Warehousing has among the highest industry non-fatal injury and illness rates in American workplaces, alongside other high-risk occupations like delivery and truck drivers, manufacturing workers, and farmers. Not only are safety protocols needed to protect the hundreds of workers who are getting sick and hurt at work, they are also needed to increase productivity and make your workplace attract the right talent to help you succeed in the long run.
When done with intention, safety is more than just compliance. It encourages a culture of safety, buy-in, and accountability that workers will recognize and appreciate, contributing both to the bottom line and the daily positive experience of each worker.
OSHA’s warehouse safety guidance
Warehousing is one area in which OSHA’s guidance, inspection, and corrective actions has been relatively weak compared to other industries. In fact, a report in 2023 by the Department of Labor highlighted OSHA’s limited number of warehouse inspections, failure to target high-injury warehouse sites, and limited data on warehouse injuries and illnesses as key shortfalls in OSHA’s oversight.
This means that relying on the requirements of the law to dictate your safety practices is not guaranteed to lower injury or illness rates or contribute to a healthy culture of safety. By all means, follow OSHA’s guidelines, but understand that there's room to think more deeply about safety and how it contributes to a workplace culture that people want to be a part of.
Personal protective equipment (PPE)
Most warehouse workers know the importance of PPE for their workplace, from hard hats and high-vis jackets to steel-toe boots and gloves. One thing we want to ensure is that workers are using PPE appropriately and consistently, whether they’re stepping into the warehouse during a break from the office or working a full shift.
Another aspect related to PPE are personal assistive devices, whether medically required or simply recommended for injury prevention and support. This includes a wide variety of wearable braces, protective pads, and even ergonomic devices like lumbar support braces for people who sit in a vehicle or at a desk for long periods.
Vehicle safety
Pallet jacks, forklifts, and other warehouse vehicles are vital to the function of your business but also pose risks of accidents and injuries, especially to pedestrian workers. As you’re well aware, ensure only licensed operators have access to warehouse vehicles and consider providing regular training, re-certification, and vehicle operation accountability to keep people safe both on and away from the vehicle.
Additional safety features that may be an afterthought to training skilled operators can also help reduce the risk of vehicular injury in a warehouse, including:
- High visibility wayfinding markers, such as color-coded driving lanes, large signage, and clearly marked pedestrian zones
- Visual enhancement devices like curved mirrors for safe cornering
- White noise reversing alarms for easier detection of reversing vehicles
- Regular inspection of vehicle safety features and overall function
Fire safety
Regular training on your workplace’s fire prevention plan is essential to minimizing the risk of devastating loss to assets as well as risk to personnel. Keep fire safety checklists and protocols easily accessible and review individual responsibilities for maintenance of equipment regularly.
Performing fire drills is also helpful not only to review evacuation plans, but also to encourage workers to take safe, compliant actions in case of fire. When workers are unsure how to handle the outbreak of a fire, for example, they may take risky actions, such as attempting to put the fire out on their own or attempting to move equipment or valuable assets before evacuating themselves from the premises. People should be aware that your priority is their safety far above the safety or security of equipment.
Natural disaster response
Finally, many warehouses are vulnerable to the threat of natural disasters specific to your region, including tornadoes, hurricanes, and earthquakes. Ensure your facility has natural disaster protocols no matter how “rare” or unlikely events have been historically in your area. These protocols should inform safety practices beyond evacuation or shelter-in-place plans, including proper racking and storage solutions for earthquake-prone areas, for example.
Your partner in warehouse safety
Besides the existential threat of acts of God, your warehouse is subject to day-to-day safety challenges posed by your industry, business model, and personnel. These overlapping challenges make warehousing a relatively accident-prone industry, but accidents don’t have to be normal.
At Work-Fit, we provide customized, on-site consulting and resources to ensure your team follows safety guidelines that are not only compliant with regulations, but also empower your team to feel that they are truly a part of a culture of safety. Learn more about our specific solutions for your industry and workflows by starting a conversation with our team today.
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