Winter is a time of year during which an extensive range of workplaces become inherently more hazardous. Contrary to popular belief, this doesn’t only apply to working environments that involve working outdoors. Indeed, warehouses represent prime examples of exactly the kinds of workplaces that can become significantly more dangerous during winter, unless a proactive attitude is taken to health and safety at all times.

So while the winter weather is really biting, we thought we’d share a few very basic health and warehouse safety tips to help keep things in order throughout the season:

1. Mats and Carpets

First of all, never underestimate the importance and value of high quality mats and carpets around the place. The simple fact of the matter is that while these kinds of additions to the workplace are guaranteed to become rather dirty and disgusting over time, they nonetheless reduce the likelihood of slips and falls enormously. Anywhere you are dealing with floor space that is likely to become wet and slippery during the winter, it is important to ensure that you have the necessary mats and carpets in place. Even if they quickly become unsightly, this is far better than running the risk of dangerous slips and falls.

2. Sensible Footwear

It is the duty of those in charge of the warehouse to ensure that each and every member of the workforce wears appropriate footwear and in accordance with working conditions. If there is snow, ice or slippery surfaces of any kind, working in the wrong footwear can be nothing short of lethal. It’s not enough to simply take things for granted and assume that each member of the workforce will wear the most appropriate footwear day in and day out. You need to be proactive, ensuring that the correct footwear is worn or providing the necessary footwear if required.

3. Temperature Control

Another area of importance is that of temperature control, given the way in which prolonged cold temperatures or frequent snaps from one temperature to another can have a marked impact on employee health. It’s hard enough to keep a workforce healthy and happy throughout the winter anyway, with so many bugs and viruses doing the rounds. As such, it really is in everyone’s best interests to work hard to the create and maintain a safe and healthy working environment.

4. Delivery Areas

When it comes to your delivery areas and all external spaces in general, you need to be meticulously proactive when it comes to maintaining safe conditions. Salt, snow shovelling, setting bollards in place and so on – all the kinds of duties that need to be taken extremely seriously at this time of year.

5. Constant Supervision

Last but not least, the key to keeping warehouse safety throughout the winter lies in constant supervision of all areas and the involvement of every member of the workforce. Watching out for potential hazards and dealing with them right now rather than later on is the simplest and easiest way of keeping things as safe as possible throughout the winter.