Some work environments are more dangerous than others. Warehousing industry has one of the highest occupational hazards rate, so the safety of the workers is one of the main priorities when running a warehouse business. Today, all warehouses need to follow rigorous standards and regulations, to ensure that safe practices are being performed on a day to day basis. Here are some of the rules that need to be followed to keep the warehouse workers safe:
Wearing personal protective equipment
Personal protective gear is not only recommended, but it’s mandatory to wear in all warehouses. Equipment like hard hats, safety goggles, gloves, shoes, and respirators are all there to neutralize the dangers in the workplace. Although they cannot prevent some of the more severe injuries, they can minimize the effects of hazards like head bumps or breathing dangerous fumes.
Usually, all warehouses will give their employees proper safety equipment upon hire, but sometimes there are cases when the workers need to obtain it themselves. Whichever it is, the employer must regularly check whether this safety gear is continuously used, and to act accordingly. If someone refuses to wear protective equipment, they should be reprimanded. It is in everyone’s best interest that all employees finish their shift safe and sound.
Knowing all safety procedures
To avoid any panic related mishaps or injuries, all warehouse employees should be aware of the safety protocols at any given time. This will ensure that every member of the staff will know what to do and where to go exactly when a hazardous situation occurs. Thus, the employer must constantly train their workers, to familiarize them with evacuation routes and protocols, the ways of communication during these stressful situations and other safety procedures. Usually, there are one or two people in charge of these protocols. They are tasked with making sure that all safety equipment, such as fire extinguishers, is up to date and that all emergency routes are easily accessible and adequately marked. In the end, they must call the emergency services if nothing else can be done.
Being aware of the surroundings
Warehouses are places of high-level activity and engagement. At any given time there are people driving forklifts, lifting pallets and heavy cargo, or running all over the place to get the job done sooner. So, when working in a warehouse, it is essential to be at your toes always and to be aware of what is going on around you. Any mistake while using such heavy machinery can easily lead to severe injuries or worse, death. To minimize the risk of such accidents, experts at Sitecraft recommend using safety equipment such as speed humps, safety gates and barriers, and mirrors. This equipment not only can save someone from a potential injury, but it serves as a reminder for everyone to be careful in the workplace.
Employees performing duties they are trained for
Warehouses can be a dangerous environment, as workers operate heavy machinery in confined spaces regularly. That’s why it is crucial that every warehouse employee performs tasks for which they have been trained or licensed. By performing duties they are not fully equipped for, they do not pose a threat only for themselves, but also for their colleagues. So, if an employee is given a task to operate a forklift, conveyor belt or lift, but they don’t know how to, it is strongly advised that they should refuse. At least, until the next chance, when they could get to enroll in training courses and obtain licenses to operate. In the best case scenario, the employer should allow his workers to go to these training sessions, and encourage them to do so, by paying the whole amount of course’s worth, or at least some part of it.
Reporting unsafe working conditions and behavior
Don’t think twice to report hazardous working conditions or risky behavior to your supervisor. Notifying your superiors should be encouraged in these types of situations, as there is absolutely no room for unsafe surroundings and performance in a warehouse. Spills that need to be cleaned up or machines that are not operating correctly are almost a daily occurrence, and should always be brought up. Workers who do not follow safety protocols, who do not wear personal protective gear or who are trying to operate machinery while not being in a condition to do so, should also be reported to the management. Employees should not feel discouraged to do so. By ignoring the facts and refusing to tell on their colleagues, they indirectly put them in danger.
Following procedures and regulations are essential when trying to keep a warehouse safe. However, a workplace is only as secure as the weakest link in the company. So, it is crucial to train employees continually and to inspire communication between them and the management. Allowing the workers to identify and report unsafe working conditions at any given time is the foundation of any successful and safe business. By following this route, you’ll notice the difference in your warehouse operations. Not only will it reduce the number of work-related injuries and illnesses, but it will simultaneously increase productivity.