Ideal Bollard Application: Drive-Thrus and Drive-Up Locations

Bollards are used for plenty of different things, in industries across the board. One common application for them, however, is at locations where driving up close to a structure is essential, but the object it’s necessary to get close to is at risk of serious damage if a car hits it—for instance, a gas pump or an ATM. They are also common at drive-thru restaurant windows, as there are multiple points where, if a car crashed into something, it could cause the establishment to lose a lot of money.

Protecting Property

One of the big reasons that bollards are used in drive-up scenarios is to protect property and building structures. For example, When you pull into a drive thru restaurant’s driveway, you’ll notice bollards around things like their ordering screen, because if someone were to hit it and cause damage to the point of the screen being unusable, the restaurant would not only have to spend money replacing the screen, but it would lose money off of potential drive-thru sales lost.

Another application of bollards that is meant to protect property is surrounding an ATM. This time, however, the bollards are likely installed to prevent theft. Since ATMs are often located otherwise-empty parking lots, and are used to store a lot of money, a would-be criminal may get the idea to ram into the ATM with their car, knock it down, and either take all of the money or take the machine itself. A bit extreme, perhaps, but with bollards posted around the ATM, a car cannot possibly knock it down.  This saves the bank the liability of losing a lot of money.

Protecting People

Other bollard set-ups at drive-up locations are there for the protection of people. For instance, at a toll booth that is manned by a worker, bollards are set up to ensure that cars don’t pull up too closely and accidentally sideswipe or hit the booth, both of which may injure the worker. They are used at public parking lots as well, where people have to take a ticket or pay a cashier to park.

Bollards used at drive-up locations are typically very strong, to withstand the impact of a vehicle, even at a high speed. The main goal of bollards in these applications is to protect what’s behind them, whether that is property or a person.

Meet OSHA Standards with Safety Bollards

When you work in an industry that involves using heavy machinery that can potentially be dangerous to the employees who work on or around it, there will definitely be some OSHA standards that your business has to meet in order to avoid injuries, lawsuits, or OSHA violations. Depending on the business you run or the type of location you’re in, there will likely be different guidelines you need to meet. Let’s take a look at the different types of things that you may be accountable for.

Security Uses

For some areas, such as public institutions and embassies with security concerns, bollards are often required. In addition to simply being required, there are resistance requirements as well—for instance, the Department of State has a security bollard standard of 15,000 pounds resistance and 50 mph crash speed. In other words, in these applications, the bollard must be able to stop a vehicle that is traveling up to 50 as well as stop a vehicle that is up to 15,000 pounds. Organizations may also install bollards designed to be lowered or removed if required. This is ideal for places that don’t have major security restrictions.

Industrial Uses

Some structures may have restrictions or requirements calling for protection on front of machines that could pose a risk to employees. Heavy machinery that could be dangerous if approached too closely or that might be tripped over should be clearly marked and guarded off with security bollards. Bollards that are used for this sort of application are often painted bright yellow (there are OSHA standards for specific colors) to alert passersby or workers that they are approaching machinery that could be dangerous. This can not only protect your workers from getting hurt, but it can protect your business from having to deal with workers compensation cases if someone is hurt by a machine that was not properly marked off.

Color and Height Requirements

Depending on your location and the application of the bollards, there may be specific regulations that you have to meet in order to be compliant with standards. It’s important to know what these regulations are, so contact OSHA if you are unsure if your place of business needs security or safety bollards.

Using Bollards in the Workplace for Additional Safety

Pro Traffic Supply

Traffic bollards are generally thought of as being used to control the flow of traffic in areas where pedestrians and buildings need to be kept safe, but they’re also often used in other applications, such as within industrial workspaces. Places like warehouses, factories, and paid parking lots all use bollards to ensure more security and safety.

Warehouses

In warehouses where there are areas that need to be separated, heavy duty plated bollards work well because employees can still get to the area easily. Bollards can section off spaces in the warehouse without requiring walls to be built. They can also be used to regulate the accessibility of entryways such as garage doors.

Factories

Factories that have a lot of heavy machinery in them can benefit greatly from installing concrete or stainless steel bollards. Bollards warn employees about a machine—they can boost safety by preventing someone from accidentally getting too close and getting injured. And because OSHA guidelines dictate that industrial bollards need to be a specific shade of yellow, commonly referred to as “OSHA yellow,” it’s unlikely that an employee would be able to miss the warning.

Paid or Regulated Parking Lots

Parking lots that require clearance by way of either a badge or a paid attendant often use traffic bollards to control who enters the lot. These bollards may also have gates that have to be lifted in order to allow cars to pass through, or they may stick out from the ground and only be lowered when a car needs to pass over them. Regulating parking lots in this manner ensures no one can enter the lot who is not supposed to be there, and it does so in a highly efficient way. If the parking lot ever needs to be unrestricted, removable bollards provide the perfect solution.

Common Uses for Traffic Bollards Besides Storefronts

If you’re a shop owner or security manager, you know all about how traffic bollards in front of shop doors and windows or garages can prevent damage from cars that lose control or people intentionally trying to crash into buildings (either to vandalize the building or to create a way to burglarize the store), but bollards are used for plenty of other places to control traffic and keep people safe.

Paths in Forest Preserves

In forest preserves, there are often paths paved over for people who wish to ride their bikes, rollerblade, or walk/run alongside nature. Of course, not everyone lives close enough to these paths to simply walk or ride their bikes there, so there are generally parking lots for cars so that people can drive to the forest preserve, then bike, run, etc. on the provided paths. In order to keep cars in their designated lanes, people in charge of park safety have traffic channelizers installed at the entryways to the bike paths so that drivers know they aren’t supposed to be driving on those paved paths. This keeps pedestrians safe.

Event Security

When there’s a special event coming through your town, you might notice bollards blocking off areas that typically allow cars to pass through. Removable bollards are great for special event security, as they can be put up and taken down as needed. Removable security bollards are also great for places that need to be blocked off normally but occasionally need to allow vehicles in—for example, if a venue needs to accommodate for event equipment to load in.

City Bike Lanes

Bike lanes, though usually unprotected, could benefit from having bollards installed on the edges. Traffic bollards would protect cyclists from cars and vice versa, keeping all people in the street safer. In some instances, bollards are used in conjunction with clearly painted lines indicating a lane is specifically for bikes.

Are Bollards Legally Required?

Traffic bollards, typically made out of stainless steel, are short, vertical posts meant to obstruct the passing of traffic. They’re used today mainly to block vehicles from gaining access to certain areas, be it walkways, storefronts, or really anywhere else.  There are different types—permanent and removable bollards, for example—but how do you know if you need them? Of course, if you own property or are in charge of making an area safe from vehicle traffic, they’re helpful. But is it illegal NOT to have them?

While it’s not illegal to not have traffic delineators, the Occupational Safety and Hazards Association (OSHA) does have a set of standards in place to uphold safety. For example, there are color requirements—the bollards must be a shade of canary yellow commonly called “OSHA yellow,” and the height and weight resistance requirements are based on the bollards’ intended uses.

The U.S. Department of State and the Department of Defense also have regulations and approved bollards for security use in public institutions and at embassies. These bollards used in these applications are usually disguised somewhat, painted, or covered in order to look aesthetically pleasing. The bollards at these locations are held to a standard that they must be able to resist 15,000 pounds hitting them at a 50 mph speed. In short, these bollards are pretty powerful against potential intruding traffic.

Sometimes OSHA requires the bollards to be permanent, but not always. If you have questions about the requirements your space may have in regards to traffic bollards being installed, it’s best to contact OSHA for more information that is specific to your location and intended use for the bollards.

That being said, though not all facilities are required to use bollards to control traffic flow, traffic bollards are generally good things to have. If someone owns a store, however, bollards placed in front of the doors or windows can prevent a lot of damage, particularly if someone tries to crash their car through the windows in order to burglarize the shop.

6” Domestic Surface Mount Removable Locking Bollards

The 6” domestic surface mount removable locking bollard is most often used where security is needed temporarily or on a revolving basis. Removable bollards are best used in situations where embedded bollards aren’t ideal, such as in docking garages where trucks unload, events where unauthorized vehicles need to be blocked, and other situations where temporary or as-needed security is necessary.

Pro Traffic Supply’s lockable bollards are easily removable and surface mounted for non-permanent
usage. These 48” stainless steel bollards are made in the USA, have a welded steel dome cap, are powder coated yellow, and are lightweight & easy to install.

Customers purchasing bollards from Pro Traffic Supply can expect a well built and durable product. Removable surface mount bollards from Pro Traffic Supply lock in place at the top of the main base plate for simple assembly and tear down. Keys can be made to unlock multiple locks for bulk orders.

About Pro Traffic Supply 
Pro Traffic Supply offers affordable traffic safety supplies including machine guards, safety bollards, channelizers, delineators, traffic cones, and much more. Most of their products are manufactured in the USA and all are made from high quality and durable materials. Visit www.protrafficsupply.com or call 425-336-2711 whether you need traffic safety supplies for personal or public use.

OSHA Regulations and Bollards

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was originally created in 1970 with the purpose of increasing on the job safety by reducing injuries and illnesses. Aside from helping business owners and companies protect workers, OSHA enables companies to reduce costs associated with worker’s compensation, missed workdays, and insurance costs.

Since the inception of OSHA, total deaths in the workplace have dramatically reduced as OSHA is able to better support health and safety of businesses through their regulations. OSHA promotes safety in the workplace by:

• Implementing systems to manage health and safety 
• Providing inspections at the workplace 
• Enforcing compliance 
• Promoting educational programs 
• Supporting businesses in health and safety measures 
• Establishing reporting protocols 
• Partnering with individual states and their safety programs 

The need for traffic control is one of the many important elements in workplace safety. Installing safety bollards is a key factor in maintaining this safety and security. They are used in a variety of industries including, construction, emergency management, law enforcement, and transportation. The situation usually dictates the type of security bollards that are needed. Safety bollards are available in many varieties such as surface mount bollards, lockable bollards, and permanent embedded bollards.

Common venues for bollards are concerts or political events. Removable bollards are a great option for these types of events as they allow for easy safety and traffic control when it’s needed, and easy removal after an event.

Certain traffic bollards have OSHA requirements, and there are a variety of stainless steel bollards available that meet OSHA regulations.

Sometimes OSHA requires the bollard to be a permanent fixture, especially when they are used for security measures at a public institution or embassy. OSHA also has for the regulations to ensure compliance.
regulations that pertain to the size, weight, type, and resistance level needed for safety and security based on the intended usage. It is best to check with OSHA

About the author: Pro Traffic Supply offers a wide selection of stainless steel bollards for your traffic safety needs. Their products are durable and affordable, and they offer sleeves for both surface mount and removable bollards. Their traffic safety products can be viewed at www.protrafficsupply.com.