The warehouse is not only the storage space for your inventory but it also holds numerous dangers. Follow our guide on the safe storage and as well as movement within your warehouse covered in the following topics; warehouse housekeeping, common sense and basic warehouse rules. It will give you a thorough insight into the importance of warehouse safety.

Materials handing equipment, warehouse machinery and even tools can cause harm to staff in many ways and can cause both minor or major injury. Any warehouse worker can slip, trip or fall. A forklift may have its obvious dangers but what about box cutters and splinters from wooden pallets?

Warehouse dangers are constantly changing based on the following factors:

The warehouse task being performed,
Warehouse Equipment or Machinery that is being used, and
Items that are being handling or moved around the warehouse.

It is important to keep up good warehouse housekeeping within the warehouse in order to maintain a high level of warehouse safety. With housekeeping in place it will enable your employees to work in a more productive and effective environment. Below is a list of warehouse housekeeping rule examples you can implement in your warehouse:

Clean up spills as soon as possible, ensure your warehouse stocks the correct spill kits for the items you store in your warehouse. View our range here.
Throw out trash immediately and in the correct manner.
Make sure there is no trip hazards on the warehouse floor and remove any that may be present.
Do a regular check on floor and aisle spaces, ensure there are no obstructions to the movement of staff or machinery.
Ensure there is always a clear access to sprinklers, fire safety equipment and fire exits.
Check that sharp tools aren't left lying around in the warehouse.
Move all items to their assigned place immediately, don't move them from one stopping point to another.
Check for loose wires and cords on the warehouse floor and remove them.

By simply using common sense it is one of the best methods in protecting warehouse staff from danger. The basic rules listed below should be adopted by your warehouse staff:

Ensure the correct and required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is worn - hard hats, gloves, gloves and safety shoes.
Obey warning and danger signs as well as warehouse signage.
When storing and stacking inventory make sure that the load is stable and secure and it won't present a fire hazard.
At all times watch where you are going and focus on the task at hand.
Pay attention to those around - look out for materials handling and machinery on the move in the warehouse.
Be on the alert for dangers and be sure to report them using the organisations Hazard Report method.
Make sure that safety is the first consideration in all the actions of the warehouse staff.

With so many dangers in the warehouse it's important to be aware of basic rules in place for OH&S purposes. These apply to the organisation and they should be monitored to ensure that the standards are being maintained in the warehouse. Below are a few rules to be aware of:

Regulations on the selection and use of PPE
Rules on walking and working surfaces.
Racking and shelving storage limits.

There are also rules around the use of materials handling that warehouse staff should be aware of. Whether staff are using equipment or themselves to maneuver objects around the warehouse, the following rules should be followed.

Make a plan for the movement of the load as the first step - decide on the best way to maneuver the load, make sure there are no obstacles in the movement path and that the destination has space for the load to go into.
Be careful when nearby to conveyors, make sure clothing or loose parts wont get caught.
When lifting items make sure to use a safe technique.
If items are being carried in the warehouse, make sure that you can see over the top of the load.
Any machinery or equipment in the warehouse should not be used by anyone without the training or qualifications.
Follow operating procedures of equipment and use it safely.
Push a manual handling equipment around the warehouse as opposed to pushing, where it is possible and lean in the direction that you are moving.
If a pallet truck is being used make sure that heaviest part is on the bottom and awkward or bulky items are secured.

Warehouses are dangerous environments and they contain many opportunities for accidents and injuries to happen. Warehouse dangers are always changing depending on what is happening in the warehouse at the current time. With almost each warehouse activity covered by an OH&S regulation it is important that staff are aware and understand them so your operations remain compliant. By following our guide on the warehouse housekeeping, common sense and basic rules you can take a step in making your warehouse a safer environment.