WS : Warehouse Safety

www.safetygoodwe.com

Chapter : Warehouse Safety

Warehouse Safety

Whether in a free-standing facility or an adjunct to a manufacturing operation, you should be aware of the hazards affecting warehousing employees.

Safety concerns for production facilities with warehouses include conveyors, manual material handling, fire safety, chemical exposure, lockout/tagout, powered industrial trucks, housekeeping, air emissions, noise and ergonomics. Additional hazards found in warehousing include loading docks, material storage, fire safety and charging stations.

Several problems exist that affect the safe storage of materials. These include bad pallets,damaged racks, irregular dimensions, inadequate space, load limits of racks and mezzanines,lack of spacing between back-to-back racks and insufficient guarding on mezzanine.

Powered industrial trucks are vital to most warehouse operations. They pose great risk for endangering associates, property and products if operated improperly. That’s why only those employees who are trained and authorized by the employer may become operators.

In addition, potential causes exist that can lead to injuries from manual handling of materials. These include lifting, back sprains and strains, and hand injuries. The personal protective equipment (PPE) you wear will vary depending on what hazards are present. Proper PPE may include hard hats, safety shoes, gloves, aprons, eye and face protection, and hearing protection.

In addition, slips, trips and falls are a major source of injuries throughout any warehouse. Things that can cause a slip, trip or fall include:

• Cords, hoses and banding material;
• Carrying material with blocked vision;
• Leaking containers, spilled liquids or slippery material;
• Rain, snow or ice;
• Paper;
• Broken pallets;
• Unguarded openings on elevated work platforms or levels;
• Lack of safety harness when working in overhead racks;
• Uneven floors, lack of handrails, floor holes;
• Insufficient lighting.

Some Important Wearhouse Safety Signage :- 

1. Hazard Identification: Alerts workers to potential dangers, such as forklifts or hazardous materials. 
2. Emergency Exits: Clearly marks emergency exits to ensure quick evacuation.
3. Fire Safety: Indicates the location of fire extinguishers, alarms, and emergency exits-
4. PPE Requirements: Reminds workers to wear necessary personal protective equipment like helmets and gloves.
5. First Aid Locations: Shows where first aid kits and stations are located.
6. Traffic Management: Guides the movement of forklifts. trucks, and pedestrians to prevent collisions. 
7. Storage Instructions: Provides guidelines for safe stacking and storage of materials to prevent falls. 
8. Chemical Safety: Displays information on handling hazardous substances.
9. Restricted Areas: Indicates areas where access is limited to authorized personnel only.
10. Machine Operation: Warns of moving machinery and the need for safe operation practices.
11. Loading/Unloading Areas: Identifies areas designated for loading and unloading to avoid accidents. 
12. Slips. Trips, and Falls: Highlights wet floors or uneven surfaces.
13. Electrical Safety: Marks areas with electrical hazards to prevent shocks or fires.
14. Noise Levels: Indicates areas where hearing protection is required.
15. Maintenance Areas: Defines zones for maintenance work to keep unauthorized personnel away. 
16. Temperature Hazards: Alerts workers to areas with extreme temperatures.
17. Health and Hygiene: Reminds workers to wash hands and maintain hygiene to prevent contamination. 
18. Equipment Safety: Shows proper use of tools and machin ery.
19. Confined Spaces: Warns of confined spaces that require special entry procedures.
20. Quality Control: Guides on maintaining product quality and preventing contamination.
21. Fall Protection: Indicates where fall protection equipment must be used.
22. Emergency Procedures: Provides instructions for actions to take in case of various emergencies. 
23. Visitor Safety: Ensures visitors are aware of warehouse safety protocols.
24. Spill Response: Shows procedures for dealing with chemical spills.
25. Safety Training: Reminds workers of key training points and safe work practices.
26. Smoke-Free Zones: Identifies areas where smoking is prohibited to prevent fires.
27. Lifting Techniques: Provides guidance on proper lifting techniques to avoid injuries.
28. Evacuation Routes: Clearly marks evacuation routes in case of an emergency.
29. Safe Work Zones: Defines safe work areas to keep workers within safe boundaries.
30. Legal Compliance: Ensures adherence to local, national, and international safety regulations.