11 warehouse changes to ensure staff safety

Warehouses can be dangerous places to work, with the risk of injury from heavy stock, or mishaps with machinery.

Keep your employee’s staff while working in the warehouse by making these simple changes to ensure warehouse safety. Alongside this, having all your employees take part in safety training is vital for their well-being, and to be aware of what to do in case of an emergency. No matter the industry you’re working in, whether you’re needing Lancaster Safety training (or for another location) it’s essential your colleagues are prepared for any scenario.

1. Provide warehouse staff with the proper protective clothing. All warehouse employees should have high-visibility vests and proper footwear at a minimum. For some warehouses, hard hats, gloves, belts and eyewear may be needed. High-visibility jackets make sure that staff can be easily seen by those operating machineries. Work boots should be sturdy to protect the feet, and should have a good grip to prevent slips and falls around the warehouse. 
2. After stock is unpacked, make sure any packaging is properly disposed of quickly. Leaving it lying around can be a trip hazard, so make sure the warehouse floor is left clear of any debris.  
3. Fit the warehouse with high-impact, non-slip safety flooring. Choose a surface like resin from an expert company like here, which is also very easy to keep clean after spills. 
4. Set up designated walkways for moving around the warehouse to keep people and forklifts separate. Make sure that staff always use these for their own safety.   
5. Train staff to properly use any heavy machinery or specialist equipment, and only allow trained staff to use the machinery. Keep training up to date, to help staff to keep on top of their skills. 
6. Make sure that staff have the proper equipment to move heavy stocks, to reduce the risk of injury. Give training to all warehouse staff so they know how to lift properly and safely without causing damage to their backs. You should look into purchasing an Industrial Material Handler for your business. This way your staff can move around heavy loads safely and securely. It’s a much better solution than trying to manoeuvre heavy items manually.
7. Fit secure shelving and be sure to abide by any weight restrictions. Never overload racking, as this could lead to serious accidents. Make sure staff also abide by weight restrictions on any lighting equipment too.  
8. Provide safe uniforms for all staff who work in the warehouse. As well as safety gear, make sure the uniform itself helps staff to stay safe. For example, baggy-fitting clothing and jewellery can easily become caught in machinery, causing major injury. Restrict the wearing of jewellery, and make sure staff wear correctly fitting uniform. 
9. Clearly mark any emergency exits, and make sure they’re never blocked. Leave any access routes to emergency exits clear, and make sure staff know where the nearest exit to their working area is. Hold regular fire drills to familiarise your staff with the evacuation plan. 
10. Maintain a well stocked first aid kit and make sure staff know where to find it. It’s important to check through the first aid kit on a regular basis to make sure nothing has run out or gone out of date. There should be a staff member available at all times who is first aid trained, so you can rapidly respond to any accidents in a safe way. 
11. Log any accidents in a proper accident log book. A log can help you identify any problems that are contributing to accidents, and correct them promptly. A log can also help to protect you in a staff member who has been injured tries to blame the company for an accident that was their fault.