Safety should be a top priority in any work environment. Whether you’re just starting to figure out how to start an import/export business from home or you already have a large distribution center, warehouses are key components in supply chains. Understanding how they work will help you tremendously. Adhering to OSHA guidelines, for example, protects both your workers and your business. If you think your warehouse needs some improvement, here are some tips that can help keep your warehouse accident-free.
Job Training
Most job postings will ask for people who are already trained, but even if a new employee has training similar to what is needed for their new job, they will still need to be made aware of the unique circumstances of their new workplace. Job training should additionally include a worker safety checklist that discusses all of the hazards one is likely to face on the job and how to avoid them. Forklifts in particular are likely to result in injury while also being tools that reduce both short-term and long-term injuries from overexertion when properly used, so make sure anyone who uses a forklift is properly trained when doing so.
Lighting
Lighting is an innocuous part of everyday life, but that is only because it is so essential that we take it for granted. Driving a forklift around in a poorly lit area is a recipe for disaster since you could hit anything from a fallen pallet to another person, and having a warehouse accident is never worth it. If the cost of wiring and implementing a light becomes too much, you still have a few options to work with. Loanpal in particular has become interested in providing green energy to people who want it, so putting a few solar lights in your warehouse may be an avenue worth investigating depending on where your warehouse is located.
Maintenance
A well-maintained warehouse is going to see fewer accidents. If a light goes out, a railing is damaged, or a forklift isn’t running properly, it should be fixed before normal warehouse operations can resume as they were before. If you notice something that requires maintenance, it should be clearly marked and repaired as soon as possible. Workers need to know who to notify when something needs to be maintained; when you need forklift engine maintenance, you want to make absolutely sure that everyone knows that maintenance is required so no one uses a faulty forklift and gets hurt.
Cleanliness
A good warehouse is well-organized, so when something is spilled, dropped, or otherwise cluttering the work area, it needs to be dealt with post-haste to keep operations running smoothly. A number of safety barriers and strict cleanliness policies are going to be invaluable, and providing ways for workers to dispose of trash they are likely to accumulate is important too.
Security Cameras
If something goes wrong or you suspect foul play, a security camera can help everyone keep their story straight so the issue can be resolved. If you want to ward off criminal activity when you think it might be likely, the presence of a security camera can be a deterrent for a decent portion of the crimes that might occur. Although this isn’t a foolproof solution, you may be able to identify what happened when the incident occurred or even one of the people involved in the incident you will hopefully have actionable information to work with.
Warehouses are hubs of activity unto themselves, and the workspace contained within them needs to be treated with respect. Supplies of all kinds need to be stored within, warehouse workers are the ones who actually retrieve them for use by other people, and they are often buzzing with activity all day every day. With this in mind, it is plain to see that safety precautions are absolutely necessary and essential to any and every warehouse in operation.
