conditions
• Lighting options, such as solar-powered or LED lights, can also increase visibility
• Signage or branding, which can be added to the bollards to indicate parking areas or to promote a business or organization
• Special designs, shapes, and features, such as tapered bollards, architectural bollards, and bollards with built-in seating

What are the benefits of using bollards?

Bollards can be beneficial in a variety of ways. Some of the main advantages of using bollards include:

1. Traffic control: Bollards can be used to create designated areas for cars to park, helping to improve traffic flow and prevent congestion. They can also be used to direct traffic and guide vehicles through a parking lot or other area.
2. Safety: Bollards can be used to physically block vehicles from entering or exiting certain areas, which can help to prevent accidents and intentional damage to buildings and other structures, as well as to pedestrians. This is why bollards are often placed around pedestrian walkways, storefronts, and other areas where people are likely to be present.
3. Security: Bollards can be used to enhance security by blocking access to buildings and other restricted areas, or by creating barriers that make it more difficult for vehicles to approach a building at high speeds. This can help to prevent terrorist attacks or ram-raids.
4. Aesthetics: Bollards can be designed to match the architecture and style of the area in which they are located, which can help to enhance the appearance of the area.
5. Flexibility: They come in a wide range of styles, materials and sizes which makes them versatile to be used in different settings.
6. Durability: Bollards are typically made of durable materials such as steel or concrete, which makes them resistant to impact and weathering.
7. Cost-effective: Bollards are a relatively low-cost solution to protect buildings and other structures, and they require minimal maintenance.

It is important to note that bollards alone may not be sufficient to protect people from vehicles in all situations, and it’s always important to have other measures in place as well such as security personnel, cameras and signs. On our website is possible to see the range of products for safety and protection visit https://www.svl.ie/. If you need assistance or guidance on protecting your people and property, get in touch today at 01 257 2260.

 Finally, it’s also important to emphasise the importance of proper installation and maintenance of bollards to ensure their safety and effectiveness. This includes regular inspection, replacement of worn or damaged bollards, and compliance with local and national regulations and standards.

According to Health and Safety Authority, warehouses, workshops, and factories are familiar places to find forklift trucks among the most dangerous vehicles in the workplace.

It’s common for employers to gloss over the risks involved with forklift use. But, unfortunately, lift trucks are a normal part of the workplace, so much so that those who use them or are near them frequently grow blasé about safety. Accidents involving lift trucks, however, are often fatal. Even when empty, lift trucks can weigh several thousand pounds, and pedestrians have little in the way of safety measures to avoid being run over by them.

HSA, highlight that the most common types of incidents involving forklift trucks are:

•         Struck by a moving truck
•         Struck by a load falling from the truck
•         Overturn of the truck
•         Fall from a height
•         Trapped between the mast and overhead guard

Less common events include fires or explosions caused by refuelling or unsuitable lift trucks for the environment. As a result, pedestrians often suffer crushing and foot injuries. In addition, instability causes trucks to overturn and crush drivers, causing injuries.

At the HSA website is possible to find a checklist that will help you maintain a safe operation while using FLT. Thinking about improving safety in warehouses, we selected a few products that can help you:

• COMB CRASH BARRIER: This Forklift Barrier is perfect for ample column protection and defends areas that need extra protection. Your most important barrier is separating your workforce from the forklift careening across your factory floor.
• FLEXCORE PEDESTRIAN BARRIER: Our fully customisable flexible polymer safety barriers protect your people and your business with the most advanced protective system ever designed.
• RACK END BARRIER: Currently being upgraded and will be available earlier next year. Our Rack End Protector stops forklifts and pallet trucks with controlled deflection. Behind that bright yellow shell is over 55 pounds of high-tensile steel fastened to the concrete with 10 inches of shock-absorbing steel anchors.
• ARMCO RACK BARRIER: Steel pallet racking barriers are an excellent option for protecting warehouse pallet racking ends. It can be cut to fit. It’s mounted on low-level legs spring legs which are designed to transfer the impact pressure through the portion rather than to the floor-fixing bolts. Armco pallet rack end guard is supplied in a galvanised finish with added hi-vis end caps to finish.
• RACK-UPRIGHT PROTECTOR: Our Rack Upright Guard is an easy-to-install, high-strength solution to protect your racking from the always-present danger of accidental impact. You’re done by just wrapping the velcro straps around the racking leg.
• PALLET RACK GUARD: Our heavy-duty pallet racking guard has been designed to protect your pallet rack legs from the damaging blows of forklifts and pallet trucks. Hit an ordinary rack leg guard hard enough, and the concrete will give up its hold. So we engineered ours smarter—with a built-in industrial-grade shock absorber that takes more potent hits.

We have many solutions for any situation. Please look at our catalogue, and you will find the solution for your need. If you need assistance or guidance on protecting your people and property, get in touch today at 01 257 2260.

Investing in protecting people and premises is a necessary form of creating a safe environment, and it is shown to be very important.

According to the Health and Safety Authority (HSA), in 2021 were seen a reduction in work-related fatalities was, and a total of 38 accidents were reported. This number is the lowest recorded since 1989, when the Authority was established. However, the HSA recognise that Families, colleagues and communities have been left devasted by those unfortunately lost.

This number is favourable compared to the previous year (2021) when 54 work fatalities were recorded. A reduction of 30% can be considered achieved because employers are more aware of the cost of improvements in their installations and damage prevention systems, which will positively affect the future, avoiding unwanted accidents.

This is where SVL take part; we have seen this demand and decided to step in and make people work in a safe place; we are the leading provider of damage prevention solutions, retail equipment & health care protection & equipment.

We aim to help reduce the number of work-related fatalities, providing tested, high-quality products that will enhance safety in any environment. Our range extends from Warehouse Equipment safety, Car Park and Traffic Solutions and Retail and Healthcare. With Ireland’s largest dedicated team, we survey, assess, supply and install across the country.

If you need assistance or guidance on protecting your people and property, get in touch today at 01 257 2260 and check our links https://www.svl.ie/links/.

Photo: Machine operator photo created by xxaleksandarlittlewolf – www.freepik.com

To decide which is the best, is necessary to get to know what is a bollard? A bollard is a vertical post or similar structure that defines areas while providing impact protection. Bollards are used to separate pedestrians or streetscape elements from vehicles. By placing them in a line, bollards are used to prevent motor vehicles from encroaching on pedestrian spaces such as footpaths or plazas. At SVL we have a range of bollards available to suit a variety of applications, including car parks, warehouses, traffic lanes, and pedestrian walkways.

The best way to understand how to protect your premises is to choose the proper bollard. In our range we have many options that can fit any situation, therefore we selected the top 3 of our bollards and how they can be applied.

• FlexCore Bollard

First up is the FlexCore Safety Bollard, safer and stronger for heavy-duty designed and patented by McCue. This bollard has spins, absorbs, and deflects the impacts. These yellow polymer safety bollards direct forces into the shock-absorbing load rings and along the tensile solid steel rods. Patented, energy-absorbing design withstands impacts, without damaging the concrete floor like other static systems. Secret fix and hidden hardware,  avoiding dirt and debris build-up. Low maintenance, easy to clean.

• Flexible Traffic Bollard

SVL’s Flexi traffic bollards, AKA the delineator bollard, provide a durable parking post for demarcation in a multitude of situations. Suited to car parks, delivery yards, warehouses, or on roadways. The highly flexible nature of our recovery posts makes them one of the best impact recovery solutions on the market. Flexible traffic bollard has 4 reflective warning bands, therefore, improving safety. Demarcate prohibited areas or separate lanes of traffic.  The delineator bollard flexes on impact and returns to an upright position.

• Stainless Steel Bollard

The last one is the Stainless Steel bolt-down bollard will not only form protective walkways, and protect glazing and building fabrics, but will also look great. Stronger filled with concrete, give extra protection for entrances or venerable parts. For better results, it is necessary that the ground has an adequate foundation.

In addition to steel bollards, we have available the Plastic Bollard Post Sleeve, this cover is cost-effectively made in LDPE durable plastic sleeves to protect steel bollards from weathering & erosion. No Maintenance, re-painting, or rust. On our site it is possible to get them in different colours, the installation is simple just sliding it over the existing steel bollard.

Our Parking Posts & Bollards Range: galvanized steel, warehouse safety, heavy-duty, plastic, flexible, parking, fold down, and delineator bollards are available for sale. If you need assistance or guidance on how to protect your people and property, get in touch today.  Visit svl.ie or call us (0)1 257 2260