By law, it is the responsibility of an employer to ensure the safety of his workers. A warehouse is not only a store for your products but also a store for many hazards, accidents, and injuries. In this article, we will look into the safety protocol, tips, and guidelines to make your warehouse a safe working place with a warehouse guards. When it comes to warehouse safety, it is highly important to be proactive and always have to be vigilant with the activities going on in the warehouse. Moreover you can try to mitigate risks and injuries in your facility.
Maintenance of warehouse equipment:
Maintenance of security equipment plays a very important role in warehouse safety. Warehouse equipment like forklifts is involved in thousands of warehouse injuries every year. if they are not in proper working condition, the person handling them can be in danger.
Removing potential hazards:
You must remove all the potential hazards in your warehouse to ensure maximum safety. Potential safety hazards can include slippery or worn-out floors, naked and stray electrical wires, oil or gas leaks, etc. these potential hazards can lead to severe accidents and injuries to the warehouse workers.
keep firefighting equipment:
A warehouse is a place where a company’s products are stored. A large number of stocked products can be vulnerable to a huge fire causing not only monetary losses but also casualties and injuries. That’s why firefighting equipment must always be present like fire extinguishers, signage, sprinkles, and first-aid kid. The use of firefighting equipment at the right time can save many lives and prevent countless injuries.
Label hazardous zones properly:
The warehouse is filled with dangerous equipment and zones that can prove themselves very harmful if not properly labeled. Such dangerous equipment must be stored in a separate area and it must be labeled as a hazardous zone with symbols in yellow color. They can also be highlighted by illuminating the pathways with fluorescent tapes or paint. Marking the dangerous zones enables to reduce of employee accidents and injuries.
Personal protective equipment:
The warehouse safety for the workers can also be ensured by providing personal protective equipment (PPE). It is the law that PPE kits must be available at every warehouse to prevent accidents and injuries. The PPE kits include protective footwear, eye goggles, gas masks, hard hats, etc. depending upon the nature of their work. To treat minor injuries, a first-aid kit including bandages, ointments, and important medicines must also be available.
Employee training:
Working at the warehouse isn’t just about heavy lifting and stock managing. The employees must undergo special training in which they learn about safety protocols and dos and don’ts of warehouse jobs. The warehouse workers must be trained before being employed on the proper ways to lift and carry the load, using forklifts, flatbeds, ladders, and other equipment. Training new employees before hiring them will certainly reduce warehouse accidents.
Use safe lifting techniques:
Safe lifting techniques must always be used when lifting any kind of load. First, the method of transportation must be accessed. If the transportation requires lifting, make sure that there are no obstacles in the path. The load must not block the view of the lifter. Make sure that the final destination has enough space for the load. Proper operating measures must be followed and all materials must be used carefully. Use push instead of pulling technique.
Regular safety drills:
Having regular safety drills in the warehouse is a great method of creating awareness about warehouse safety among the workers. These drills play a very important role to train the workers on the safety protocol in case a fire breaks out or any other emergencies. They help the staff know in advance their responsibilities and help them lead. Familiarizing the workers with such situations reduces panic, anxiety, and confusion and helps them remain calm.
Hiring warehouse security guards:
Another way to increase the safety of your warehouse is to hire a warehouse security guard. A warehouse security guard will not only protect your products from theft and vandalism but he’d also look out for potential threats like fire and eliminate them to ensure maximum security. Contact dg security services to provide you with the best warehouse guards.
Important security contacts:
It is really important for the safety of a warehouse that important emergency and security contacts must be known to everyone. An easy way to do that is to paste them in big fonts on the main working area of the warehouse so they are easily accessible if needed. These numbers may include local police, nearest hospitals, fire stations, etc.
Conclusion:
A warehouse is not a playland to fool around. It is a serious workplace with real life-threatening risks. Without proper care and attention, many injuries and accidents can occur in a warehouse. Follow the above-mentioned steps to ensure the maximum safety of a warehouse. Call DG Security Services now.