Facility Design: Traffic Patterns for Increasing Safety and Efficiency Design of traffic patterns for the operating center effects two important aspects of program: (1) safety of participants and guests; and, (2) efficiency of staff and associated labor costs. Traffic patterns involve all aspects of the center, and should be designed for management of vehicles, movement of horses, client traffic, and all staff procedures. VEHICLE TRAFFIC Traffic patterns for vehicles include the layout of driveways, location of parking areas, accessibility of drive and parking to facility entrances, and procedures regarding right of ways. HORSE TRAFFIC Traffic patterns for horses include moving them to and from the teaching areas, grooming and tacking up procedures, arena directions, and turn-out. CLIENT TRAFFIC Traffic patterns for clients, families, and guests include check-in protocols, waiting areas, supervision standards, movement to and from the teaching areas, and observation areas. STAFF TRAFFIC Traffic patterns for staff include employee parking, office and barn movement, procedures for horse care and stable chores, and procedures covering staff work with horses and clients. The creation of optimal traffic patterns is part of the process for new facility design. Developing traffic patterns concurrent with the layout of a new facility is ideal. However, the benefits of good traffic patterns are also available for centers using existing facilities. Designing the best patterns is somewhat more difficult using an existing facility because fewer options are available. This presentation will show slides of existing facilities together with facility layout drawings to demonstrate how to design the best traffic patterns for each of the four areas of concern. Discussion of both the safety benefit and the labor efficiency are included in the evaluation. Operating centers who wish to participate may submit
slides and layout drawings of their physical plant to the presenters in advance. |