Warehouse Safety - 5 Important Things To Keep In Mind

Warehouse safety should always be the number one concern of any employer. Warehouses can present a myriad of dangers to employees that should be confronted and resolved whenever they are found. If you would like to improve your workplace environment to reduce the risk of accidents or injuries, there are a number of things you as an employer can do. Take a few moments to review 5 important aspects of improving warehouse safety that everyone should know.

1. Provide Employee Training on Safe Lifting Practices

All employees should be provided with proper training regarding how to safely lift heavy materials without causing personal injuries. Lift materials with the legs and avoid twisting the upper body when carrying a load. If a pallet or box is too heavy, encourage workers to use a forklift or ask for assistance from co-workers. To reduce the risk of back injury caused by lifting altogether, it is best to arrange inventory in such a way that it does not require considerable effort to lift and remove items.

2. Invest in Anti-Slip Industrial Floor Mats

Anti-Slip industrial floor mats can prevent a number of accidents from happening in a warehouse environment. Not only will these mats work to alleviate slips if water or wet materials come in contact with the floor, but the comfortable ergonomics of these mats will make it much more comfortable for employees to work on their feet for extended periods of time. The amount of stress that constant walking, lifting and standing can do to the feel in a warehouse can become very painful for many. Reducing this stress and fatigue in any way will go a long way to minimize the chances of a serious injury occurring.

3. Ensure Adequate Lighting is Provided at All Times

Naturally, it is vital that all employees have plenty of light to perform their work efficiently and avoid making errors in the workplace. Always replace lights that have fizzled out immediately and consider investing in halogen bulbs for longer live span than incandescent bulbs.

4. Keep Aisles Clean and Free of Obstructions

Any trash, spills or debris in the aisles of the warehouse should be cleaned up right away. Trash and other materials can easily pose a safety hazard for anyone walking by or operating machinery. Make it a point to perform clean-up several times during every shift to ensure there are no obstacles that could potentially cause an injury of an employee.

5. Use Best Safety Practices When Operating Forklifts and Machinery

Forklifts and other forms of warehouse machinery should always be operated with extreme care. Only fully qualified and certified professionals should be given permission to operate with forklifts. Seatbelts should always be worn in forklifts should never travel in excess of 5 miles per hour. Any damaged forklifts should be kept off limits until repairs can be done and the batteries should always be fully charged before the beginning of each work day. Forklift drivers should also be fully trained on the dangers of carbon monoxide fumes and the warehouse should be well ventilated to improve indoor air quality for all employees. Any individuals who do not abide by all warehouse machinery safety regulations should be reprimanded to discourage breaches in workplace safety protocols from occurring in the future.

By incorporating warehouse safety practices like these at your place of business you can drastically reduce the chances that an injury or accident will happen. Take the time to invest in preventative countermeasures  like these and ongoing training for employees to make your warehouse a much more comfortable, safer work environment for everyone.