Warehouse facilities can be hazardous to your safety in numerous ways if the proper safety procedures are not being followed. Some of these scenarios are more common than others, but we will discuss the potential hazards and various ways to avoid them. A safe facility is one of the key components to maintaining a successful material handling operation.

Some of the most common hazards are also the most overlooked. These include potential hazards that could cause an employee to trip and fall while transporting material. This is generally caused by spills, uneven surfaces, and equipment improperly stored in aisle space. To avoid this, employees should make sure that they are only manually transporting product that is not too heavy for them and utilize lift equipment when appropriate.

Another common hazard caused by the improper storage of inventory is falling objects. If pallets or items are not neatly stacked, they can potentially fall out of the racking or shelving. This will not only compromise the safety of your employees but will also damage valuable products. Properly and neatly storing pallets or loose product is one way to avoid this, but accidents do happen. Make sure all forklift and lift equipment operators are properly trained to minimize human error, as this is typically the main cause.

Some common safety procedures that will reduce the number of incidents in your warehouse include the following:

• Never block emergency exits, first aid and eye wash stations, or fire extinguishers.
• Keep wires and cords off floors and away from moisture.
• Properly store all items; do not leave in aisle space.
• Properly store all items; do not leave in aisle space.

The most straightforward, but still noteworthy safety procedure, is having common sense. This includes reading and obeying warning labels, staying aware of your surroundings, carefully handling tools and equipment, and especially, not fooling around. This could probably apply to any job in any facility, but the consequences are much more dramatic in a warehouse facility. Bumping into a desk might spill a coffee on some important paperwork, but an inattentive forklift driver bumping a rack in a warehouse might collapse the entire structure.

Unsure of what you need for safety equipment? A member of our sales team will come to your warehouse facility and provide recommendations as to what safety equipment could be utilized. Give us a call today, we will happily work with you to provide solutions to your material handling concerns.