Warehouses can be dangerous places, and it is essential that safety guidelines are put up everywhere and followed and enforced. This can prevent injuries and even death. If you don’t already have a warehouse safety rubric for your warehouse, here are some key warehouse safety tips that you should always follow and have your employees follow as well.
- Only allow forklift operation by trained forklift operators.
All forklift operators should have an easy access forklift load capacity chart to make sure that they are not exceeding load standards. They should also follow all OSHA forklift guidelines and make sure that they are not driving too fast or over uneven surfaces.
- Ensure exits are easy to access.
In the event of an accident or catastrophe inside your warehouse, individuals will need to get to the exits as soon as possible. This means that exits need to be clearly marked and easy to access. Furthermore, all employees should be aware of exit plans in the event of a fire, explosion, or other dangerous accident or incident.
- Keep your warehouse clean with a maintenance schedule.
Warehouses that are clean are much safer to work in. Spills of any size need to be cleaned up immediately, and inclement weather should mean that extra cleaning starts right away as well. Any surfaces that are slick wet could result in the overturning of a forklift or another hazardous situation.
- Define hazardous zones.
Speaking of hazardous situations, hazardous zones that are particularly dangerous to employees or visitors need to be adequately marked with warning signs. In some cases, the most hazardous zones should even be blocked completely off from those who have no business there.
- Keep an eye on shelves and racks.
In all warehouses, the shelves and racks are some of the most potentially dangerous structures. It is essential that shelves and racks are consistently checked for sturdiness and cleanliness, therefore. Any goods or cargo that is being stored in these racks or shelves must be sturdy and secure. Regular checking of your shelves also ensures that you do not exceed load standards, which can be especially dangerous.
Don’t Forget About Safety Education for All Employees
Of course, in addition to all of your forklift operators needing to have keen knowledge of their forklifts’ capacity with a forklift load capacity chart, you need to ensure that all other employees are thoroughly trained and educated in their respective areas of expertise also. For example, you should have regular safety meetings and sign your employees up for regional safety seminars as well. Doing all of this will ensure the safety of your workers as well as contractors, vendors, and pedestrians or visitors who may be in your warehouse.