Warehouse health and safety is an essential requirement because it keeps your employees free from harm and accidents, while also protecting you if an issue does occur. Of course, health and safety plays a much larger role, especially in a warehouse. If you want to explore the intricacies of health and safety and why you need them, then keep reading this short guide.
What are warehouse health and safety regulations?
Typically, health and safety is similar no matter the industry. It all revolves around risk and ensuring your employees are safe, but in a warehouse, there are many more issues to consider.
For instance, if your warehouse has multiple floors, are there suitable railings around the walkways to prevent accidental falls. You can also consider whether your floor is in good condition, or if it’s becoming a trip hazard.
You should also consider how your facility operates, and the goods you store. These are all things that can be influenced by health and safety. For example, heavy items should never be stored high up, as this can cause your workers injury when they attempt to retrieve it.
To make sure you’re fully protected, we recommend that you stay up to date with the latest OSHA standards regarding health and safety in warehouses.
Why is health and safety important in a warehouse
Health and safety practices are crucial no matter where you go, but they are crucial in a warehouse because there is much more risk than in other places, like a coffee shop. Keep reading as we explore some of the most important reasons to use health and safety in your warehouse.
Reducing injury, illness, and fatalities
It’s no secret that an unsafe warehouse poses a significant risk to everyone involved. If machinery is used, for example, this will require proper guards to prevent your workers from getting injured or worse. Certain types of machinery can use sharp blades, which are likely to cut or amputate if not adequately covered. You may want to use time delay relays to ensure the machinery doesn’t activate while an employee is at risk.
By having all the correct protections in place, your employees will be kept safe, and will be able to keep working without issue.
Lowering employee turnover
Of course, your employees usually know when a workspace isn’t safe. If you have a high employee turnover, it could be that many of them simply don’t feel comfortable working in an unsafe environment. On the other hand, if your warehouse caters to their needs and keeps them safe, your employees are likely to stay with your business for a long time.
Boosting productivity
When your employees are working in a safe environment, they’re also able to be more productive. That’s because they don’t have to worry for their own safety, and can focus on doing their jobs without injury.