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.