A guarantee for any warehouse is its unpredictability. Personnel can be hurt; equipment can fall apart; processes can change. Do you know the procedures and precautions that you can take to decrease potential liabilities? Practicing safety encompasses equipment usage, inspections, apparel and procedures.
Here are 5 essential tips for warehouse safety, regardless of industry.
Teach Employees How to Use Equipment Correctly
Make sure that your employees know how to use the equipment correctly to decrease the chances of any liabilities. A great way to accomplish this is to have only certified personnel operate any warehouse equipment. Certification opportunities include loading and unloading forklifts, maintaining equipment and guiding forklifts.
Schedule Regular Inspections
Take the time to schedule equipment inspections. Your wallet will thank you later! Regular inspections can catch potential damage, wear-and-tear and more. We recommend scheduling any potential maintenance appointments after the inspections so that repairs are not overlooked or forgotten.
If any equipment needs to be replaced, you should also go ahead and schedule the replacements. Malfunctioning equipment can decrease productivity and increase safety risks. Trying to cut corners (and costs!) is not worth the effort in the long run.
Stock, Supply and Wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Do not buy generic personal protective equipment (PPE). You should buy equipment that fits your warehouse. For example, gloves and safety goggles are ideal for workplaces with hazardous materials. Other PPE includes safety vests, hard hats, steel-toe boots, masks and more.
Personal protective equipment is not just for employees, but for visitors too. This is why you should always have spare ones available, because you never know who may enter your warehouse.
Plan and Practice Emergency Procedures
An emergency is not the time to “just wing it.” We recommend that you plan and practice emergency procedures with all of your crews. Common scenarios include fire, lockdowns and natural disasters. Drills can help your employees be prepared for real-life emergencies.
You should also ensure that any new hires are trained in all emergency procedures.
Define All Important Pathways
Are all pathways clear, defined and organized within your warehouse? Paths should be clear for all warehouse equipment, including forklifts and pallet jacks. Reach out to the experts at Port City Industrial if you need assistance with optimizing and organizing pathways! An efficient warehouse layout can boost both productivity and safety.
In summary, the costs associated with enforcing safety are cheaper than any potential lawsuit. Above all else, you and your crews should encourage communication. When you practice, communicate and encourage safety procedures, you protect yourself, your employees and your company. A safe work environment also increases productivity, decreases distress and lessens turnover.
If your warehouse needs to be optimized and assessed for safety, then call the warehouse experts at Port City Industrial. At Port City Industrial, we are dedicated to making your warehouse work. We are the Gulf Coast’s largest used pallet racking dealer, and we offer a variety of services for warehouse operations. Visit www.portcitymobile.com to learn more.
Do you have questions about "5 Tips for Warehouse Safety"? Contact the professionals at Port City Industrial!
