Working in a warehouse can provide a fulfilling and rewarding career. While working in a warehouse, regardless of your role, there are effective procedures and guidelines to follow to ensure safety in the workplace. If you’re interested in a job working within a warehouse, you may be curious to learn some tips that may help you stay safe in your role.
In this article, we discuss five different warehouse safety tips to consider.
What is Warehouse Safety?
Warehouse safety is a collection of industry best practices and legal requirements to help warehousing personnel. It is designed to ensure a safe work environment and reinforce safe behavior among warehousing personnel. For sustainable warehouse operations, you should prioritize health and safety. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has revealed that the fatal injury rate in the warehousing industry is higher than the national average for all industries.
Be Aware of Your Surroundings
Safety begins with awareness and is crucial. Being alert and aware of potential risks and safety concerns is the first step in preventing workplace injuries.
This is particularly true in high-traffic places such as the loading docks. Safety signs provide warnings to workers to keep them alert. These signs should be easy to see and free of obstruction.
But remember, being alert extends beyond reading safety signs. Being aware of potential hazards is the greatest strategy to transform an event.
Reinforce Proper Ergonomics at all Times
Warehouse employees perform a lot of heavy lifting and must receive training in the proper lifting techniques to prevent injury to others and themselves. Your warehouse safety program should ensure proper ergonomics in the workplace. If they have to do manual lifting, train them in the right procedures that will help to prevent injuries to their knees and back.
Clearly Label Designated Hazardous Zones
Safety signs and labels are crucial in promoting awareness and preventing accidents and injuries in hazardous zones. Workers and visitors may be exposed to dangerous equipment and areas in a warehouse. Such equipment should be kept out of sight with the required warning signs and labels. Some safety signs that can be utilized include:
- Caution sign
- Danger signs
- Warning signs
- Notice signs
- Biological hazard signs
- General safety signs or safety instructions
- Fire safety signs
- Admittance signs
Wear Proper Work Attire in Warehouse Jobs
It’s very important to wear proper attire in the Warehouse jobs to keep yourself as safe as possible. For example, if you work with heavy machinery, you must wear steel-toed boots to protect your feet. If you work in a warehouse that has high heaps of goods, you should wear a hard hat in those areas to protect your head from falling objects. If you work around large machines, wearing snugly fitting clothing can prevent snags on machines or other objects, making it in your best interest to avoid these incidents.
Some warehouses have specific workplace attire requirements, but not all do. Because of this, you may be required to research the kinds of clothes, accessories, and shoes that can keep you safe at work. Additionally, some warehouses supply the kinds of clothes, PPE, and other equipment you may need to stay safe while working.
Practice Proper Lifting Techniques
Heavy lifting is an everyday activity in warehouses. Improper lifting techniques can cause injuries, such as back strains and musculoskeletal disorders. Warehouse workers should make sure they always follow safe lifting procedures.
Lifting is just one aspect of manual handling, encompassing any activity where workers use their bodies to move or support a load. It involves pushing, dragging, hauling, and pulling various objects. Before performing any manual handling tasks, warehouse workers should:
- Plan the handling procedure, considering the load’s weight, dimensions, and destination.
- Assess the need for mechanical assistance, such as trolleys or pallet jacks.
- Ensure that their path is clear and free of obstacles before moving a load.
- Communicate with team members to coordinate safe handling.