In movies, cartoons and comedy shows, you often see those signs that state “x number of days without an accident” and then someone gets hurt in a silly way and they change the number to zero.
In the real world, warehouse safety is no laughing matter. Warehouses can be hazardous places, and workers can be seriously injured if they are not following safety precautions.
Many work-related can be avoided with the precautions in place. So, before your next day of warehouse work takes place, make sure you know how hazards can be avoided in your warehouse.
The Banana Peel Effect
Slips and trips are some of the most common workplace accidents that can occur. It’s important to take time every day to survey the warehouse floors and clean up any debris, water or document any areas that may need repair in the coming days.
Some specific things to keep an eye out for include loose materials, liquids, sawdust, uneven flooring, cracks in the surface of flooring, boxes that are out of place, dark areas and other suspicious elements that may affect a person walking through the warehouse.
By taking the time to do this daily, and also train your warehouse staff to locate and clean up anything that’s out of place, you’ll prevent the majority of slips from happening in your warehouse.
Watching Out for More Than One Kind of Fall
Often, when thinking about workplace hazards, falling from an elevated place is one of the most commonly injuries thought of. A few months ago, we shared a guide for how-to fall safely in the warehouse. You can read that here.
But, there’s another type of fall that can be a common hazard in a warehouse: falling objects.
It’s important when stacking pallets and boxes on warehouse shelves and dock boards, that all items are placed on flat surfaces and stacked securely. This will help avoid boxes and other objects from falling.
However, it’s also important to train all warehouse employees to remain aware at all times, so they watch for potential falling objects and can react quickly in the event that something does fall.
What other hazards do you watch out for in your warehouses? What suggestions do you have for training employees to watch out for and react to workplace hazards?
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