Working in a warehouse can be delicate work and requires a cautious demeanor to ensure everyone upholds safety regulations. Knowing how to keep safe while in the warehouse maintains the wellbeing of workers on the floor, prevents severe damage to equipment and inventory, and keeps the reputation of your warehouse in good standing. To facilitate productivity and foster a safe work environment, and keep warehouse visitors safe, follow the basics of warehouse safety.
Vehicle Safety
Vehicles such as forklifts can pose a major risk to rack systems and workers alike. Improper use of such vehicles can result in the destruction of inventory, serious bodily injury, and even death in the worst of circumstances.
Prevent the Worst From happening
To maintain the continued safe use of vehicles, limit the number of vehicle operators to a select few who have the proper training. Establish speed limits throughout your warehouse and follow up on disciplinary action for those who break the rules.
Pallets and Racking
Pallets easily contain your warehouse’s inventory, and your racks keep those pallets organized and safe. But that is only when workers observe the proper safety measures. If everyone ignores safety regulations, it can lead to the collapse of racking systems.
Know the Limits
Every rack has a weight limit, and it’s easy to exceed this when storing materials without keeping track of the weight. Have clearly posted signs that state the maximum limit on the rack levels. Keep up with adequate maintenance of racks and do not substitute necessary parts with ill-fitting or mismatched components. That will only weaken the support structure and lead to disaster.
Quality of Pallets
Always instruct employees to inspect every pallet before use to see if there are any loose nails or splintered wood. It’s important to know how to determine if a pallet is not suitable for use. Using faulty pallets can mean that they fall apart in transit or while on racks, damaging inventory and posing a falling debris hazard.
Fall Hazards
One of the most common safety risks in the warehouse, identifying and eliminating slipping and tripping hazards is one of the most crucial safety prevention techniques you can establish.
Slipping hazards occur when there is liquid present on walking surfaces that reduces the friction between a worker’s footwear and the floor. Tripping hazards are obstacles on the ground that cause an employee to lose their balance and fall.
Have Solutions Available
If there is a problem with clutter along aisles or liquid spills, have a clean-up station that is readily available and easy to use. You can greatly reduce falling risks by cleaning up a slipping or tripping hazard right away; don’t wait to contact a cleaning crew. For larger spills that an employee can’t immediately clean, have easily available signage for them to place to warn others of the risk.
Proactive Safety
You must work to preempt these safety risks before they happen. Audit your current safety procedures and see if they are adequate to keep up with the demands of the warehouse.