If you want to minimise costs related to insurance coverage, workers compensation as well as losing business, you need to make sure that you work on the safety of not only your employees but your warehouse as well.
Workers’ safety in the warehouse increases productivity. This is because your workers know they are safe and work with minimised risks, they are more comfortable and fully concentrate on the job. Warehouse safety includes all safety measures including having a backflow testing for any plumbing installation.
Here are some safety guidelines that will help keep your employees safe in the warehouse:
1. Get rid of any potential safety hazards
All warehouse floors should be free of any slip and trip hazards. Carry out such safety check regularly and this should be done by all employees. The potential risks that you need to get rid of include:
● Any liquids on the floor
● Stray cords
● Objects including very small objects
● Pits and holes on the floor
Should you find any of these on your warehouse floor then you must get rid of them immediately because they can cause very serious accidents to both the workers and machinery as well.
2. Label the warehouse clearly
Store all the dangerous equipment or any other dangerous thing in the warehouse in a designated area and ensure that this area is clearly labeled. Use the necessary signage to highlight safe walkways, exits, slippery floors, and any other area.
One of the best ways of making hazardous zones is by using a tape or painting the floors with black and white stripes. This will help the employees see and be aware of their surroundings and avoid any accidents that can lead to injuries.
3. Ensure you use safety equipment at all times
Use forklifts or hydraulic dollies to lift any heavy items in the warehouse. Such equipment makes lifting things easier to the employees and reduces any risks of injuries. Provide your workers with the appropriate eyewear, helmets, safety boots, and the appropriate clothing too as per the set standards.
Employees should also be aware of the location of the emergency exits, fire extinguishers, and all the fire safety measures including the roof sprinklers, and any other emergency procedures that they can use.
4. Promoting employee awareness
The first way of making your employees aware of what needs to be done is by providing them with proper training. Encourage them to be aware of their surroundings to know when something is out of place.
Workers should also be encouraged to communicate with each other and be vocal when it comes to stating their locations or any other warning as they work. They should also let each other know if they are moving an object in each other’s direction so that they can steer clear to avoid collisions.
5. Use safe lifting techniques
Assess the right method to use to transport any load. Using the right forklifts will make work easier and faster for your employees while also ensuring that they stay safe. Always check the way to remove any obstacles to create enough room for the forklift.
Your employees should also make sure that the load they are carrying do not obstruct their view. All materials should be used with the proper operating procedures such as pushing rather than pulling, leaning in the direction of travel and never driving a forklift or operating any machinery without proper training.
Final word
Safety should be a propriety in the warehouse. There are several benefits of implementing the necessary safety measures in your warehouse. Some benefits include employee satisfaction, minimising turnover, minimising injury, limiting equipment downtime, among others.