Client: Target DC Richlands, Brisbane
Solutions used: PedSafe Handrail, PedSafe Pause Gate
A storm tore the roof off Target’s primary distribution site, so operations moved to a temporary facility at DC Richlands in Brisbane. The site kept Target’s store network supplied, but pedestrian separation relied mostly on painted lines.
With peak season approaching, Target needed clear, reliable walkways in place quickly. Vanguard assessed the site and recommended a modular system of warehouse pedestrian barriers that Target can take with them when they move on.
Challenge: A temporary site with peak season on the way
DC Richlands stages and ships loads to Target stores across the network. It is a busy environment where pedestrians and material handling equipment (MHE) share the same floor.
Some areas had walkway barriers, but most of the separation between pedestrians and forklift traffic came down to painted lines. Line marking is good for showing people where they should walk but doesn’t stop them from walking where they shouldn’t. Temporary measures were also being moved around, so walkways weren’t consistent from one week to the next.
The timing added pressure too. Peak season brings significantly more staff on site, and Target needed its pedestrian safety measures in place before they arrived.
Another important consideration was that because the facility was temporary, any investment also had to make sense beyond its time at Richlands.
Target contacted Vanguard on the recommendation of the National Safety Manager for Supply Chain across Kmart and Target, who had previously worked with Vanguard on a project in Sydney.
Assessment: Understanding the real risk
Vanguard visited the site to scope the job, working with both the Safety Manager and Commercial Analyst at DC Richlands.
The team looked at how pedestrians and forklifts moved through the facility, where their paths met, and how well the existing measures were working.
Three findings shaped the recommendation:
- Low impact risk: The risk of direct vehicle impact in these areas was low, so the priority was keeping pedestrians out of forklift drive lanes, not stopping a moving forklift.
- Pallet angle wasn’t doing the job: In some areas, pallet angle had been fixed to the floor but it wasn’t stopping pedestrians from entering drive lanes, and created a trip hazard of its own.
- The site was temporary: Whatever went in needed to be reusable, not a sunk cost left behind when Target moved on.
Solution: PedSafe handrail with pause gates
Based on the assessment of the site and Target’s project goals, Vanguard recommended the PedSafe Pedestrian Handrail system with PedSafe Pause Gates.
PedSafe creates fixed, clearly defined pedestrian walkways, while pause gates provide a prompt at crossing points for people to stop before stepping into areas where MHE operates.
Where pallet angle was already on the floor, the team installed PedSafe rail behind it to close the gap and keep pedestrians out of the drive lanes.
As it was a temporary site, PedSafe’s modular design was a key determining factor. PedSafe can easily be dismantled and reinstalled, so Target can take the barriers to its permanent site, giving the investment value well beyond the Richlands facility.
Vanguard was proud to have managed the project from design through to installation.
Outcome: Walkways staff actually use
The PedSafe barriers replaced ineffective line marking and shifting temporary measures with fixed, defined pedestrian walkways. Staff now consistently use them, giving Target clear separation between people and forklifts on a busy distribution floor.
Target was highly satisfied with the project, singling out the professionalism of the install team and the quality of the process from design to installation. On the strength of this job, Target has committed to working with Vanguard on its future safety projects.
Need clearer pedestrian separation on your site?
If people and forklifts share space on your work site, painted lines may not be the most effective safety tool to help keep your people safe.
Talk to Vanguard about a site assessment and we’ll look at how your site actually operates and help you decide on the right level of separation for your situation.
