There are surprisingly a large number of hazards that can develop in a typical warehouse. Merchandise can be very heavy and can fall, causing injury to staff members. Floors occasionally become slick enough that employees can slip and fall. Some of the pieces of equipment designed to transport merchandise will also potentially injure workers. For this reason, different safety measures must be taken to make sure that employees are kept safe.
Make Sure That Staff Members Have Appropriate Protective ClothingThe first thing that a warehouse should do is identifying the protective clothing that employees should be wearing to minimize the risk of injury. Gloves, special shoes, eye protection and hard hats can all contribute to a reduction in injuries. Not only should warehouse managers make sure that such equipment is readily available, but they should also instruct employees on when and where they should use such equipment.
Store Materials Properly
Warehouses store different materials and the types of materials stored in the particular warehouse should influence the safety equipment used to store the equipment. Potentially harmful chemicals should be kept in containers that are properly sealed and labeled. Also, if the chemicals should be kept in a certain condition, such as under a specific temperature, warehouse managers should make sure that the warehouse is kept under these conditions.
Use Safe and Secure Pellet Racks
One of the most economical ways that businesses will store merchandise is to place them on pellet racks. However, one of the major risks that warehouse employees face is that equipment can potentially fall and injure or kill employees. One of the main causes of falling equipment is a pellet that is not in good condition. Therefore, managers should locate a pellet rack repair company that can inspect and repair racks so that they remain safe and functional.
Hire the Right Staff Members
Part of what determines whether the staff members are safe is whether the warehouse hires the right staff members in the first place. For one, staff members should be highly responsible. Also, the staff members should be in the right physical condition to make sure that they can avoid injury. One common injury that occurs in a warehouse is a pulled muscle that can result from an employee lifting a shipment that he or she is not strong enough to lift.
Keep Aisles Clean
Responsible staff members can prevent injury by paying closer attention to their surroundings. Also, responsible staff members will make sure that the aisles are clear and will clean up spills when they occur, minimizing the risk of tripping or slipping.
Use the Best Equipment
Managers must make sure that employees are using equipment that is very safe. Faulty equipment is much more likely to cause an injury, especially when the equipment is older or was built during a time when there were less stringent safety requirements.
While some injuries cannot be avoided, a warehouse can become a much safer place when both employees and management take the steps necessary to prevent accidents from occurring.
This guest post was provided by Damotech, leading provider of warehouse rack repair kits and prevention products. To learn more on how they make warehouses at safer place to work at visit, http://www.damotech.com/