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Keep Your Warehouse Safe With These Tips

Your warehouse serves as the epicenter of your business’s operations, which means it’s just as important to keep your warehouse safe as it is to have solid bookkeeping practices in place. Here are some tips that will help keep your workers safe and productive when handling inventory in your warehouse.

Understand your risk factors

The SafeWork Australia estimates that there are thousands of workplace incidents that occur in a typical year in just manufacturing/warehouse settings. That’s a big problem, so it’s worth being aware of which factors put you at risk. For instance, if your work involves driving trucks or forklifts for goods transport, you may be at increased risk for an accident due to driver fatigue or distraction. Warehouse managers can limit worker exposure by installing technology—like GPS vehicle tracking systems—to monitor drivers’ hours. You might also consider restricting certain tasks to trained personnel only. This way, employees less familiar with how to avoid dangerous situations can focus on simpler jobs until they’ve gained more experience. Finally, make sure workers are trained in safety procedures; ideally through an WorkSafe-approved program.

Create Safe Zones

Hazardous situations can arise in warehouses, and workers need to know where they can go to escape harm. Create clearly-marked safe zones throughout your warehouse where employees can retreat during an emergency. Encourage them to take refuge here and wait for further instructions rather than attempting to flee out into active areas of production. There should be a specific safe zone outside each exit as well as a designated safe area for everyone to congregate if evacuation outside the warehouse isn’t possible. In order to create a truly effective safe area—and avoid overcrowding—ensure that it isn’t accessible from any other section of the warehouse.

Prevent Falls

Falls are one of the most common causes of workplace injuries and fatalities, and falls from ladders and other elevated surfaces (such as forklifts or scaffolding) account for a significant portion of those. If you’re looking to build a safer environment in your warehouse, start by ensuring all workers can reach their jobsite safely. An abundance of obstacles—from pallets to boxes—can create hazards on which an employee might slip or trip. Ensure stairwells are clear of clutter and that walkways between work stations aren’t cluttered. Don’t forget about light sources: make sure there is ample lighting in stairwells, offices, and work areas to illuminate walkways at night. Make sure outside areas have adequate lighting so workers can make it home safely after dark, too.

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