In the US alone there are over 145,000 workers in more than 7,000 warehouses. According to OSHA, the fatal injury rate for the warehousing industry is higher than the national average for all industries. This impressively sad data means there’s a lot of work to be done to make sure employees have a safe work environment.

We’ve prepared 8 tips that when followed correctly will have a significant impact on the safety of your employees and assets.

1) Enforce a Safety Checklist

Requiring employees to complete a safety checklist before operating a vehicle is an essential step to protecting both your employees and your vehicles. The checklist should include questions to detect if the vehicle is working properly, if it is allowed to be in use at that time and if the operator is even allowed to use that vehicle.

Using a telematics device to prompt a safety checklist is a great way to ensure it is completed each time. It is important to use a device that provides a checklist that follows OSHA’s safety guidelines so that you can be sure you are always remaining compliant.

Telematics devices with safety checklists provide an extra layer of protection to both the operator and vehicle. If the operator answers the checklist, and it detects that the vehicle is not working correctly, the device will lock the vehicle and send an alarm to the supervisor. Advanced, Access’ safety-first fleet management device, offers this capability in addition to locking down vehicles in need of maintenance.

2) Require Employee Training

Most work-related accidents are usually due to either reckless actions of employees or a lack of knowledge on proper handling of equipment. A mandatory training program is essential to ensure all operators are not a risk to themselves and those around them.

When creating your training program, keep in mind this is not an area you want to cut corners on. Check out OSHA’s booklet on Training Requirements and Standards.

It can also be helpful to place signs throughout the plant reminding each worker of his or her responsibilities. Even the best-trained employee needs a reminder now and again. Through ongoing training and additional support, you can create a safer working environment.

3) Optimize Operating Schedules

You have a job to get done, and a lot of people working hard to get it done for you. It may seem that using all vehicles at once will get it done quicker, but that is not always the case. When it comes to your operating schedule, using a lesser number of vehicles can yield better results.

Using a telematics device, you can dig into usage reports to determine which vehicles are being most productive and which are sitting idle. Redistribute vehicles that are not being used or eliminate unnecessary vehicles altogether. Not only will using a smaller number of vehicles ensure fewer accidents between equipment and their operators but using the ones you have more wisely will increase your overall productivity.

If you are unsure if you are utilizing your equipment fully, schedule a free Fleet Optimization Analysis with one of our fleet experts.

4) Utilize Load Sensing Alarms

With the rush to meet imposed deadlines, some operators may try to cut corners by picking up heavier loads than their vehicle is designed to handle. Doing this can not only damage the vehicle but also the products they are handling. In addition, it poses a risk to the operator and the surrounding workers in the facility if a heavy load were to fall.

Weight limits are rules to be strictly followed. First and foremost, every operator should be aware of the allowed weight that the vehicle can handle as well as the weight of the product. But if you’d like to add an extra layer of protection, you can install a load sensing device that will detect if the load is heavier than allowed and send an alarm if so.

5) Require Safety Gear (PPE)

Wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) is mandatory when working in a facility. While the specifics vary from job-to-job, the most common PPE include hard hats, high visibility jackets, safety goggles, gloves, and boots.

Even with the best training and safety precautions in place, some things are out of our control, especially when it comes to a warehouse environment. Protecting the head, eyes, hands, and even feet could be the necessary safety measure that saves someone’s life. To learn more about PPE regulations, check out what OSHA has to say (click here to read).

6) Enforce a Clean Work Environment

Every aisle, loading dock and passageway where material handling equipment is used should have safe clearance heights marked. When transporting loose or unboxed materials, it’s important to secure all objects by blocking, interlocking or limiting the height to prevent objects from falling. In addition to falling hazards, a cluttered storage area can lead to tripping, fire, explosion or even pest infestations. Objects out of place can also get in the way of moving vehicles and cause serious accidents and injury to employees.

7) Require Lockout/Tagout Procedures

Unless a company is renting its fleet’s forklift, it must provide lockout/tagout (LOTO) procedures when an authorized operator is finished using a machine. The LOTO procedures must include how to properly shut down equipment, disconnect its power supply and eliminate/release stored hazardous energy. Failure to control hazardous energy accounts for nearly 10 percent of severe accidents in many industries.

Proper LOTO practices and procedures safeguard workers from hazardous energy releases. OSHA’s LOTO Fact Sheet describes the methods and procedures necessary to disable machinery or equipment to prevent hazardous energy release.

8) Provide Safe Charging Station Procedures

A charging station can be a hazardous work area for employees as it is routinely exposed to large amounts of chemicals from batteries and chargers.

To protect employees when using a charging station, OSHA recommends a few necessary procedures:

                     1. Provide adequate ventilation to disperse fumes from gassing batteries.

                     2. Prohibit smoking and open flames in and around charging stations.

                     3. Provide an eye-washing and safety shower facility for employees exposed to battery acids.

                     4. Follow trained guidelines and scheduled maintenances

To learn more about proper battery maintenance, check out our recent blog How to Extend Your Battery’s Life by Two Years

Following all of the above safety procedures can decrease the number of accidents and injuries happening in your facility. Our recommendation is to continually review OSHA’s safety guidelines and identify what is lacking in your work environment. We also understand that being on top of every task can be daunting and require a lot of time. Investing in safety telematics device can provide better insight into your operation and more accountability over operator mistakes and recklessness for an overall safer work environment.

If you are interested in learning more about Advanced, our safety-first telematics device, contact an Access representative today!