Warehouse Safety Guidelines
- 1. www.envirotechint.com 1. Make expectations clear. Your staff should always know the correct procedures. That means expectations should be posted in a prominent place close to equipment. Posters and signage that spell out proper conduct are excellent tools to help everyone understand what is expected of them. 2. Be consistent. Consistency is key for a safe warehouse environment. Establish minimum standards, such as requiring everyone in the facility to wear hard hats. This will provide the foundation on which you can build a culture of safety. 3. Make training a priority. Regular training sessions are crucial. These not only educate newer employees about expectations, but they also reinforce them in veterans. Everyone can benefit from periodic reminders of how to work safely. 4. Test your employees. Safety must be top-of-mind for everyone in a warehouse. One of the best ways to reinforce that is to hold random “pop quizzes” to test workers’ knowledge. 5. Start a committee. When staff members hold one another accountable for proper behavior, the culture becomes much stronger. This is why it can be valuable to form a committee of employees from multiple levels to oversee the implementation of safety policies. 6. Incentivize safe behavior. Publicly rewarding safe practices may help strengthen the mindset within a warehouse. Establish a recognition program that encourages co-workers to single out those who exemplify good behavior. 7. Keep your eyes open. Simply creating safety protocols and posting them isn’t enough. Managers should be proactive and conduct regular sweeps of their facilities. Anything that appears to be a hazard or could lead to one should be dealt with as soon as possible. 8. Label everything clearly. One of the simplest and most effective strategies for a safe warehouse is proper signage. By clearly designating hazardous areas and equipment, employees know when and where they should be careful. Signs also help them find eye-wash stations, first-aid kits and emergency exits quickly. Warehouses, like any other industrial facilities, can be hazardous places in which to work. Adopting the following standards can help instill a culture of safety in this environment. Warehouse Safety Guidelines