5 Warehouse Safety Tips You Should Already Be Following

Warehouse Safety

When it comes to warehouse safety, there are often two prevailing mindsets: “We’re already doing things just fine,” and “I know we take shortcuts, but nobody’s gotten hurt yet.” However, a full and honest appraisal of your warehouse safety procedures is always a good idea.

You may think you’re doing things just fine – and perhaps you are – but what about the rest of the crew? Safety is a team effort. If someone isn’t following proper procedures or isn’t aware of them, it puts everybody in jeopardy. And even if nobody’s gotten hurt yet, that doesn’t mean there won’t be an accident next month, tomorrow, or even later today.

When it comes to safety, it only takes one lapse in judgment to make everyone realize how seriously they should have been taking things. By that point, it’s too late.

Here are five tips for warehouse safety that you and your crew should already be practicing. Of course, warehouse safety doesn’t end here; consider this a good starting point.

1) Eliminate Slip and Trip Hazards

Obvious? It should be, but it isn’t always. As much as “eliminating slip and trip hazards” should be common sense, these hazards still appear everywhere. Cords are stretched across the floor, and unplugged tools leave dangling cables. Tools are set on the floor for “just a second,” but can easily trip someone. Even a pencil left on a shelf or box could roll onto the floor and become a hazard. Cracks or pits in your flooring can cause accidents or even tip a forklift. So before shrugging off slip and trip hazards, take a closer look at your warehouse. You might be surprised at what you find.

2) Use the Safety Equipment You Already Have

Another common sense tip, right? Maybe, but maybe not. Do you always use forklifts or hydraulic dollies to lift heavy items? Do you ensure the appropriate number of people carry heavy loads? Are hardhats, eyewear, and other safety equipment worn when required? If so, you’re in the minority. If not, it’s time to start. Safety equipment is there for a reason, and spending a few extra seconds to use it can prevent time, money, and injury in the long run. Don’t block sprinkler heads or emergency exits with equipment, and never disable forklift backup sirens just because they’re “annoying.” Ensure all safety equipment is used correctly, is accessible, and is properly maintained. Your staff’s safety, and your own, depend on it.

3) Clearly Delineate Hazard Zones

Where is your most dangerous equipment? You should know the answer, but are the hazard zones clearly marked? Where can workers walk safely without being in danger from machinery? Which areas of the warehouse require heightened awareness? Marking off hazard zones is simple, with zebra stripes or other eye-catching markings on the warehouse floor being a common solution. Take this seriously, and implement something that works for your space.

4) Refresher Courses

Here’s a fact: accidents aren’t deliberate, which is why they’re called accidents. If your crew is engaging in unsafe behaviors, it’s not because they want to be injured, but because they may not know the correct safety procedures or aren’t fully aware of the risks. Your job is to ensure they understand the importance of safety. If they aren’t aware of why safe procedures matter, corners will be cut, and that’s when accidents happen. Drill the importance of safety into your team—it’s not just their safety on the line, it’s yours too. Don’t create an environment where unsafe shortcuts feel acceptable.

5) Awareness

Why do golfers yell “Fore?” It’s obvious—they don’t want anyone to get hurt. What do you yell in your warehouse when backing up, carrying something heavy, or rounding a corner? If the answer is “nothing,” you’re heading for a collision, possibly one with serious consequences. Get in the habit of calling out your location. It can be as simple as “Here I come,” or more detailed like, “Don’t move; I’m coming up behind you.” It may sound silly, but it fosters environmental awareness among the staff. Better to sound silly than suffer a preventable injury.

Again, these are just starting points. You know your specific warehouse safety needs better than anyone else, so apply common sense, diligence, and ensure your staff takes safety seriously. If they don’t, they may be hurting themselves—sometimes literally.

–Philip J Reed, on behalf of HP Spartacote