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Common Safety Hazards in Warehouses

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Tyler, TX September 2,2008-- A member of the Texas Forest Service moves a batch of MRE (meals ready to eat) in a warehouse in Tyler, TX.supplies in a The warehouse is being used to handle basic supplies of water and MRE (meals ready to eat) for distribution to residents affected by Hurricane Gustav. Photo by Patsy Lynch/FEMA

Among all the workplaces and commercial environments in an economy, a warehouse is one of the most dangerous places to work in as per statistical data! To be on the safer side, it is of utmost importance to make yourself and your workforce aware of the tips related to warehouse safety.

If one fails to implement the recommended tips put forth by apex bodies like OSHA and the likes, it can result in injury, and in worst cases, even death! Statistics show that leading economies report at least 18 fatalities in workplaces, especially warehouses.

That being said, the following section will shed some light on some common warehouse hazards with safety tips to prevent the same:

Forklifts need to be properly operated and maintained!

A forklift is a critical machine when it is the question of running a warehouse in the most efficient and profitable way. Nonetheless, if one is not careful enough, it can not only damage critical infrastructure, stored goods, etc. but can also lead to fatalities!

Safety Tips

  • It is of utmost importance to make sure that all forklift operators are well trained and are certified from forklift operating programs. To be on the safer side, it is important to subject your workforce to periodic refresher and training sessions as well.
  • Make sure that your forklift fleet is subjected to regular maintenance and inspection sessions before operations for the day at the warehouse starts!

Keeping conveyor equipment in their prime condition is a must!

Conveyor equipment can be considered as the lifeline of a warehouse and it comes second in terms of importance after forklifts. These marvellous machines are used for the quick and efficient transport of goods within the warehouse.

Safety Tips

  • Most conveyor equipment related accidents consists of workers getting caught in the conveyor belt or getting hit by falling goods! To keep such incidents at bay, it is important that you install safeguards around the equipment. It will make sure that the workers will be protected from getting their body parts, clothes, etc. entangled with the equipment.
  • Make sure when the conveyor equipment is subjected to scheduled maintenance sessions, the operations within the warehouse are suspended!

Improper handling of hazardous chemicals

You are running a warehouse business and the chances are very high that you might need to handle consignments that consist of handling/storing hazardous chemicals. To keep your facility and your workforce safe from such chemicals, make sure your warehouse hosts periodic safety programs and training sessions.

Safety Tips

  • Make sure the hazard training program covers all the necessary information that surrounds proper handling, storage, disposal and identification of chemicals
  • Before implementing such training sessions, make sure that you have you’ve your homework so that you can conduct these training sessions in the most efficient way, without leaving out any critical information!

In case you are cutting corners when it comes to safety procedures in your warehouse, bear this in mind that if some mishap befalls your establishment, you will be spending a lot more than you could ever imagine! Exposing your warehouse staffs to hazardous conditions can also lead to lawsuits and possible cancellation of critical paperwork and licenses. To be on the safer side of things, implement the safety tips mentioned above!