Practicing warehouse safety at all times ensures the health and well-being of employees. While workplace accidents happen, when it occurs in a warehouse, they can be hazardous and even, fatal. That is why it is critical to take precautions and follow the best warehouse practices to keep everyone safe.
In this post, we have rounded up a simple list of quick and easy tips to make sure employees are not at risk while doing their day-to-day tasks in the warehouse.
1. Protective Gear
Enforce all employees in the warehouse work area to always wear proper protective clothing. Gloves, vests, masks, hard hats, eyewear, and appropriate footwear can help protect workers from potential injuries while performing their respective duties.
In addition to personal protective equipment, installing a counterbalance lift truck rear post can protect forklift operators from accidental rear-ward collisions with racking systems that may result in serious injury.
2. Aisle Safety
If you have a warehouse with numerous aisles dedicated to both pedestrian and moving goods, be sure to put proper etiquette in place to ensure the safety of the employees and the prevention of accidents. Think of a warehouse aisle as a busy street or an intersection. Train and remind employees to always stay alert, especially when going around corners, and look both ways before crossing. You can also put large signs or paint stripes on the floor to indicate if the area is for vehicle or pedestrian traffic.
3. Keeping the Warehouse Clean
Cleanliness and organization help boost safety and efficiency in the warehouse. Be sure to clear the aisles and walkways from debris and potential trip hazards. Taping down power cords and hoses not only ensures cleanliness but also accident avoidance.
Place tapes, rugs, paint, and other anti-slip materials and putting warning signages, such as the wet floor sign, on the aisle can also help protect pedestrians from slipping or falling accidents.
4. Visible Warning Signage
Loading docks are one of the many areas in the warehouse where accidents can frequently happen. Put warning signs and mark the edges of the docks with bright-coloured tapes to provide the employees with clear visuals of where to stand and put merchandise.
5. Employee Training
During the onboarding process, provide employees with rigorous safety training in warehouse best practices. Also, safety consultants from Oshawa recommend employers should also offer refresher sessions through continuing education programs. It is also important to assign certified employees to head projects that involve forklift driving, heavy lifting, and hazardous materials.
6. Maintaining Equipment
Warehouse operation heads should be responsible for developing a solid plan of action whenever a machine or equipment breaks down or malfunctions. Be sure to reinforce a documented maintenance schedule routine for all machinery and equipment to ensure their optimal performance and function.
Create a culture that encourages employees to immediately report any equipment damage to alert their supervisors. Perform a regular inspection of pallets and racking systems to determine if they need replacements or minor fixes.
7. Installing Safety Barriers
Safety gates and barriers help ensure a safer warehouse environment. They can be used to direct forklift and pedestrian traffic at the same time, as well as for designating routes of the highest safety or efficiency throughout the warehouse area. Install barriers in neon colour to help ensure visibility and alert both pedestrians and forklift operators.
As a responsible employer, keeping your warehouse safe at all times should be among your top concerns to prevent accidents that may lead to serious injuries or even death. Cultivate and encourage a culture of caution and safety to ensure minimal risk of accidents, as well as the security and efficiency of your work environment. The best warehouse safety practices can also save you from costly legal actions filed by a personal injury lawyer in Peterborough.
