As the owner of a warehouse, it is your biggest priority to ensure the safety of your employees. The most common reasons for warehouse accidents are miscommunication, improper organization, shipping failures, faulty handling of forklifts, and so on.
Taking care of these things in a large space like a warehouse can be difficult and hazardous if not done properly. It’s safe to rely on fulfillment warehouse services for maintaining your warehouse while you see your business grow and keep things running smoothly.
A poorly maintained facility can lead to safety hazards, putting both employees and the surrounding community in danger. So fulfillment warehouse services are recommended if you focus on safety. Choosing a company that specializes in warehousing and fulfillment will ensure that your space is handled with the highest level of care.
Here are some tips for creating a safe environment that will keep your warehouse employees healthy and happy:
Provide Employees With Proper Training
The first thing you need to do is make sure your employees are trained properly. This is a crucial step in preventing accidents. Make sure that your workers receive the training they need in order to prevent them from unforeseen situations.
You also need to update your training as needed. If new products are introduced or the warehouse layout changes, it’s crucial that your employees be aware of these changes and know how best to handle them. It is recommended to provide on-site training from qualified professionals.
Keep Work Areas Free Of Clutter
Keep work areas free of clutter. Don’t leave stacks of boxes or other materials in the workplace. They might fall on someone and lead to severe injuries. The lighting of the warehouse is very important. Make sure the area is well-lit. If you have a warehouse with dark corners or dimly lit aisles, consider installing some additional lighting so you won’t have to worry about keeping your employees safe while working at night.
Keep floors clear of debris and dust bunnies that could cause someone to slip or fall down. You might even want to invest in floor mats if you’re worried about slippery surfaces such as oil-stained concrete floors from previous deliveries.
Slipping and falling contribute to 15% of all accidental deaths in workplaces and warehouses every year. To put things into perspective, 25% of all claims of injuries are from slips. This way, 95 million work days are lost annually. Maintaining clutter-free warehouses will help avoid such scenarios.
Create Emergency Evacuation Plans
An evacuation plan for a warehouse should include the following elements:
- Clearly marked exits: All exits should be clearly marked and easily accessible.
- Evacuation routes: There should be clearly marked evacuation routes leading to the exits. These routes should be free of obstructions and hazards.
- Assembly points: There should be designated assembly points outside of the warehouse where employees can gather after they have evacuated.
- Emergency contact information: The evacuation plan should include the names and contact information of key personnel who can be reached in case of an emergency.
- Emergency response procedures: The evacuation plan should outline the steps different staff members should take during an emergency. It includes activating the fire alarm, calling 911, and assisting any disabled or injured employees.
- Training and drills: Regular training and drills should be conducted to ensure that all employees are familiar with the evacuation plan and know what to do in the event of an emergency.
- Review and update: The evacuation plan should be reviewed and updated regularly to ensure that it remains effective and relevant.
Make Sure Employees Are Wearing Protective Gear
Employees should always make sure they’re wearing a helmet and safety glasses while on the job. If you run into any trouble with these items, don’t worry, as they are quite easy to replace with new, proper items. Your employees may also need to wear earplugs or earmuffs if their job requires them to be around loud noises for extended periods of time.
Finally, you might want your employees to wear special clothing designed specifically for factory work environments if needed.
Make Sure You Have The Right Equipment And That It Works
There are a few things that are absolutely essential to keeping your warehouse employees safe. One is the right equipment, and another is ensuring it’s in good shape. Here are some tips to help you make sure that your equipment is where it needs to be:
- Make sure whatever thing you’re using is the right one. If there’s something wrong with an employee or their clothing, they won’t be able to do their job safely or effectively. You can get in touch with the experts to have all these implemented.
- Check for any issues before using a machine or piece of machinery. Any major issue should be fixed immediately because otherwise, someone could get hurt in an accident due to faulty equipment.
Identify And Mark Hazardous Zones Clearly
Each area of your warehouse must be labeled and marked with hazard signs, while areas that are particularly dangerous may also need to be painted. These markings will help ensure that employees are aware of potential hazards, so they can avoid them and focus on their work instead.
For example, if you have an area where chemicals are stored, mark it clearly in order to reduce the risk of accidents.
Forklifts cause around 100 deaths in North America every year, and most of these are preventable with proper safety. The violations of safety measures in warehouses, especially the ones relating to forklifts, rank among the most common health safety violations.
Areas where forklifts are used should be clearly marked. This will help prevent collisions between vehicles and workers or other moving objects like pallets or racking equipment which could lead to serious injury if not managed properly.
Studies say that around 70% of all forklift-related accidents, injuries, and deaths can be prevented with proper safety policies and training. The most common cause of forklift-related deaths is over-turning which makes up for 24% of the deaths.
Conclusion
The bottom line is that the warehouse should be as safe as possible for your employees. The necessary standards need to be maintained, and it is crucial to pay heed to the suggestions of experts and safety professionals.
