Common Warehouse Accidents and How to Avoid Them

Warehouses are places that are full of activity, hustle and bustle, moving vehicles, and circulation of goods. With so much going around including the use of heavy, sharp and dangerous machinery, operating without proper safety guidelines greatly increases the risk of injuries and fatal disasters.

According to the Liberal Mutual Workplace Safety Index, the cost of disabling illnesses and injuries in 2015 resulted in a cumulative loss of $1 billion to employers. Implementing safety standards should be a top priority regardless of the business’s size and scale of operations. In this article, we take a look at some common warehouse accidents and provide guidelines on avoiding them.

Forklift Accidents

According to the U.S Occupational Safety and Health Administration, around 2 workers get involved in fatal accidents involving forklifts each month. The accidents involve both inexperienced operators as well as veterans and include factors such as the work environment, mental and physical state of the operator, and condition of the forklift.

Conducting forklift training coupled with workshops on industry hazards reduces the risk of serious injury and death. Routine maintenance of all forklifts is essential to identify any faults that may lead to accidents later on.

Collapsing Pallet Racks

 

The primary reason for collapsing pallet racks is the improper storing of materials. The risk of serious injury significantly increases when materials fall from a high tier because then even the smallest of items can become deadly projectiles. To prevent such incidents from occurring, warehouse management can implement a few effective steps such as:

· Wrap and stack the heaviest items on the bottom of the pallet racks and smaller and lighter items on top.

· Ensure proper spacing between the materials to make access easier for forklifts.

· Conduct regular inspections to identify dangers and prevent costly and harmful accidents.

Exposure to Hazardous Materials

Volatile and hazardous materials are often shipped and dropped off at distribution centers that become hotspots for spills and exposure to hazardous substances. It’s often the small leaks instead of large spills that pose the greatest threats to workers. Warehouses that deal with such substances should implement HAZMAT plans to train employees on the proper way of handling, cleaning, and disposing of hazardous materials.

It is mandatory to have workers wear protective equipment and have access to safety data sheets. Even if exposure to deadly substances is minimal, implementing effective HazCom practices and proper response plans are necessary to ensure complete worker safety.

Although accidents are inevitable and their risks can never be completely eliminated, warehouses can and should implement proper safety procedures to reduce the number of injuries within the workplace. Hovair Systems Inc. manufactures pneumatic powered lifting equipment that helps move and transport heavy warehouse equipment. Their air kit solutions are easy to use and provide the maximum level of security for workers. Contact them today for more information.