Car Park Safety: A Vital Consideration for Your Business

February 16th, 2024

Last updated: June 25th, 2024

Car parks are essential facilities for businesses across the country, especially those that are outside of city centres. They give convenience for employees, customers, and visitors alike. However, with the convenience comes the responsibility of ensuring car park safety within these spaces.

From preventing accidents to deterring criminal activities, maintaining a secure car park environment should be a top priority for a lot of businesses. In this blog post, we delve into some crucial measures businesses can take to enhance car park safety.

HSE Guidance on Car Park Safety

The HSE guidelines focus on three main areas. Advice from the HSE website is:

• As far as possible, keep parked vehicles out of the flow of traffic and people.
• Tell drivers where parking areas are as soon as they enter the site.
• Try and lay out parking areas to reduce manoeuvring and reversing for large vehicles.

So, as you can see, there are focuses on things like signage as well as having the parking areas properly marked out and visible. These should be carefully considered to ensure vehicles all have plenty of room.

Ensuring Lighting and Visibility

One of the most effective ways to enhance car park safety is by ensuring adequate lighting throughout the area. Well-lit car parks not only discourage criminal activities but also help prevent accidents by improving visibility. Investing in high-quality lighting and conducting regular maintenance to address any issues is always a good idea.

Access Points

Implementing controlled access points with barriers or gates can regulate entry and exit to the car park, thereby enhancing security. Access control systems, such as key cards or entry codes, allow businesses to restrict access to authorised personnel only. This not only prevents unauthorised individuals from entering but also facilitates tracking and monitoring of vehicles.

CCTV and Surveillance

Installing surveillance cameras can act as a powerful deterrent against theft, vandalism, and other criminal activities. Modern surveillance systems can be equipped with motion sensors and night vision capabilities to provide comprehensive coverage and enable businesses to monitor their car parks round the clock. Additionally, prominently displayed signage indicating the presence of surveillance can further discourage any illegal, unwanted behaviour.

Winter and Poor Weather Precautions

During the winter months, icy and slippery conditions pose significant hazards in car parks. Businesses should proactively address these risks by implementing measures such as salting or gritting to prevent ice formation on surfaces.

Additionally, placing warning signs in areas prone to icing can alert drivers and pedestrians to exercise caution, reducing the likelihood of accidents and potentially reducing any liability if an accident should happen.

Signage

Clear and visible directional signage is essential for guiding drivers to parking spaces, entry and exit points, and other key areas within the car park. Well-placed signs with easy-to-understand symbols and instructions help reduce confusion and minimise traffic congestion, contributing to a smoother and safer flow of vehicles. It is also crucial that you keep speeds low, usually very low. This means installing signs that tell visitors the rules about speed limits, too.

Maintenance in Car Parks

Car parks are often neglected by businesses, but they shouldn’t be. Regular maintenance of the car park infrastructure is essential to address potential safety hazards promptly. This includes repairing potholes, maintaining signage and markings, and ensuring proper drainage to prevent slippery surfaces during adverse weather conditions. Additionally, businesses should regularly inspect and maintain any security equipment, such as barriers and surveillance cameras, to ensure they keep functioning as intended.

Car Park Services From Robinsons Facilities Services

There are many regulations regarding car parks, signage, and responsibility. If you have employees, you are likely responsible for workplace parking and ensuring adequate levels of security are in place.

Our expert teams handle professional car park maintenance, and tasks such as barrier installation for all makes and models of new barriers. This covers surveys, groundworks, electrical works, and full testing/commissioning. Additional services include things like pothole repair, CCTV camera installation, and line marking for your car park.

At Robinsons Facilities Services, we believe in providing consistent, gold-standard service and tailored solutions. Speak to our team now for a personalised solution for your business. Reach out today if you need help with your car park.