Pedestrian Proximity Alarms in Warehousing New Zealand: Protecting People Where Movement Never Stops

Executive Summary

Warehousing and logistics are the backbone of New Zealand’s economy, connecting products, ports, and people across the country. But they are also among our most dangerous work environments. Forklifts, delivery vehicles, and pedestrians share tight, fast-moving spaces where one moment of poor visibility can change lives.

According to WorkSafe New Zealand, vehicle-related incidents continue to be one of the leading causes of fatal and serious injuries nationwide. In 2024, transport, postal, and warehousing accounted for the highest number of worker fatalities in the country.¹ Many of these incidents occurred in industrial sites and distribution centres designed for throughput rather than separation.

This paper explores the causes behind pedestrian–vehicle collisions, outlines regulatory obligations under New Zealand’s Health and Safety at Work Act (2015), and explains how intelligent pedestrian proximity alarms are helping Kiwi worksites move from reactive compliance to proactive prevention.

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1. The Scale of the Problem

Vehicle interactions remain one of the highest-risk activities in any New Zealand workplace. Despite advances in PPE, signage, and operator training, the number of near misses in warehouse and freight operations continues to rise as demand for faster delivery intensifies. Many of these incidents share familiar traits:

• Forklifts operating within mixed pedestrian zones.
• Limited physical separation between aisles, staging areas, and loading docks.
• A high proportion of casual, agency, or contract workers unfamiliar with site protocols.
  

The result is an environment that relies heavily on driver attention and communication, two factors most vulnerable to fatigue and pressure.

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2. HSAW (2015): Treat Every Vehicle as a Workplace

Under New Zealand’s Health and Safety at Work (2015) legislation, every piece of mobile plant used for work is treated as part of the workplace, bringing a full range of duties for employers, PCBUs, and officers.² Those duties include:

• Conducting formal risk assessments for all vehicle operations, including visiting and contractor fleets.
• Implementing traffic management plans that clearly separate vehicles and pedestrians wherever practicable.
• Providing training and supervision tailored to vehicle-related hazards.
• Integrating technology to improve visibility and detection.
• Monitoring supply chain pressure that might drive unsafe behaviour.
  

Failure to manage these risks can expose both organisations and company directors to serious legal and financial consequences.

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3. The Visibility Gap: Why Pedestrians Are Still Being Struck

Even with compliance measures in place, investigations show recurring root causes:
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A. Poor Traffic Management

• Warehouse layouts frequently evolve without updated safety design. Expanded storage areas and temporary racking can turn once-safe walkways into shared vehicle paths.
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B. Lack of Visibility

• Forklift masts, stacked pallets, and narrow aisles restrict operator vision. Even with mirrors or cameras, visibility is often compromised by lighting conditions, reflective surfaces, or blind intersections.
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C. Inadequate Risk Assessment

• Dynamic operations demand dynamic reviews. Yet many workplaces rely on outdated risk assessments that fail to account for seasonal changes, visitor access, or altered workflow patterns.
  

D. Supply Chain Pressure

• Tight delivery schedules and productivity demands drive rushed behaviour. Time pressure is consistently cited by WorkSafe NZ as a contributing factor in serious forklift incidents.

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4. How Pedestrian Proximity Alarms Close the Gap

Pedestrian proximity alarms are reshaping how New Zealand worksites manage mobile plant risk. SonaSafe Lite+ provides a real-time, engineered layer of protection that complements administrative and behavioural controls. Using sonar and radio frequency detection, the system identifies pedestrians and other vehicles around mobile plant, instantly alerting both the operator and the pedestrian when an unsafe interaction occurs.

Key Functions in a Warehouse Setting

• Detection in blind zones: Sensors “see” through and around pallets, racking, and loads where human visibility fails.
• Configurable zones: Warning and stop distances can be set to match each site’s layout, aisle width, and vehicle type.
• Dual alerts: Drivers and pedestrians receive simultaneous visual and audio warnings when exclusion zones are breached.
• Dynamic adjustment: Detection zones automatically expand or contract based on speed and direction of travel, maintaining safety without interrupting workflow.
  

This intelligent configuration reduces false alerts and builds operator confidence, critical for long-term adoption and performance.

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5. Integrating Alarms into a Complete Safety Strategy

Technology alone isn’t enough. The most effective warehouses combine smart systems with structured processes and leadership engagement. Best practice includes:

• Comprehensive traffic management plans reviewed and updated as operations evolve.
• Ongoing training to ensure every worker, including contractors and visitors, understands what alerts mean and how to respond.
• Continuous monitoring of near misses through cloud-based dashboards.
• Data-driven leadership decisions, using real incident trends to redesign layouts and justify investment.
  

SonaSafe’s connected platform provides 24/7 reporting and visual analytics, turning each alert into measurable insight.

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6. Managing Supply Chain Pressure

Safety performance is inseparable from operational reality. Tight delivery windows, driver shortages, and rising throughput targets create constant stress that can erode safe habits. By automating detection and alerting, SonaSafe Lite+ relieves some of that cognitive load. Operators and pedestrians can move confidently, knowing that the system continuously scans their surroundings to prevent collisions, allowing teams to stay efficient without compromising protection.

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7. Building a Safer Future for New Zealand Warehousing

New Zealand’s logistics and industrial sectors are growing rapidly, but so too are the expectations of compliance and care. Pedestrian proximity alarms are no longer optional; they are fast becoming a cornerstone of responsible operations under the Health and Safety at Work Act (2015). By improving visibility, reducing false alerts, and creating actionable safety data, SonaSafe Lite+ empowers Kiwi businesses to build a culture where safety and performance work hand in hand.

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➡️ Learn how SonaSafe Lite+ helps New Zealand warehouses reduce near misses and protect people where movement never stops. Book a demo or contact our team