Every year, numerous incidents and injuries occur in warehouses, which contain heavy machinery, large objects and hazardous materials. Fatalities in the warehouse industry have increased more than 100% since 2019.
Vector Solutions shares the following essential tips to help keep your warehouse workers safe.
- Be aware of your surroundings. Being alert regarding potential hazards and safety issues is crucial to avoiding workplace injuries. Awareness especially is key in high-traffic areas, and safety signs should be visible.
- Ensure all workers are properly trained. Training should remind workers about the safety hazards they face daily and reinforce that they stay safe because they have learned how to avoid these hazards. When workers understand the value training provides, they will take workplace safety more seriously.
- Maintain proper ergonomics and lifting techniques. Lifting a box once may not cause damage, but warehouse workers do repetitive motions that can strain the body and cause damage over long periods of time. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration provides heavy lifting techniques and guidelines to help workers avoid injury.
- Keep aisles and pathways clear of materials and debris. Clear pathways are crucial to avoiding slip and trip hazards, which are common injuries in warehouses. Keeping aisles and pathways clear also is an important part of fire safety. All emergency exits should be clearly marked and free of debris.
- Reinforce forklift safety rules. The most violated OSHA standard in warehouses is the forklift safety standard, which leads to about 95,000 workers being injured each year while operating forklifts. Be sure you are conducting forklift training and reinforcing why it is important. Ensure employees regularly inspect forklifts to meet OSHA requirements.
