Have you considered storing your freight inside a warehouse, yet were not entirely convinced as to the safety of your products? It’s easy to wonder, “Is warehousing safe?” These concerns are valid whether you are anxious about product damage, theft, accidental misplacement, or even employee liability and injuries. Warehousing offers many positive benefits for various industries. However, you will only reap these benefits if all safety measures are met. This article will discuss warehousing hazards, warehouse safety regulations, and best safety tips for your warehouse management activities.
What Is Warehouse Safety?
Warehouse safety refers to regulatory guidelines within each industry type to encourage safe working environments and behaviors in warehouses for personnel. OSHA serves as the governing body which ensures warehouse health and safety. Essential aspects involved in maintaining a safe working environment inside a warehouse include the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), fire and chemical safety procedures, proper operation and maintenance of equipment, and efficient handling of products.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports about 16 fatalities yearly in U.S. warehouses, so warehousing can pose risks for staff and storage. When choosing to warehouse your products, it is crucial to know warehouse hazards to employees and products.
OSHA Regulations Inside a Warehouse
The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) acts as the governing body for warehouse safety regulations. Given OSHA has not provided any specific warehousing mandates, we categorize safety and operations inside a warehouse under general industry standards:
- Emergency Action Plans (EAP) – All warehouse owners must have detailed plans outlining employee actions in case of fires or emergencies.
- Fire Safety – If more than 10 employees are present in a warehouse, it must have a written fire prevention plan available to all employees.
- Exit Routes – At least two emergency exit routes must reside inside a warehouse. These exits should meet all OSHA hazard standards and inspections for safeguards and operational features.
- Hazard Communication – Warehouses should prepare written hazard communication programs for employees exposed to hazardous chemicals.
- Medical and First Aid – Operators must provide medical and first aid supplies necessary to treat injuries from warehouse hazards such as falling racks, major equipment accidents, or faulty pallet racks.
Measuring Warehouse Safety
Before identifying hazards inside a warehouse, you must first measure present warehouse safety. How safe are your current practices, equipment, and warehouse safety measures? You can track your current safety by assessing these areas:
- Incidents and Injuries – Incidents and injuries inside a warehouse are the quickest ways to gather warehouse safety metrics.
- Employee Feedback – Gather employee input to assess ways to increase warehouse safety.
- Lost Time – Every employee injury, debris spill, or damaged equipment leads to lost time. Lost time means a decrease in profits. Avoid revenue loss by ensuring warehouse safety measures for all aspects inside a warehouse.
- Lifting Intensity – Lifting items that weigh too much can cause minor or severe injury. To avoid overloading your employees, set a weight-lifting threshold.
Warehouse Safety Hazards
There are several primary safety hazards inside a warehouse. To ensure warehouse safety, perform regular OSHA hazard prevention inspections. Additionally, keep in mind the following potential warehousing hazards.
Forklifts
Forlifts are critical to a well-functioning storage facility, yet incorrect operation can lead to serious employee injury and damage to industrial goods. In fact, there are about 100 employee deaths and 5,000 injuries yearly while operating forklifts inside a warehouse. To prevent injury, have employees complete certified training and perform daily equipment inspections before use.
Docks
To prevent pinned or crushed personnel between a forklift and a loading dock, forklift operators should drive slowly, check support loads and height clearance, and place warning signs around signs signaling heavy load equipment around the area.
Conveyors
Industries use conveyer equipment for transporting goods to and from various warehouses. Warehouse safety for converter equipment involves safeguarding equipment between the conveyer and worker while keeping up with equipment maintenance.
Materials Storage
The improper loading of materials can cause slip and trip hazards for employees. To promote safety inside a warehouse, keep aisles clear with slip-free flooring. Place heavier loads on lower shelves, and do not try to transport items in bulk at once.
Manual Lifting and Handling
Manually lifting and handling inside a warehouse causes a majority of employee injuries. As this is one of the most common causes of injuries – due to incorrect lifting posture, repetitive motion, and overexertion – ensure warehouse safety through the following:
- Reduce risk to the employee by implementing lifting techniques or equipment use policies.
- Train employees to become hyper-aware of their posture during manual lifting. Have employees lift especially heavy products in pairs.
Best Safety Tips in Warehouse Operations
Depending on the industry, businesses must follow specific safety rules to reduce the risk of potential hazards to employees. Employees should follow specific warehouse safety rules to promote a secure working environment. Here are a few warehouse safety tips when operating a warehouse.
Reinforce Ergonomic Practices
With all the heavy lifting and transportation of products via heavy equipment, warehouses should receive proper training in lifting procedures to avoid liability or injury. Develop a warehouse safety program to ensure appropriate ergonomics – efficiency in the workplace. All employees should maintain good posture and be trained in protective lifting techniques.
Maintain Appropriate Fire Safety Measures
When operating a warehouse, you should have fire alarms, sprinklers, extinguishers, and any other regulated safety equipment inside a warehouse. In addition, ensure you provide proper training for your employees. Although employees might be well versed in heavy-loading equipment, they might need to become more familiar with protective equipment—schedule training sessions and inspections monthly to promote knowledgeable employees and safe warehousing operations.
Reduce the Dangers of Sharp Objects
One of our top safety tips in warehouse management – reduce the risk of injury from sharp objects and cutting. Workers handle many tasks, including packing and unpacking, lifting heavy objects, and operating equipment with metal or sharp edges. To prevent serious injury, enforce the use of proper PPE and safety equipment while also providing training in proper cutting techniques.
Heavy Weight Transport Provides Secure Warehouses
Knowing safety tips in warehouse management allows industries to identify hazards and prevent employee injury. On the flip side, business owners must remain knowledgeable of warehouse safety procedures to monitor owned or rented warehouse facilities. Heavy Weight Transport follows all warehouse safety procedures – regularly updating them according to OSHA standards – and offers secure warehousing for your products.
Maintaining the highest levels of safety and security for your warehousing and freight transportation is always a top priority with Heavy Weight Transport. When you need safe and reliable warehousing and other transportation services, we offer convenient cross-dock warehouses and terminals, as well as offerings for short-term or long-term storage, so you never have to worry about quality, efficient storage and shipping of your valuable freight. We also work to maintain the highest safety standards with GPA location capabilities for all of our transport vehicles. It’s impactful and ultimately essential to have continual visibility of your shipments. Our technology, heavy weight drayage, and other shipping services can keep your warehousing safe and running with the highest efficiency. If you’re interested in warehousing your goods, contact Heavy Weight Transport for secure, reliable, and cost-effective warehousing.
