What are the most common safety hazards in your warehouse?

1 Manual handling injuries

Injuries in warehouses are often caused by manual handling, which includes activities such as lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, and stacking items. These injuries can affect the muscles, joints, ligaments, tendons, nerves, and blood vessels and lead to strains, sprains, cuts, bruises, fractures, and hernias. To prevent manual handling injuries, you should assess the weight, size, shape, and condition of the items before handling them. Utilize equipment such as forklifts, pallet jacks, carts or conveyors whenever possible and follow the correct lifting techniques such as bending your knees and keeping your back straight. Additionally, avoid twisting or reaching while handling items and wear protective gloves, shoes and clothing. If the items are too heavy or awkward to handle alone seek help from a coworker or supervisor.

2 Slips, trips, and falls

Slips, trips, and falls are a common source of injuries in warehouses and can result in bruises, sprains, fractures, head injuries, or even fatalities. To prevent these accidents, you should keep the floors clean and dry with signs or barriers to warn workers of any spills or hazards. Additionally, repair any broken or uneven flooring, tiles, mats, or carpets. Aisles and walkways should be clear of any boxes, tools, equipment, or debris. Adequate lighting should be provided in all areas of the warehouse and faulty bulbs or fixtures should be reported. Cords or wires that may pose a tripping hazard should be secured or removed. Slip-resistant shoes should be worn and running or rushing should be avoided in the warehouse. Finally, use handrails, ladders, or platforms when accessing high shelves or racks and do not climb on pallets, boxes, or equipment.

3 Forklift accidents

Forklifts are essential tools for warehouse operations, but they can also be dangerous if not operated properly or maintained regularly. Forklift accidents can result in collisions, tip-overs, falls, crushes, or fires, injuring the operators, other workers, or bystanders and damaging the goods, equipment, or infrastructure of the warehouse. To avoid these risks and prevent forklift accidents, you should ensure that only trained and certified operators use the forklifts and that they follow the manufacturer's instructions and safety rules. Inspections should be conducted before and after each use to report any defects or malfunctions to the supervisor or mechanic. Loading and unloading should be done carefully without exceeding the weight or height limits of the forklifts or the racks. The forklifts should be driven at a safe speed and distance with horns, lights, or signals used to alert other workers of your presence or intentions. Driving on slopes, ramps, or uneven surfaces should be avoided and forks should be lowered and engine turned off when not in use. Seat belts, helmets, and gloves should be worn when operating the forklifts and passengers should never be allowed on board nor anyone standing or walking under the forks.

4 Chemical hazards

Warehouses may store or handle various chemicals, such as fuels, solvents, paints, pesticides, or cleaning products, that can pose health and safety hazards to workers and the environment. Chemical hazards can include exposure, inhalation, ingestion, or contact with the chemicals, causing irritation, burns, allergies, poisoning, or even cancer. These hazardous chemicals can also cause fires, explosions, or spills. To prevent chemical hazards, it's important to store and label the chemicals according to their compatibility, flammability, toxicity, or corrosiveness. Additionally, you should use personal protective equipment when handling or transporting the chemicals and follow safety data sheets (SDS) and instructions from the manufacturer or supplier for each chemical. It's also essential to ventilate areas where the chemicals are stored or used and install fire extinguishers, sprinklers, or alarms in case of emergencies. If there are any leaks, spills, or accidents involving the chemicals you should report them to the supervisor or the emergency services and know how to contain, clean up, or evacuate the area.

5 Environmental hazards

Warehouses may also face environmental hazards, such as noise, dust, temperature, humidity, or ventilation, that can affect the comfort, health, or productivity of the workers or the quality of the goods. To prevent such risks from causing hearing loss, respiratory problems, heat stress, cold injuries, or mold growth, you should monitor and control the noise levels in the warehouse and use ear plugs, headphones, or mufflers to protect your hearing. Additionally, reduce and filter the dust levels in the warehouse and use masks or respirators to prevent inhalation. To maintain a comfortable and safe climate in the warehouse, adjust the temperature and humidity levels and use fans, heaters, coolers, or dehumidifiers. Furthermore, ensure adequate ventilation in the warehouse with windows, doors, or vents to circulate fresh air and remove stale air. Finally, inspect and clean the warehouse regularly to remove any moisture or dirt that may cause mold or pests. By following these best practices you can improve safety and efficiency in your warehouse operations and reduce chances of injuries or losses. Always remember to follow your employer's policies and procedures and report any safety hazards or incidents to your supervisor or manager.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?