Top 5 Most Common Warehouse Safety Hazards

A warehouse can be a dangerous place where any number of things can go wrong. There can be falling hazards from overhead, unsecured racks, spilled liquids that can cause workers to trip, and heavy machinery that may become out of control.

Worker safety starts with knowing the common warehouse safety hazards and being on the lookout in case something seems to be out of order. Every employee must be trained to spot these dangers and has the knowledge to handle and report these situations.

Fostering this culture of vigilance and safety should be at the forefront of every warehouse managers’ mind. It will not only keep workers safe, but also keep materials, equipment, and even the warehouse itself from coming to harm.

This article will review five common safety hazards in the warehouse industry, backed up by safety facts that help drive home just how dangerous they can be to the health of employees. 

Top 5 Most Common Warehouse Safety Hazards

1. Heavy Equipment Accidents

Heavy equipment such as forklifts and heavy pallets are the leading cause of injuries, and sometimes even fatalities, in the warehouse. Workers run a risk of being hit or run over by forklifts, falling between the trailer and the lift, or falling from an elevated platform. These accidents usually take place due to a warehouse being crowded, inadequate forklift safety training, or just by chance. Rent the right type of material handling equipment is crucial to ensure the best fit of equipment in your warehouse. 

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2. Slips & Falls

The majority of the injuries in the warehouse comprise slips, trips, and falls. The cause of such incidents can be slippery or uneven floors and accumulation of debris, residue, grease, or cords lying in walking areas. Slips & falls are 100% preventable with proper risk management techniques. Repairing walkways, adding non-slip matting, making cleanliness a mantra, and providing consistent employee training will help lower the risks of slips & falls that take employees off the floor and away from helping the company meet objectives.

3. Hazardous Materials

Warehouse operations can also be seen as synonymous with hazardous materials, it just comes with the territory. Hazardous materials can be anything from flammable liquids to radioactive materials, basically, anything that can cause physical harm to an employee. These materials must be handled with care and respected at all times, as severe injuries can result from improper handling. For example, forklifts should not be at risk of connecting with any hazardous materials during normal operations, as this could lead to catastrophic consequences. 

4. Falling Objects 

A lot of warehouses have items stacked up to the high ceiling. In order to maximize the space utilization, the warehouse's racking can be as high as more than 10m easily. Racking can be hard to load properly when it’s out of reach, so it can end up being overloaded. This can usually result in the racking breaking and collapsing, which then sends items hurtling to the ground from quite a height. Should this hit somebody, it’ll cause great damage and injury.

5. Repetitive Motion Injuries

Most warehouse injuries are attached to a sudden, accidental event like a forklift accident. However, there is another warehouse hazard that can have more long-term build-up before an injury event is triggered. Repetitive motions can wear down employees over time, leading to reduced range of motion and lower back and neck pain. If any warehouse operation is experiencing an uptick in injuries linked to repetitive motion a root cause analysis should be initiated.

In Conclusion 

Safety First! Keeping employees safe is the number one priority for any organization. Yes, no companies can ensure 100% free of hazards. However, there is definitely crucial to mitigate the potential accident and reduce its frequency as low as possible. Therefore, it is important for any warehouse to set up its own safety system and constantly communicate the message to workers to ensure 100% all-time awareness.

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