Statistics indicate that warehouse work is risky. As such, warehouse safety cannot be emphasized enough.
Employers are responsible for providing a safe environment for their employees and creating necessary rules and regulations. As a warehouse worker, you are to follow all instituted safety to protect yourself and your colleagues from the safety hazards that abound.
We bring you the best tips for ensuring warehouse safety from experts at The Center for Occupational Health.
The tips in this article address different forms of activities and are divided into two major groups: working environment and habits, and loading, health, and work ability.
Working Environment and Habits
- Follow all established rules and instructions to ensure optimal safety and discuss all safety issues with the appropriate supervisor.
- Adopt proper housekeeping measures such as cleaning spilled materials and keeping the break room tidy to ensure cleanliness and orderliness.
- Handle loads according to established measures such as placing the heaviest items at the bottom and paying attention to the packing materials when stacking.
- Lift and handle manual loads according to your physical capacity.
- Opt for powered lifting equipment and always go for ramps.
- Apply proper lifting techniques and incorporate measures such as planning the route and using lifting aids.
- Understand and follow all mechanical lifting instructions.
- Avoid creating hazards such as climbing shelves and driving forklifts in areas of heavy traffic.
- Stick to lifting personnel with appropriate tools and avoid transporting personnel with a forklift.
- Always confirm the condition of tools and machinery before applying them in a workplace.
- Be open to receiving feedback from employees on the state of machines and equipment.
- Provide appropriate PPE and workwear for all kinds of tasks.
- Discuss PPE issues with employers and supervisors.
- Learn about the safety instructions for all chemicals and equipment.
- Create as many emergency exits as you require to ensure optimal safety.
- Be familiar with all emergency exits in your workplace.
Loading, Health, and Work Ability
- Maintain a steady, reasonable work pace to reduce physical strain
- Prevent health hazards in hot environments by staying hydrated, eating healthy, and taking breaks.
- Apply cooling methods suitable to different tasks.
- Prevent cold hazards by keeping dry, wearing layered clothing, warming up before work, and keeping doors shut.
- Reduce the excessive use of force and repetitive work to reduce physical strain.
- Take regular breaks and incorporate break time exercises into daily work.
- Design workstations to allow for maintaining proper posture and changing postures and positions as necessary.
- Change posture and alternate between sitting, standing, and walking at work.
- Prevent and manage stress promptly and appropriately.
- Recognize symptoms of stress such as sleeping problems, irritability, and reduced performance.
- Cultivate an uplifting and safe work environment and culture.
- Institute safety measures and means for calling for help for employees that work alone.
These tips have covered ensuring safety in a warehouse, in a top to bottom approach.
