Essentials For Working Safely In A Warehouse

There is no denying that warehouses are full of hazards. From tripping over a cable to items falling from high racking, the risks and potential dangers are incredibly varied. Most injuries in the warehouse industry are preventable with proper health and safety management. Having the correct measures in place in your warehouses is essential to enable staff to work as safely as possible. 

The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, states that every employer has a duty to ensure the health and safety of their employees so far as is reasonably practicable, therefore, it is your job to ensure you comply with these legal requirements. From vehicles to staff training and flooring to signage there are many things that are essential for working safely in a warehouse. Seltek Warehouse has put together some health and safety tips for you to consider for your warehouse.

Vehicles 

Warehouses use many different types of vehicles and you can almost guarantee that on a day-to-day basis vehicles will pass in and out of, and work around a warehouse. Unfortunately, vehicle accidents are not as uncommon as they should be, and they can easily cause injuries or even loss of life. Simply ensuring that all drivers have the necessary skills, knowledge and experience to use the vehicles can make all the difference. It is also important to enforce strict rules for staff to follow when driving vehicles in a warehouse.

Equipment 

Similarly to vehicles, a lot of specialist equipment is used in warehouses, the majority of which is incredibly dangerous and can cause serious damage if not used correctly. Ensuring that you have the right equipment to complete the job correctly is essential and also making sure you have all of the equipment your staff may need can make a real difference. Something as simple as having warehouse steps to hand rather than reaching in an unsafe manner is instantly much safer. 

Storage

Having sufficient storage in a warehouse is must and there are many things you can do to ensure your storage solutions are safe. Of course, making sure that your racking is erected by a competent person in line with the manufacturer’s guidelines is a good place to start. You can also look into ways that you can prevent items falling off high shelving, such as by fitting netting to the back of racks. Ensure that all of your staff are aware of how to safely use your storage too. 

Flooring 

Making sure that you keep both the flooring inside and outside of your warehouse in good condition and clear of any obstructions is essential. There are many things you can do to protect your staff when it comes to hazards related to your floor, for example, installing anti-slip measures on indoor flooring and investing in rubber cable protectors to prevent trips. When it comes to the area outside of your warehouse, during winter months especially, it is also important to keep this clear and safe too. 

Keeping your warehouse safe 

All in all, there are many things you can do to ensure your staff are able to work safely in your warehouse. The steps you can take don’t have to be complex or cost lots of money, there are simple changes you can make to help keep everyone on-site safe. Break your warehouse down into sections, as we have done above, and assess which areas you can improve. 

If you’re searching for a place to purchase any warehouse essentials that you may require, visit the Seltek Warehouse website. Whether you’re looking to purchase affordable gritting and snow clearing products or you simply need a new engineers workbench, you will find everything you require all in one place on their easy to navigate website.