In the UK, there were 650,208 workplace injuries reported in one year. Many of these injuries and illnesses are likely to have taken place inside warehouses.
Warehouse safety has always been a priority. There are various safety tips to follow that will ensure you are safe whilst working. Your employer should provide you with adequate training before you begin your first shift. Undergoing thorough training will help you to minimize the chances of sustaining an injury whilst working.
Alongside what your employer should already inform you, here are a few additional ways to keep safe whilst on a shift in a warehouse.
Wear The Appropriate Safety Gear
Safety should happen before you start a shift before you even walk into a warehouse. There is a variety of different safety equipment that you can wear to help prevent injuries. Essential to every workplace, workwear clothing not only sets your staff apart from the rest but keeps them safe and protected from potential risks, too.
It could be a hard hat to protect your head or a back brace to reduce the chances of your straining your back from heavy lifting. The appropriate footwear, either safety trainers or boots from Safety Boots UK can help to protect your feet should something be dropped. These are just a few of the safety equipment that you can wear for your shift.
Each piece is designed to protect different parts of the body, in the event of an accident occurring. Wearing hardhat to shift could be the difference between you suffering from a slight headache or suffering from a concussion, especially one that keeps you out of work for a while.
Be Constantly Aware
Warehouses are a busy environment and there is always something going on. This consists of pallets being lifted and moved with scissor lifts from Materials Handling or a similar company, people rushing around to complete tasks, as well as forklifts being driven around. There is never a quiet time! Whilst on shift, ensure that you are always on high alert, never letting your guard down. Remaining aware of what is happening, you can avoid accidentally bumping into another person or an object and then causing an accident to occur.
Regularly Sweep Floors
Falls are one of the most common warehouse injuries employees sustain whilst on shift. When people fall, they injure their heads, arms, wrists, legs and other areas of the body. It is often likely the reason behind a person falling is due to something lying on the ground that had not been properly cleared up. Littered amongst the floors of almost all warehouses are dirt, water, sawdust, amongst other things.
Instead of spending your working hours walking around on these things that could cause you to injure yourself, make an effort to sweep the floors. It does not have to happen every hour. Cleaning the floors once every few hours will help prevent dirt and other hazards from building up and creating slippery surfaces.
Report Potential Hazards
Whilst it is important to stay alert when working, it is equally as important to report any unsafe working conditions. During your time working in a warehouse, there will be occasions where you do notice areas that are unsuitable to work in. It could be a spill that needs clearing up, a ladder industrial sitting out, or someone that does not appear to be in the best condition to operate a forklift.
Instead of ignoring the possible hazard and expecting it to disappear on its own, inform the warehouse supervisor immediately for them to resolve the issue. In doing so, you could have prevented an accident from happening by informing others of the dangerous working conditions.
Take A Break And Stay Hydrated
Many warehouse working hours are roughly 12-hour shifts. When starting, these long hours in a warehouse can be daunting. Most warehouses will often be warm environments, which over time can take its toll on your body, especially if you do not take any breaks. Try to take a break at least once every few hours. Take a moment to step outside and get some fresh air before you return to work. Alongside taking a break, drink plenty of water to avoid dehydrating during your shift.
If you feel as though you are not receiving the number of breaks that you deserve, speak to your supervisor about it immediately. Having a break will help to keep your mind and body sharp as you work. Both of which are crucial when working in a busy environment such as a warehouse.
Following these safety tips will help to keep you safe as you begin working in a warehouse. By adhering to them, you will notice a significant difference in how the warehouse operates. There might even be a decline in the total of illnesses and injuries that are reported by your fellow employees. Although many of these tips are small changes, they can make a massive difference.
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