A safety system and associated methods of operation, for detecting an object on a pathway and reporting to a user information relating to the object to help the user avoid a collision with the object. The safety system includes a first sensor system for detecting the presence of the user and a second sensor system for detecting the object within the pathway. Upon detection of the object, the second sensor system obtains information relating to the object and generates a signal based on the obtained information. The signal is received by a reporting system, which generates a warning signal to communicate the object information to the user. The object information may include a location of the object on the pathway and an identification of the object for the user.