Safety regulations that warehouse managers must take care of

by Ankita Sehgal Freelance Blogger, Lives in New Delhi

Safety standards are often not given due importance in the warehouse industry in our country. Some of the major reasons for this haphazard are the non-availability of resources, inefficient cost management, and unavailability of technology. It is important that warehouse managers follow some guidelines to maintain their supply chains. India is a booming industry as far as supply chains and logistics industry is concerned. The industry is also attracting foreign investors as the labor is much cheaper here. Here are some safety guidelines that managers can follow to minimize the risk in warehouses.

Ensure all the safety equipment is used: Logistics industry is not an easy domain to work in and the employees are often prone to various risks. Equipment like eyewear and hard hats should be used by the employees to ensure safety. Heavy equipment like forklifts or hydraulic dollies to lift loads of material is also used on a daily basis, which is why it is important to put a safety limit for loads and weights to be lifted. Unfortunately, employees working in the warehousing sector in our country are not aware of the safety laws and sometimes have to face severe injuries. There should be enough emergency exits and sprinklers installed in the roof so that any fire emergency can be tackled.

Acknowledge all the potential safety hazards: ‘slip and trip’ hazards are quite common in the warehouse industry. In a lot of cases, employers also face a major leg and hand injuries. Safety checks should be done on a regular basis and the floor should always be kept free from stray cords, liquids, and any other hazardous material that might pose problems to the health of the employees. The cracks and pits on the floor should be attended immediately because these are the prime reason for injury.

Label all the potential hazardous zones: Industrial real estate in India is growing by all leaps and bounds. Though, many people are getting a license for starting a new warehouse but seldom do they know how to stay away from all the major hazards. The industry typically stores a large number of complicated machinery that should be kept away from the reach of new workers. The areas where this complicated machinery is stored should be kept away from the main area and labeled. Owners should illuminate these hazardous zones by painting them in black or white stripes.

Using safe lifting techniques: Loading and unloading material is the first and foremost task of any logistics department. Lifting is considered to be the riskiest business in this domain. While lifting any stuff one should ensure that there is enough space between the source and the destination. The view of the lifter should not get obstructed in any way and all the material used for handling the lifting equipment should be properly used. Equipment like forklift should never be used without any training or authorization.

Constant training of the employees: Educating the staff is the first and foremost thing that the warehouse managers must ensure. Most of the time mishaps happen due to the lack of knowledge among workers. Procedures can be followed more closely and safely if the staff and the management become well aware of the repercussions. Awareness among employees can be spread through word of mouth and proper communication between the staff members. Injuries and accidents can be drastically reduced if information about the safety laws is well imparted to the employees. The complicated equipment should be kept away from the new employees and hazardous areas should be marked with a danger sign on it. Most importantly the staff members should come forward to talk and communicate about the safety issues.