Warehouses can be dangerous places if the right safety rules and regulations aren’t put in place and followed correctly. High racking containing pallets stocked high with products can quickly come falling down if the drivers using the forklift trucks aren’t trained properly or choose to ignore safety rules. Here are some basic safety rules for warehouses to minimise injuries and prevent serious accidents.
Always train drivers correctly
Before getting on any truck, all drivers should go through a fully accredited course where they learn how to drive and use their forklift trucks correctly and safely. Periodically each driver should go through a refresher course to ensure they're still up to scratch and there are no safety concerns. At the end of the training, each driver needs to be assessed on their skills and pass a test before being allowed to drive in the warehouse. If the warehouse is employing drivers that already have some experience, they should be trained on the safety rules of the new warehouse. Accredited instructors should also test experienced drivers to ensure their skills are up to standard.
Safety monitoring
Large warehouses should have employees who monitor the safety and driving practices of the drivers working in the warehouse as part of their job roles. This practice of monitoring drivers will stop sloppy behaviour, which could result in a serious accident in the warehouse. If they see issues regarding safety, they should be reported, and drivers should be taken off their trucks or given a warning. Repeat offenders should be disciplined, which could go as far as losing their job if they fail to follow the safety procedures.
Do daily safety checks on trucks
Trucks that have damage can be dangerous and lead to an accident in the warehouse. Each driver should do a daily safety check on their vehicle and report any issues to management. Drivers should be trained and given a list of things to check before getting on their vehicle. It is also important that each truck is regularly serviced by a professional. Paperwork should be filled in to prevent this process from being ignored by drivers.
Conduct fire safety drills
Warehouses contain a large number of flammable materials, such as boxes and plastic, and in addition, some warehouses might also contain flammable products. Fire safety drills are essential in warehouses and metal frame buildings containing flammable materials. Safety officers should regularly test fire alarms on a weekly basis to make sure that they are working correctly. Each warehouse should have a dedicated fire marshall. It's their job to ensure that the employees follow the correct fire safety procedure and there are measures in place to prevent fire hazards in the warehouse. The evacuation plan should be carefully explained to every employee so that they know exactly what to do and where to go in the event of a fire.
Wear the right protective clothing
All employees should wear high visibility clothing and protective footwear. If employees turn up to work without the right level of protective clothing, they shouldn’t be allowed to enter the warehouse. Depending on the warehouse, employees may also need to wear hard hats, goggles, ear defenders and masks. Each warehouse should do a full risk assessment to determine what level of protective clothing is required. When employing staff on a full-time contract, warehouses must provide the protective clothing required for each staff member.
Warehouse design
The design of the whole warehouse needs to be safe and minimise the risk of falls or trips when people are moving around and working. Part of this is making sure that there is no debris left on the floor of the warehouse, as this can cause a trip hazard. Furthermore, the warehouse needs to be flat, and there shouldn't be any trip hazards such as an uneven floor. Non-slip paint can also be used in areas with high foot traffic to prevent slips and falls. The layout of a warehouse needs to be carefully constructed to maximise space but minimise potential injuries. Isles that are too small can be hazardous, and there should be clear exit points in case of an emergency or a fire in the warehouse.
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