These are accidents that occurred in warehouses around the UK within the past two years.
Impaling, crushing, mangled limbs, hair ripped out from it’s roots.
These shocking warehouse accidents are preventable, yet they still occur because of simple Health & Safety procedures are disregarded.
In the bid to hit KPIs and targets (thank goodness, peak has passed, for another eight moths), we tend to turn a blind eye at practices that can have devastating consequences.
Take the worker who climbs a sorter, almost six metres up, to dislodge a blockage. In a bid to get the conveyor clear, he shimmies up the side, using no ladders or safety gear. Any number of things could go wrong. He could miss his footing, he could put his weight on an unsecured part of the machine. When he falls, who will be blamed? EVERYONE. The line manager, the supervisor, the Health & Safety official on site, and the firm itself.
In trying to hit our targets, managers must be mindful of the risk on their staff.
Warehouse accidents can sound almost comical when relayed, but the pain felt by the injured or bereaved is no joke. Common scenarios that lead to accidents include:
1. The warehouse environment presents a unique set of hazards:
- Government HSE regulations state that employers must provide a temperature in the workplace that’s ‘reasonable’ at all times. A minimum of 16 degrees Celsius is recommended. But with the big freeze on it’s way in, warehouse need to be heated to keep within the government’s rules. Extreme cold can lead to frostbite, hypothermia and aggravate respiratory conditions.
- Poorly lit work environments can result in horrific accidents. Working in a dark yard, a trailer driver who had to use a torch to find his way around. He dropped the torch and whilst bending to retrieve it, he was hit by a reversing lorry. He broke his pelvis, ribs and an arm.
- Did you hear of the warehouse worker who was swept off the top of a building, while carrying out repairs? I bet you didn’t think the wind was a potentially dangerous element around the warehouse.
2. While walkways can be erected and marked, keeping them clear must also be a priority.
There have been reports of accidents involving pedestrians who left the walkway because it was blocked. This puts them in the path of moving machinery and potential accidents.
3. The use of material handling equipment is greatly encouraged, but we must also be aware of their limitations. Working with equipment in confined spaces must be discouraged as they can overbalance and lead to severe crushing injuries.
4. Incorrect manual handling and movement can also lead to compounding and life-changing injuries.
RSI, MSD and slipped discs are common injuries that result from incorrect lifting techniques and improper use of material handling equipment.
5. Drive-away incidents would be funny if seen on an episode of You’ve Been Framed, but the life-changing injuries they cause are nothing to laugh about.
Trailer drivers must ensure they don’t park on slopes and engage the parking brake every time they step out of he vehicle.
6. Pallet racking collapse is a common warehouse accident.
The most common cause is constant bumps from forklifts. Some companies ‘repair’ damaged pallet racking by using a jig and hydraulics! All to avoid offloading the pallets before undertaking the repair.
Some of these scenarios seem impossible to imagine, yet they happen everyday. When questioned, managers are quick to blame targets and having to meet deadlines for their attitudes. In every instance, the firm was fined between £15,000 and £70,000 for an accident that could have been avoided. The compensation is rarely enough to improve the diminished quality of life and does nothing in the case of a fatality.
Changing Attitudes
Your staff must think SAFETY as soon as they get into work. That is the ONLY way you can achieve and maintain a safe work environment. This eventually leads to a higher level of staff motivation, more efficient processes and more profits for your bottom line. Organizational change is easier said than done, but following the checklist below will put your warehouse on the path to a better safety record.
1. Enforce the use of the correct PPE by everyone on the warehouse floor.
2. Make warehouse processes more efficient by assessing and reducing numbers of drop and pick-up points. Are all walkways clearly marked, do you have barriers in place segregating zones?
3. Enforce strict housekeeping and keep aisles dry and free from debris. Encourage staff to pick up as they work, to avoid trips and falls.
4. All hazardous areas must be clearly marked. Traffic zones, closets with chemicals, exits etc., must all be clearly marked with warning signs.
5. Ensure your staff understand how to use material handling equipment. For example, pallet truck users must always stack loads so that they can see over the load.
6. Carry out continuous risk assessment for all sections of the warehouse. An example for the loading bay would check the lighting in the area, the Check space constraints, risk of falls from height, visibility for those working in d area, integrity of guardrails etc.
7. When loading shelves, ensure that bigger, more solid loads are at the bottom and smaller ones on top.
8. Foster a listening culture throughout the organization. Train all staff to report ANY unsafe practices.
9. Prevent pallet racking collapse with regular inspection.
10. Monitor and supervise staff regularly to ensure compliance and safe working practices. Take disciplinary measures on any employee who suffers an accident due to their own negligence or disregard for safe working practices.
Lackadaisical health and safety measures are only one incident away from becoming a big headache for everyone involved.
Use our checklist to determine where your firm falls short and correct those practices before it’s too late. Monarch Shelving Limited is a supplier of new and high grade refurbished pallet racking. To avoid losing staff and paying heavy fines, use only quality racking. Call us today for competitive prices.
