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Tips on Warehouse Safety
Some of the main causes of accidents in warehousing are: slips and trips; manual handling operations; work at height; vehicles in and around the warehouse; and moving or falling objects. The HSE gives advice on how to try and reduce the danger posed by these risks.
Slips and Trips
- Try to avoid any spills on the floor, and when there is a spillage make sure it is dealt with quickly.
- Apply the correct matting or flooring to increase the traction on the ground
- Provide footwear that can reduce the likelihood of a slip (as a last resort)
- Make sure pathways are clear by planning workflows and maintaining traffic routes
- Provide good lighting
Manual Handling
- Avoid any risky manual handling when reasonably practicable
- Introduce mechanical aids in manual handling operations
- Provide information on heavy or unwieldy loads
- Provide suitable training in safe manual handling techniques and use of any manual handling equipment
Work at Height
- Avoid work at height when reasonably practicable
- Properly plan, supervise and provide training for all work at height
- Use the right equipment for work at height
- Only use ladder and stepladders when necessary and the task is low risk and short duration
- Do not use fork-lift trucks for accessing work at height
- Do not climb on racking unless it is designed for this purpose
- Regularly inspect all equipment used for work at height
Vehicles In and Around the Warehouse
- Manage deliveries through communication on health and safety between exchanging companies (provide any visiting drivers with relevant information)
- Ensure pedestrian safety by separation of vehicle and pedestrian traffic routes (where not possible take other control measures)
- Minimise the need for reversing, sharp bends and blind corners
- Carry out any required maintenance of traffic routes
- Ensure safe systems of work when loading and unloading vehicles
- Make sure all loads are secure before vehicles are moved
Moving or Falling Objects
- If there is a risk of a falling object in a specific area – make sure this is clearly indicated and that people do not enter this area
- Make sure all mechanical handling equipment is suitable for the job it is being used for
- Regularly inspect and maintain (as per manufacturer’s recommendations) all mechanical handling equipment
- Inspect and maintain all pallets or containers
- Ensure all pallets are correctly and securely loaded
- Ensure all storage systems are properly designed, installed and used
- Protect racking systems if likely to be struck by vehicles or equipment
- Carry out regular rack inspections (these should include regular visual inspections by relevant staff as well as ‘expert’ inspections carried out at intervals by a competent person – this could be a SEMA approved rack inspector)
- Make sure the recommendations of any rack inspector are carried out as soon as possible