Any working environment needs to be safe for employees and visitors alike, but some workspaces can be more hazardous than others. Warehouses can vary in size, but all are used to store products and package items for shipping. This might all sound straightforward, but with boxes upon boxes of items stacked up high and heavy-duty machinery being operated on the premises, a warehouse can pose a lot of risks. This is why it is essential to follow HSE regulations and even go the extra mile to keep your warehouse safe. Below are some basic tips for warehouse management to achieve this.
Monitor Staff Training
All of your warehouse staff will have to go through training before they can go onto the warehouse floor, but you must make sure this training is kept up to date. Keep an organised record of who has completed this training and when they are due a refresher course to make sure that your team’s health and safety knowledge is always up to date.
Spare PPE
If staff are working on the warehouse floor operating machinery and moving items in bulk, they need to be wearing protective clothing. Stock up on some spare PPE, so if anyone forgets or loses theirs, they are covered. This will also be useful if you do have visitors on site who are coming for a warehouse inspection or are there on other business.
Stock Up on Pallets
Pallets are used in every warehouse because they are excellent at distributing heavyweights and make it much easier to transport bulk items from one area to another. Without these pallets, you might find that your stock is not stored safely and is more prone to damage, or falling onto someone can cause injury. Always keep on top of your pallet delivery to make sure there is enough to use in your warehouse.
Wet Floor and Safety Signs
This is something that all businesses should have on-site, but it is even more prevalent in a warehouse space where spills can happen. Have plenty of wet floor signs in your warehouse office or cleaning cupboards to put out if there has been a spill or leak to make sure staff don’t slip and hurt themselves. Having additional safety signs displayed around your warehouse is also a must to remind people of how to stay safe.
Forklift Paths
If you are using forklifts in your warehouse underneath a mezzanine floor, you will need to set out clear paths for them along with the floors. This can help to reduce the chances of collisions as it will be clearer to the drivers which ‘lane’ they need to stay in. You should also indicate where it is safe for employees to walk and where no one should be on the floor if it is fork trucks only in that specific area.
There are many ways you can make sure your warehouse is a safe environment to work in, and as a warehouse manager, you must refresh yourself on these tips as often as possible. While the above are only a few ideas that can help you keep your warehouse safe, they are all good places to start.