Businesses in fields like ecommerce need more than just well-stocked warehouses—they need safe ones, too. Workplace accidents and emergencies may be far from everyone’s minds, but that doesn’t mean there’s zero chance of one of these happening in your facility.
Warehousing staff is particularly at risk when too many items clutter the space orwhen they don’t take special care during peak activity. It’s also dangerous when they can’t respond to emergency situations on time. They can trip, fall, be hit by items or equipment, or be trapped in the facility during a fire or a storm. Not only will these situations decrease efficiency in your warehouse operations, but they could also seriously endanger the lives and livelihood of your staff.
That’s why warehouse safety should be a top priority among businesses. The business leadership should take special care in implementing the warehouse’s safety protocols and do all that they can to protect the staff from harm. If the responsibility lies with you, then it’s good practice to keep a warehouse safety checklist. Here are some important items that you should have on it.
- Can the company’s
current warehouse keep up with its rate of activity? If not, look into
additional warehousing services from a third-party logistics (3PL) provider. Many successful
ecommerce businesses had their start from garages, tiny offices, or small
warehouses. But at some point, the facility will cease to be enough for the
business’s scale of activity. If this is the case for you, consider getting
additional warehousing services from 3PL services customers trust. 3PL services are
a great way to improve your order fulfillment and deliveries.In addition, they
can provide up-to-date and spacious warehousing solutions. This will allow you
to free up space in your current facility and allow workers to move around
safely.
- Is your warehouse
organized, are the workways clear, and is the environment generally safe for
work? Do the necessary cleanup and reorganization work to make sure it is.It may be basic
knowledge to keep the warehouse in good condition, but there’s no substitute
for attention to the basics. Clear walkways so that there are no obstacles in
the workers’ path, andget rid of unnecessary clutter like paper and packaging.
Check on your warehouse’s equipment to make sure that nothing is unstable or
risky to handle. Address a pest or mold problem as soon as it arises. This
makes for a pleasurable, healthy, and productive work environment for your
warehousing staff.
- Do you have a
committee to oversee warehouse safety? Assemble one and incentivize them to
lead safety in the workplace along with you. Encourage your warehouse staff
to help you in the implementation of the company’s safety protocols, as well as
mediate the staff’s safety-related concerns to the higher-ups. Participation in
a safety committee can be a volunteer initiative, but it would also be good to
reward the staff for the extra work. You can give your safety committee members
a small cash incentive or some perks at the end of each quarter.
- Do you have
emergency signage and safety reminders put up in the at-risk areas of the
warehouse? Make sure that they are posted and in clear sight. Important emergency
signage and safety reminders should be within each worker’s line of vision.
Mark the areas of the warehouse that pose risks if one is not careful, such as
the electrical room. All signage and reminders should be visible and easy to
read.
- Do warehouse
workers know where the first aid kits, fire extinguishers, or emergency exits
are? Make a map of where everything is. Brief each warehouse worker
about where they should go in case of injury, fire, or a situation that
endangers them. You can accompany any safety memos with maps of these
locations. Make them available both in hard copy and in soft copy versions.
- Do you need to check if your company’s safety protocols are actually being met in the warehouse? For reassurance, conduct surprise inspections or test employees at random. Tell the warehouse staff that there is a chance that you will do a spot check or quiz them on their knowledge of safety policies. This should keep them on their feet and motivate them to study the company’s rules and regulations on workplace safety.
Profit isn’t the only thing that matters in keeping a company afloat. Freeing the workplace of hazards, and protecting the health and wellbeing of employees, matters just as much. This safety checklist should go a long way in creating an ideal work environment for the warehouse. Here’s to your company’s safety and productivity.