Warehouses can be dangerous places to work. It's important to understand
warehouse hazards because they can lead to serious injury or even death.
The key thing to remember however is that most injuries and fatalities can be prevented.
Let's identify some potential hazards that could be found in your facility.
Storage and racking systems are integral to keeping your facility organized but
they could collapse if they're improperly installed or damaged.
Hazards associated with racking include partial or total failure which is basically a
collapse of the racking system.
Displaced material or damage due to lift trucks colliding with the racking.
Materials falling from racks when improperly stored.
Poor layout that can be a risk to staff. Loading docks can be dangerous.
We just have to look at stats from the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board to
see that shipping and receiving areas can expose workers to multiple high risk hazards.
Over the last 10 years workers have suffered serious injuries or
fatality from being pinned between a lift truck and loading dock.
Pinned between a loading dock and a trailer, struck by or run over by a truck, struck by falling
items that weren't secured and worst of all workers have been seriously hurt or
even killed due to premature removal of trailers. Workers in shipping and
receiving areas can also be exposed to hazards involving external trucking
firms that deliver and carry loads. See the loading dock video in this series to
learn more about these hazards and how you can prevent injuries.
Let's not forget slips trips and falls. These injuries continue to be an issue
in most Ontario workplaces. According to WSIB almost 20% of all lost
time injury claims are caused by slips, trips and falls. In a warehouse these
injuries can be caused by things like slippery surfaces, possibly because of
oil or grease, seasonal trip hazards like snow and ice,
improper ladder use, changes in walkway levels and slopes, unsecured mats, debris
and items stored in pedestrian walkways and falls from working at heights.
Material handling is also a real problem for warehouse workers. Injuries caused by
lifting or moving items account for almost 40 percent of WSIB claims.
They're caused by things like overexertion from working with awkward postures or lifting
techniques but that's not all. Warehouses have many additional unique
and sometimes ever-changing business activities that could increase risk of injury.
Things like hazards from power tools used during creating and packaging.
Unique equipment hazards from shrink-wrap machines, compactors
conveyors and carousel storage devices.
Contractors doing a variety of tasks on
site or a sudden chemical exposure caused by broken containers substandard
equipment or repairs being done within the facility.
Appropriate training is the key to ensuring your workers understand hazards they face and what they're
expected to do to remain safe. Supervisors should be familiar with the
unique health and safety concerns based by warehouse workers and most
importantly employees should always be encouraged to ask questions and report all safety concerns.
Tune in to the full warehouse video series where we examine
some of these hazards and provide tips for controlling them in your own facility.
I'm Jennifer McFarland This has been your Health and Safety Tip from
Workplace Safety & Prevention Services.
For more information visit WSPS.CA
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