5 Ways To Improve Warehouse Health & Safety

There are health and safety risks regardless of the type of business you run, however, in terms of accident potential, warehouses rank pretty high. There will always be potential hazards to keep an eye on, but ensuring your employees are safe and injury-free is crucial if you want to run a successful business. 

Here are 5 ways to improve warehouse health & safety.

Employee Inductions

Before any new employees can access the warehouse floor, they should be formally inducted. Give them a tour of the warehouse, point out any hazards, and make sure they know where the fire exits and fire alarms are. 

Although new employees are likely to be extra vigilant, accidents can happen if they aren’t au fait with the warehouse layout and how to recognize areas designated for machinery or footfall. Take your time, and be sure to answer any questions they may have. 

Upper-level safety

To maximize floor space, warehouse stock is usually stored vertically over multiple levels. It reduces the need for larger premises and increases the risk of health and safety issues. 

Warehouse guard rails will not only reduce the risk of someone falling from upper-level walkways but can also be used to protect against avoidable collisions. Hand and stair rails are a great idea and will provide added stability and protection for your workforce and stock.  

Training

Training new employees is a must, but you may think that ongoing training for existing staff is unnecessary. Your existing employees may know the warehouse like the back of their hand, but this can lead to complacency, which, in turn, can lead to accidents. 

Put together a standard training program for your team and make sure you stick to it. If someone ends up hurt due to lack of training, it could have catastrophic repercussions.

Machinery

Forklifts, in particular, are consistently used in a warehouse setting and must be maintained correctly and regularly. Putting a service agreement in place will reduce the risk of machinery breaking while on the job or failing and causing damage or injury. 

The areas most commonly used for machinery and warehouse traffic should be designated on the warehouse floor to reduce the risk of pedestrian injury. Anyone operating the machinery must have a suitable license to do so, so check to make sure those are up to date too. 

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Where necessary, personal protective equipment should be worn. Steel toe cap boots will protect the feet from sharp or heavy objects which could break a toe or other part of the foot. Hard hats work in the same manner and protect the user from debris or objects falling from a height.

It can be hard to see others when you are sitting in a forklift, so reflective jackets or vests are needed – especially where there are high volumes of warehouse traffic.

A positive and constructive outlook towards health and safety will help your business run more smoothly and give you the peace of mind that you are looking after your workers.