A warehouse can be a dangerous place to be. You might have hundreds of heavy objects in storage, often at height. You might have heavy machinery moving back and forth. That’s before we even consider the dangers associated with trips and falls, lifting and carrying, and even simply walking long distances over the course of a working day.
If you’re running a warehouse in the UK, then you have a legal obligation to provide your workers with a safe environment. That means putting in place a robust heath and safety policy.
What rules might you put in place?
Let’s consider a few of the hazards inherent in a warehouse, and what might be done to deal with them.
Trips and falls
Trips and falls can be minimised by reducing clutter, and making sure that any spillages are swiftly flagged and dealt with. You might also issue workers with appropriate footwear, and install anti-slip mats around entrances.
Working at height
Cherry pickers, lifts and ladders might all lead to falls from height. Since these can be very dangerous, it’s reasonable to expect this kind of work to be performed only under supervision. If you’re working at height, in other words, you need someone there to make sure that you’re doing so in a safe way.
Handling objects
Much of the work associated with warehousing involved moving objects from one place to another. Getting everyone in the habit of lifting properly is therefore invaluable. You might also provide equipment that can make heavy loads more easily handled, and insist on that equipment being used properly.
Why is health and safety important in a warehouse?
So, why does all of this matter so much? There are a few factors to consider, beyond the immediate ethical benefits of reducing harm to your employees.
First, workers will be less likely to suffer injury or death. As well as being a good thing in and of itself, this will also yield productivity benefits. You’ll have fewer lost working days as a result of absenteeism and presenteeism.
Moreover, you’ll save yourself the trouble of having to train replacement employees, and boost productivity more generally, throughout the warehouse, and your business as a whole.
It should also be noted that you might be held legally responsible for any oversights when it comes to health and safety. If workers should suffer injury, then they might hold you accountable – which, as well as being very expensive, can also lead to reputational damage.
If word should get out that your warehouse is not a safe place to work, then you might have difficulty attracting more employees and customers. The value of your business might also suffer, should you elect to sell.
