As the online eCommerce market keeps growing and consumers keep hitting the ‘buy’ button at increasing frequencies, warehouses are going to become more and more ubiquitous.
In fact, according to JLL, 1 billion square feet of extra warehouse space will be required in the United States by 2025. That’s a lot of warehouse space, and that’s a lot more safety hazards that need to be accounted for.
The most common warehouse hazards relate to tripping, falling, and slipping, which account for 15% of accidental deaths, and 25% of injury claims.
The other most common are injuries due to reaching, pulling, pushing, lifting, and forklift accidents. If you are worried about warehouse safety hazards, read on to see how you can prevent the most common ones.
Train Your Employees in Safe Machinery and Equipment Handling
Your employees are going to be the most affected by any safety hazards or accidents, so they are the ones who should be trained first, to increase warehouse safety.
They need to receive training in proper job-related equipment and machinery handling. They also need to be taught the safe way to lift and handle heavy boxes to avoid back injuries.
Use the Right Safety Equipment Always Without Fail
There is a tendency to get lazy about using safety equipment as time goes on. Doing regular checks to ensure that all employees are still using safety equipment as outlined by the manufacturer is crucial.
Conduct Regular Safety Inspections to Ensure Safeguards Are in Place
Your warehouse is a fluid, constantly changing beast, that needs checking upon as frequently as you check your vacation days. Make safety inspections a regular part of the month, so that everyone knows to prepare for them.
Encourage Employees to Report Any Safety Hazards They Notice
Your employees are on the ground all the time. They are going to be more aware of any warehouse hazards that might crop up or any falling or slipping hazards that might show up.
Encourage them, with bonuses or other incentives, to report any safety hazards they might notice. The earlier you can catch a safety hazard, the faster you can fix it, and avoid any unnecessary injuries.
Conduct Risk Assessments
You want to be proactive in keeping a check on safety hazards rather than reactive. It’s easy to fix things in hindsight, but what you want to do is do a regular risk assessment, so you can gauge the future and avoid potential hazards.
For example, forklift accidents are one of the most common safety hazards. So, consider electronic brakes for your forklifts to ease the effect of this potential issue.
Warehouse Safety Tips Will Keep Your Employees in Tip-Top Shape
Safety hazards and warehouses shouldn’t go together like Amazon and free shipping.
With proper risk assessment and forward-thinking, you will be able to avoid most safety hazards. And keep your warehouse an employee-friendly space.
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