Does OSHA Require Safety Bollards?

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration was created in 1970 by an act of Congress. Its mission is to set and enforce safety standards to ensure working conditions that are safe and healthful for employees and to minimize hazards that employees could be exposed to in the workplace. Sometimes, this requires the installation of security equipment, such as safety bollards.

Bollards and Their Uses

Most people have probably seen bollards before but not known what they were called. Some people refer to them by a more generic term, such as “traffic barriers.” A bollard is a vertical post that is short and sturdy used for security to prevent vehicles from crashing into buildings or pedestrian areas. The word appears to derive from “bole,” a Middle English term referring to the trunk of a tree, though today’s bollards are typically made of steel. The first recorded use of “bollard” in English was in the mid-1700s. However, bollards themselves have existed in one form or another since the 1600s.

Methods of Testing Different Types of Bollards

There are two different types of bollards. Originally, a bollard was a post installed into the shore alongside a wharf to allow sailors to tie up boats and ships. The word is still used in this respect, but because ships of today tend to be much larger and made of heavier materials than the ships of the past, the bollards have to be much sturdier and stronger. Testing bollards to make sure they can stand up to the stress is important.

Product Spotlight: DSC720-1M Tall High Security Bollards

The highest crash-rated bollard that we offer at Delta Scientific is the DSC720. With a crash rating of K-12, its height of 35 inches is sufficient to stop most large vehicles. However, in Europe and the Middle East, truck cabs are taller than in the United States. Because these taller models can be top-heavy, they may tumble over standard bollards and cause damage even after bringing the vehicle to a halt.

Overview of Permanent High-Security Solutions From Delta Scientific

Different types of facilities have different security needs. Facilities where dangerous or critical operations take place, such as government facilities, power plants, warehouses, or airports, need a greater level of protection. Delta Scientific offers a range of high-security products to meet the unique needs of your establishment. Here is an overview of our permanent high-security solutions.

The Future of Outdoor Dining After the Pandemic

Designing a secure location can be a challenge, but having to do so in the midst of a bustling metropolis poses even bigger issues. Along with needing to keep the building and its occupants safe from vehicular and personal intrusion, architects will also have to keep the local population in mind. While redesigning and adding to their second corporate headquarters, these are exactly the problems Amazon has to face in Arlington, VA. Fortunately, the company has an excellent model that integrates state-of-the-art security with a park-like landscape.

How Security Bollards Can Help Keep Eyes on the Street in Pedestrian Areas

Journalist Jane Jacobs developed the concept of “eyes on the street” as it relates to public safety over 50 years ago. The theory holds that pedestrians tend to feel safe in public places that attract a lot of people because the crowds perform informal surveillance of the area and can draw attention to any potential threats. According to the theory, to draw the necessary numbers of pedestrians to keep “eyes on the street,” the public space and the area around it must be accessible and attractive.

Bollards Provide Aesthetically Pleasing Protection to Public Buildings

The last six years have seen an alarming trend, both in the United States and abroad, in terroristic attacks using motor vehicles as weapons. These attacks have involved cars and trucks barrelling into large crowds, pedestrian areas, and college campuses. Potentially any soft target, such as sports stadiums, community centers, and government buildings, could see a vehicular attack.