Customer Success Story: Forklift Impact Protection in Chemical Plant
Location: West Virginia chemical manufacturing plant.
Pain Point:
A steel guard rail, damaged by repeated forklift impacts, could no longer protect the structural support column effectively.
Plant’s Challenge:
Prompt replacement of damaged column protection was needed to maintain safe, consistent plastic production and prevent costly building damage.
The Challenge’s Impact On Day-to-Day Operation:
Day-to-day operations depend on the support column that sustains the building roof and provides a staging area for plastic materials before shipment. If a forklift strikes this column, it can lead to structural failure, risk of injury, and interruptions in production. Protecting both operator safety and structural integrity is essential to ensure reliable, efficient plant operations.
BIG Solution: Polymer Column Guards Protect Vital Support in High-Traffic Area
At a chemical manufacturing plant in West Virginia, a structural support column located in a busy staging area faced constant impact risk from forklift traffic. The steel guard rail originally installed to protect it had become bent and damaged from repeated collisions, rendering it ineffective. The risk was significant—if a forklift struck the unprotected column, it could compromise the building’s structural integrity, threaten worker safety, and disrupt critical plastic production operations.
To resolve the issue, the plant contacted Banks Industrial Group for a reliable, long-term solution. BIG recommended and supplied an A-SAFE iFlex Double Rail Column Guard with an eFlex Fork Guard for added low-level protection. These advanced polymer safety barriers are engineered to absorb and dissipate impact energy, flexing on collision and reforming to their original shape—unlike steel, which bends permanently and transfers shock into the floor and surrounding structure.
The plant’s team easily installed the A-SAFE system themselves without specialized tools or downtime. The bright, high-visibility guards now provide clear visual guidance to forklift operators and durable impact resistance that protects both the column and surrounding floor from damage.
By choosing A-SAFE through Banks Industrial Group, the customer gained a safer, smarter, and more cost-effective alternative to traditional steel barriers. The flexible system reduces long-term maintenance, eliminates the need for repainting, and significantly lowers the risk of structural damage and injury in a high-risk zone.
A-SAFE Barriers are flexible and reform after impact for repeat use.
Banks Industrial Group is a trusted provider of A-SAFE safety systems for industrial environments. Please contact us today via email or by calling 856-687-2227 to learn how polymer safety barriers can improve protection, compliance, and uptime at your facility.