Where people and vehicles mix, there’s always a risk — and in workplaces across New Zealand, that mix is more common than many realise.
Whether you’re managing a large infrastructure site or running a small retail business with deliveries at the back door, powered mobile equipment (PME) and pedestrian separation is a real safety issue that deserves attention.
What is PME?
Powered Mobile Equipment (PME) refers to any equipment or vehicle that moves under its own power, not physical effort. This includes forklifts, front-end loaders, trucks, utes, cars, bobcats, scissor lifts, and more. PME is often essential to getting the job done — but it can also be a serious hazard if people are nearby and proper controls aren’t in place.
Why It Matters
PME and pedestrian incidents are often severe, and they’re not limited to high-risk industries. Accidents have occurred in warehouses, supermarkets, loading bays, mill yards, and even retail yards and shops. These are preventable events — and they often happen when there’s no clear separation between people and machines, or when the risk hasn’t been properly thought through.
What Good Looks Like
Managing PME and pedestrian risk doesn’t need to be complex — but it does need to be deliberate. Leading workplaces follow a few key steps:
Where complete separation isn’t possible, clear rules, communication, and visible controls are vital. For example, pedestrians and operators may both need to stop, make eye contact, and confirm it’s safe to proceed — especially in loading areas, near blind spots, or in shared spaces.
A Risk for Everyone
This isn’t just a large-site problem. Even a small store receiving deliveries could be at risk if forklifts or vehicles reverse near people, or if workers and the public walk through these areas.
The Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 requires all PCBUs to eliminate or minimise these risks so far as is reasonably practicable. WorkSafe has prosecuted several businesses — large and small — where workers were injured by PME due to missing or ineffective controls.
How Lakes Safety Services Can Help
We help businesses of all sizes build practical, sensible systems that work — from traffic plans and PME competency frameworks to signage, SOPs, and worker training. If you’re unsure whether your site is safe, we’ll help you find out.
When people and machines work together, the system must protect the people. Let’s make sure it does.
2024 must be year of improvement for NZ’s high workplace harm toll, after another year of flatlining safety performance for New Zealand’s workers, businesses and communities, it’s imperative 2024 signals the start of a turnaround. The business leaders health and safety forum media release is attached below, its worth a quick read. https://www.forum.org.nz/news/2024-ny-turnaround/
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At Lakes Safety Services, we specialise in high-risk work safety, with a particular focus on working at heights. Our expert health and safety consultancy strictly adheres to the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, WorkSafe NZ guidelines, AS/NZS standards, and NZQA unit standards. By integrating these requirements into our practices, we ensure robust safety […]
With over 25 years of real-world experience, Lakes Safety Services provides practical health and safety consultancy, coaching, and support across Taupō and the Central North Island. We specialise in solutions that fit your people, tasks, and risks — not just checklists. From technical systems and governance advice to contractor management and SafePlus assessments, we help you build safer workplaces with confidence.