How Safe Is Your Warehouse?

Warehouses are some of the most dangerous places to work in, with a high number of fatalities and accidents reported in warehouses around the world. Clearly, ensuring safety in a warehouse is of utmost importance. So what can you do to make sure your warehouse is up to the highest safety standards? Let’s find out.

Implement Vehicle Safety

Accidents involving vehicles is one of the major causes of workplace injuries in warehouses. If you have well-established vehicle safety rules and your staff follows them diligently, you have a safe warehouse in this regard. Some important vehicle safety rules are: 

• Only the staff members who received practical training should operate forklifts.
• Speed limits should be maintained at all times. The ideal limit for forklifts is 5mph.
• Staff should avoid reversing the vehicles
• There must be proper visibility for drivers of forklifts
• Rash driving shouldn’t be allowed
• Aisles should be free of obstructions at all times.
• Inspection and maintenance of vehicles should take place regularly.
• Driver safety notices and signs should be put up to watch out for hazards, pedestrians, etc.
• The floor should be even and kept clean to avoid slippery surfaces.

Avoid Falls, Trips And Slips

• The warehouse should be kept clean and organized
• There should be relevant warning signs throughout the warehouse
• Anti-slip paint should be used to minimize the slip quality of the floor surface
• Anti-slip tape is also useful for stairs and other areas where using anti-slip pain isn’t possible
• Industrial grade cord covers must be used if there are cables running across the floor.
• Staff should receive training to work at heights, including ladders and tall storage units.

Improve Ergonomics and Material Handling

• Workers must adhere to the maximum safe working load of any material handling device. Doing this avoids the risk of strain, which can lead to the load falling off or equipment breaking down
• Staff must be properly trained for manual material handling safety procedures. They must limit lifting heavy weights manually and use appropriate handling techniques to minimize strain.
• Chains and hooks must be used and stored properly. If not used properly,  the links of the chains can show signs of cracks, bending, or rusting. Chains should be inspected regularly for any issues or deformities

Personal Protective Equipment

• The staff must be provided with necessary protective gear according to the tasks they perform.
• Staff must use the protective gear at all times mandatorily. If employees work without it, any uncontrolled hazard might pose big risks.
• Equipment such as hard hats or helmets, safety shoes, eye protection, gloves and hearing protection are necessary.

Pallet and Racking Safety

• Staff should be adequately trained to load pallets safely
• Workers should follow the safe stacking height and weight capacity as specified by the equipment provider.
• Pallets should be checked before use as they should be free of loose nails, broken surfaces, cracks, or other issues.
• Workers should never climb, lean on, or walk over pallets or racking. 
• Employees must never use pallets or forklifts to access heights. Ladders are appropriate for that purpose.
  
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