Safety has always been a top focus for warehouse professionals. Recent Coronavirus-related lockdowns have highlighted the importance of warehouse employees and their health and safety. A safe work environment also leads to more productive employees and lower attrition. Here are the best methods of increasing safety in the warehouse!

Ensure Safety Equipment Is Always Used

Avoid significant back injuries among employees by using safety equipment such as forklifts or hydraulic lifts to lift large objects. This is critical to have a safe workplace.

Eliminate Potential Hazards

Keeping floors free of slipping and trip risks is vital. The value of keeping the warehouse safe must be understood by the workforce. Any stray cords, liquids, accumulated garbage, fissures, and pits on the floor should be checked regularly. If these aren’t taken care of, employees may suffer serious injuries, and costly machinery and cargo can get damaged.

Identify and Mark Dangerous Zones Clearly

The most cost-effective, functional strategy to keep your warehouse organized and safe from hazardous conditions is to use signs and stickers. Workers can avoid serious injuries by clearly labeling racks, equipment, and contents. It’s also critical to clearly indicate emergency exits and the safest paths to reach them.

Provide Proper Training

Providing proper training on warehouse safety procedures ensures employees are aware of the dangers of working in an unsafe environment. It can motivate them to adhere to protocols more strictly.

Mandate that Employees Wear Proper Clothing

Clothing that is too loose can become trapped in machinery or pallets, causing injuries. Wearing protective apparel—such as hard helmets, gloves, vests, masks, and eyewear—can keep warehouse workers safe.

Vehicle Safety

Vehicle safety is critical when working with forklifts or lift trucks. Crush injuries and other accidents can be avoided by ensuring personnel receive adequate practical training on speed restrictions, blind areas, avoiding reversing as much as possible. It’s also critical to have a zero-tolerance approach when it comes to dangerous driving.

Ventilation

Good ventilation is a critical component of a safe warehouse, but it sometimes gets disregarded by companies. Limited air circulation in the warehouse can lead to a buildup of pollutants and vehicle emissions, compromising employee comfort and safety. Installing exhaust fans and flue space dividers might assist in keeping the warehouse adequately ventilated.

We hope that this article has given you some great ideas on some great methods of increasing safety in the warehouse! If you’re looking for more improvements to your workspace, reach out to OSHA for more ways to improve the safety of your warehouse!