Warehouse workers perform a range of tasks including managing inventory, breaking down bulk material labels, organizing transportation, loading trucks and packing orders.
People who work in the storage or warehousing industry face grave dangers.
According to the Bureau of Labour Statistics in 2016, the warehouse industry was responsible for five accidents per 100 workers. These are the most common hazards that can inflict injury on warehouse workers.
1. Slips, Trips & Falls
OSHA states that slips, trips and falls account for most general industry accidents. They are responsible for 15% of all accident-related deaths, and are the second most important cause of death after motor vehicles.
These accidents can be quite common, but if you take the necessary precautions, they are easy to avoid. Although falls from heights are the most serious, even slips and trips on the same platform can lead to severe consequences.
It is important that employees keep their work areas clean and free of clutter. This will reduce the risk of trip and fall injuries, such as slips and falls.
It is important to clear any obstructions from walkways and aisles when workers leave their workplace. employees should take all steps to remove spillages as soon as possible.
Another aspect that is often overlooked when it comes to workplace injuries is lighting. Because they make it difficult to see the ground below, insufficient lighting can cause accidents.
These are just a few examples of common-sense, easy steps employers can take to avoid accidents, slips and falls.
2. Falling Objects And Exposure To Hazardous Substances
If there are shelves high in a workplace, the possibility of objects falling is a concern. Even pallets stacked high with objects could fall over if they aren’t securely secured.
You can inflict injury on anyone who is near you when lifting or moving objects with a forklift.
Warehouses are also known to contain hazardous chemicals. These chemicals can spill and the warehouse workers may use cleaning chemicals to clean them.
These chemicals can cause long-lasting health problems. Flammable substances pose a serious danger.
3. Pallet Rack Collapses
Pallet rack collapses are often caused by materials not being placed in an orderly and safe manner. Collapses at the mezzanine or higher levels are especially dangerous as even the most innocent objects can become deadly if they are dropped from a distance.
Wrapping and stacking pallet racks is the best way to avoid a collapse. Place the largest and most heavy items on the bottom and place the lighter and smaller items on the top.
To avoid any collapse issues when lifting pallets, ensure they have enough space between them. Pallet rack safety programs that regularly inspect pallet racks for potential hazards and problems can help to avoid expensive accidents.
4. Crush injuries and machinery accidents
In a warehouse, the most common crush injuries result from operating forklift, pallet trucks and packaging machinery. Accidents caused by operating machinery in the warehouse can be severe, especially if workers become trapped in or underneath machinery.
The HSE reported that, in 2018, being trapped by something collapsing or overturning caused 10% of fatal accidents, and 10% of non-fatal accidents in the workplace.
Forklift injuries are among some of the most common in warehouses, and can prove the most dangerous. These accidents are usually caused by poor training, inadequate supervision, little or no maintenance of machinery or poor delineation of gangways.
According to the British Safety Council, around 1,300 UK employees are hospitalised each year with serious injuries following a forklift accident. These injuries can range from fractures, dislocations and broken bones, to life-changing amputations.
In a warehouse, failure to properly shelve items – because of a fellow employee’s carelessness or poorly constructed shelves – can cause serious head injuries. A heavy item falling on a worker could even cause a brain injury, particularly if a hard hat is not worn.
Preventing warehouse injuries
Employers have a legal responsibility to protect all of their employees as well as contractors and visitors to the warehouse from risk of accident or injury.
Accidents in a warehouse can be prevented with the following precautions:
- Signs – signs and floor markings should be clearly placed around the warehouse to warn of hazardous areas and indicate where PPE is needed
- Equipment checks – equipment and vehicles, like forklifts, should be maintained in a safe condition and should be inspected regularly to ensure they are safe to use
- Training – all employees should have full health and safety training.
Last Words
Employers must provide safe work environments. Both ethics and law require that they do so. However, safety investments can have tangible financial benefits. If the working environment is pleasant, employees will be more likely to stay at work.
Employers can make an effort to prevent accidents. This will increase morale and productivity. Also, employees won’t miss work if they aren’t injured.
The transportation and logistics industries lost over 100,000 days of work in 2015 due to injuries or illnesses that required time off. This is not the way to run an operation.
Safety should always be your first priority, even if you have the financial bottom line as your top priority.
Contact us if you need to find the best compensation lawyers to handle such cases.