If all the people waiting for bags at the airport would just stand back one meter from the belt, the entire process would be a great deal easier. Picture it: You are all standing back, so you can see what is coming down the belt. When you see your item, you step forward and haul it out (without hitting anyone) and then exit the area so others can see what's coming next.
I don't know why airports don't have a little red line on the floor with instructions to "stand back from the belt" and to "move forward only to check or claim an item."