Warehouses are inherently dangerous workplaces, but that’s compounded with the introduction of extreme weather – like the heat that we experience here in the Greater St. Louis area. Even for warehouses across the country, a rise in temperature means added layers of risk. If you’re a warehouse manager, ensure that your current summer warehouse safety procedures include these considerations, tips, and best practices — on top of the measures you’re already taking. Your workers are undoubtedly your company’s most important…
E-commerce has been booming for years now, and the pandemic has only served to accelerate that growth. Additionally, retailers are stocking up on popular holiday gifts and inventory to get ahead of expected supply chain issues and backlogs. All of this is cumulative and presents warehouse managers with additional warehouse safety risks and challenges. It’s essential to understand how to optimize your warehouse management strategy to keep employees safe and costs under control. When it comes to the non-traditional shift…
Warehouses are fast-paced, inherently dangerous worksites, which means there needs to be clear, accurate signage that protects pedestrians and equipment operators alike. Strategic warehouse signage can also keep the facility well-organized and boost the productivity of employees. Although those are just a few reasons to utilize warehouse signage, you should really invest in warehouse signage to stay compliant with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Warehouse Signage Types The type of signage…
Summer is traditionally a busy time in warehouses and a recent boom in eCommerce popularity has compounded that activity. Along with increasingly extreme weather situations and an expanded focus on job safety, these are just a few reasons why you should be focusing on summer warehouse safety once the season rolls around. Why Is Summer Dangerous for Your Warehouse? Warehouses are inherently dangerous worksites to begin with, but seasonal temperature and weather changes increase that risk of danger. Higher temperatures…
Did you know that there are an estimated one million forklifts currently in use in the US? That leaves plenty of potential for accidents -- in fact, OSHA reports that forklift accidents cause roughly 35,000 serious injuries and 85 fatal accidents every year. It’s also reported that nearly 25% of these accidents happen because of inadequate training. By revisiting forklift safety fundamentals and relaying this information through training and continuing education, managers can build and maintain a thriving culture of…
Winter weather is coming, and that means increased challenges in the warehouse. Frequently accessed loading doors and docks not only raise energy output and expenses, but a colder warehouse is also far less comfortable for employees. While it’s not possible to close the doors for months at a time, there are ways to keep utility bills low and workers safe and warm so check out the winter warehouse safety tips below. Around The Warehouse Start with the doors: Only open…
A warehouse by its very nature presents a long list of safety challenges, and many of them happen on and around forklift equipment. In fact, OSHA has estimated that each year there are 85 fatal accidents, 34,900 accidents resulting in serious injury, and 61,800 non-serious incidents attributed to forklifts. While mitigating the risk of forklift accidents is multi-pronged, knowing which accidents are the most common and understanding how to prevent them can help create a culture of safety. Rollovers Forklift…
What comes to mind first when you think about the safety of your warehouse? Even well-trained employees and properly maintained equipment can’t mitigate the risk that’s presented when you ignore the safety of your warehouse shelving and racks. Accidents and costly OSHA violation fines could create a working environment that’s far from ideal, and could even cause disruption to your workflow and even closure of your facility. With that in mind, there are a handful of best practices and OSHA…
Slowing down warehouse productivity is a problem at any time, but that’s especially true as the world faces the coronavirus pandemic. It’s time to take a closer look at how to optimize processes in every corner of your facility to make it a workplace that prioritizes health and safety. Receiving While experts still aren’t fully certain if COVID-19 can spread through packaging, there is data that suggests it could remain on cardboard for up to a day, and plastic and…
Warehouse Maintenance Tips. Keeping your warehouse safe and running smoothly means committing to a proper maintenance schedule. Clean, well-maintained warehouses offer employees an environment that mitigates the risk of serious accidents. It also helps the organization’s bottom line by promoting productivity. When it comes to creating a maintenance plan that works for your warehouse, it’s a good idea to have a two-prong approach: Consider implementing strategies that address ongoing preventive maintenance as well as emergency maintenance. Preventive Maintenance If…
Fundamentals of Forklift Safety. It doesn’t matter if you’ve been working on a forklift for years or if this is your first week on the job; it’s always helpful to have safety reminders when it comes to using this piece of equipment in the warehouse. We consulted with safety experts, industry veterans, and existing safety guidelines to offer basic safety best practices that you may or may not be using. Remember -- a forklift is nothing like a car and…
Holiday Shipping Season. New research shows that fatigued employees cost employers around $136 billion a year due to absenteeism, health-related costs, and lost productivity -- to the tune of more than $3000 per employee. As we head into the holiday shopping season and warehouse activity is poised to heat up for the busiest time of the year, it’s important to understand how you can optimize your warehouse management strategy to keep employees safe and costs under control. Warehouses see their…
Warehouse Dock Design. Believe it or not, holiday shopping (and shipping!) season is right around the corner. You may have your inventory management down pat and a good handle on your materials handling, but if your loading dock isn’t optimized your whole supply chain could suffer. Whether you’re building a new warehouse or taking a closer look at what you currently have it’s important to focus on some factors that could make or break your design -- including elements like…
Forklift Maintenance Best Practices Forklift Maintenance Best Practices. There’s no doubt that warehouse management strategies come in all shapes and sizes, but one thing that’s universal is a comprehensive approach to equipment maintenance -- and that’s non-negotiable. Of all the equipment used in a manufacturing facility or warehouse on a daily basis, the forklift is probably the one that is depended on the most to keep things flowing and moving efficiently and safely. Think about this: What would happen to…
Industrial Facilities Through Proper Cleaning Industrial Facilities Through Proper Cleaning. The following is a guest post contributed by ServiceMaster Commercial Cleaning, a Virginia-based commercial cleaning franchise that specializes in industrial cleaning services. A clean workplace is more than just providing a fresh, sanitary environment for workers. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were approximately 2.9 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses reported by private industry employers in 2016. Many workplace injuries and illnesses can be prevented by maintaining a…
