Safety is paramount in all workspaces, but when handling tools and machinery it is even more serious.
It is important to know the law, its requirements and what is demanded of you.
Here are five more ways to increase warehouse safety and reduce stress and risk of injury.
1. Employee Resources
If you expect your employees to take the correct safety precautions, then they must be enabled to do so. Where appropriate, high-vis wear, hard hats, face protection and ear plugs should be made available. First aid supplies should be located in an obvious and well-known location. The correct footwear can also prevent slips.
To avoid stresses and strains, try to reduce manual handling by introducing mechanical handling methods such as trolleys, lift trucks and scissor lifts.
Train your employees in safe manual handling techniques and devices that can be used. Working at height needs to be properly planned and supervised, with the correct equipment provided.
2. Warehouse Improvements
Safety measures should be kept under review: there are always improvements that can be made. Ensure good lighting is provided and floor marking tape laid both for people walking through the warehouse daily. Objects on the floor and uneven surfaces are the main causes of trips. Keep traffic routes and floors obstruction-free and check that floor surfaces inside and out are even. Fill any holes you find.
3. Clean
Mess increases the likelihood of falls and injuries. Water, cleaning products, oil, foodstuffs and dry powders can make the floor slippery. Try to stop the floor becoming contaminated by maintaining equipment properly, and deal with any contamination immediately by cleaning the floor thoroughly.
Hazards like waste packaging and strapping are tripping hazards. Good housekeeping is important: if things fall on walkways, tidy them away as soon as possible. Also inspect all areas on a regular basis, looking for trip hazards.
4. Maintenance
Inspect equipment regularly, paying close attention to tools used for work at height such as ladders. If a tool is involved in an accident, inspect it thoroughly.
If you have bought used pallet racking from a company such as http://www.rackzone.ie/, make sure is is securely in place.
5. Reward Safety
Instead of rewarding high production, reward those that have followed your safety standards, and put an emphasis on safe working practices.
