5 Vital Warehouse Safety Principles To Keep In Mind At All Times

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As far as warehouse safety is concerned, there are a great many things that people tend to overlook even to this day. As hard as this may be for some of you to believe, it is true for a lot of warehouses across the board. Things only go wrong when certain safety principles and procedures and completely disregarded and more people need to recognise this fact as soon as possible. After all, once the calamity has occurred, the damage is done and there is little one can do about it.

As they say – prevention is better than cure. Many warehouses across the board tend to neglect key aspects just to save money in the short term. However, the costs of neglecting the overall safety of a warehouse could prove to be extremely high in the long run. Unfortunately, a lot of warehouse owners don’t realise this fact until it’s too late.

Having said that, warehouses across the board need to make the implementation of all of the safety regulations a key priority in every sense of the word. Since the warehouse is the centre of every work and business related aspect across the board, one must ensure that it remains safe at all times. On that very note, let us take a closer look at the five most important safety principles of a warehouse:-

Be sure to eliminate all potential safety hazards: This means that there should be no “slip and trip” hazards anywhere to be seen plus the safety check needs to be carried out on a regular basis. Any cracks in the wall and floor plus loose equipment and wiring should be taken care of immediately.

Make sure that safety equipment is used as much as possible: For items that are too heavy to lift manually, all the necessary provisions must be there such as hydraulic dollies as well as forklifts. Other important aspects are emergency exits, roof sprinklers and protective clothing. Not to mention the fact that all your workers should be aware of them as well.

Don’t forget to label any hazardous zones: All the hazardous zones need to be properly designated plus properly-installed safe walkways should be highlighted at every turn. The use of tape or even black and white stripes for this is recommended. This will ensure that no major accident takes place.

Safety lifting techniques are an absolute must: When a heavy load needs to be transported, you can be sure of the fact that the method of lifting needs to be analysed first. Once that is done, you will need to make sure that there are no obstacles in the way plus there is enough space to transport the load to its destination.

The aspect of refresher and training courses: This is to make sure that every member of your staff is up-to-date with all of the necessary practices and regulations within the workplace. In most cases, accidents tend to happen due to the fact that workers are not really that aware of the necessary safety procedures in a moment of crisis. Being aware of the regulations will also mean that they are fully aware of the consequences as well.

At the end of the day, you need to keep in mind that your warehouse needs to be free of any kind of hazards as much as possible. Only then can one expect the best possible work from their employees. And most importantly, educate the men under you about the potential hazards every step of the way. That will show that you care about them and you want to keep them as well-informed as possible in order to minimise risks in general.

 Chemical Hazard Identification – Why Do I Need GHS Labels?

What is hazard communication, and why does it apply to my workplace?

The Occupational Health & Safety Administration (OSHA) recently aligned with a global system to simplify workplace safety. Hazard communication is a procedural standard set forth by the United Nations to standardize the identification, communication, and labeling of chemical related hazards.

The globally harmonized system (GHS) of chemical identification and labeling can be a bit complicated, so here we’ll try and dive in to the finer details and help make sense of it all. In order to understand hazard communication (also known as HazCom), first we must differentiate between common workplace containers.

Primary Container vs. Secondary Container Labels

Primary containers come straight from the manufacturer. They come in drums, tubs, pails, bottles, or other larger canisters that are pre-labeled with the chemical identifier. The “primary container” labels are required to include the manufacturer information. The next section is where things are a little confusing.

Often times, workplace operations require transferring chemicals from the original labeled container into a smaller secondary container (beaker, flask, or bottle). Additionally, certain manufacturing processes require hazardous materials to be transferred into larger containers (plating and finishing operations, semiconductor, and pharmaceutical manufacturing, etc.)

Secondary container labels do not require the manufacturer information. HCL Labels, a great source for safety signs & labels, offers chemical resistant GHS labels to help standardize your workplace chemical labels.

Labeling Requirements for Secondary Containers

The secondary containers are required to be labeled with a GHS chemical label, given if any of the following events occur:

-The material is not used within the work shift of the individual who makes the transfer.

-The worker who made the transfer leaves the work area.

-The container is moved to another work area and is no longer in the possession of the worker who filled the container.

-Labels on portable containers are not required if the worker who made the chemical transfer uses all of the contents during the work shift.

If you use chemicals in the workplace, chances are that you need GHS labels. These labels inform workers of chemical hazards, and keep the company compliant with the HazCom standard.

OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard
OSHA hazard communication federal standard [29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(1)] states the following:

“Employers must ensure that no worker uses, stores, or allows any other person to use or store any hazardous substance in a laboratory if the container (including bags, barrels, bottles, boxes, cans, cylinders, drums and reaction vessels) does not meet the following labeling requirements in OSHA’s Hazard Communication standard.”

The OSHA standard also indicates the primary aspects of a GHS Label.

-The identity of the chemical and appropriate hazard warnings must be shown on the label.
-The hazard warning must provide users with an immediate understanding of the primary health and/or physical hazard(s) of the chemical through the use of words, pictures, symbols, or any combination of these elements.
-The name and address of the manufacturer, importer or other responsible party must be included on the “primary container” label.
-The hazard label message must be legible, permanently displayed and written in English
HCL Labels, a leading online source for Hazard Communication labels that are compliant with the OSHA/GHS standard, specializes in the creation of secondary chemical container labels. Their website can be found here – www.hclco.com

Sources:
OSHA QuickFacts. Laboratory Safety Labeling and Transfer of Chemicals. Web. OSHA 3410 8/2011. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. www.osha.gov. 19 April, 2017.

Injuries are no laughing matter, and when they happen at the workplace, they can sideline you for weeks or months depending on the severity. The worse an injury is, the more time you will likely need to recover; in that time, you may be wholly unable to go to work. You should not wait until you have already suffered an injury before you learn about workplace accidents. Knowledge is power, and the more you know about common trends in workplace incidents, the better prepared you will be with each passing day.

Here are a few things you need to know about workplace injuries.

Communication Problems

In many accidents, the lack of communication between individuals can be blamed as the cause. Workers who had misgivings did not bring up these issues to their supervisors or managers, while others who were hesitant about completing a duty did not inform their coworkers. It is not uncommon for workers to carry out a task despite not feeling comfortable doing so. If there is communication, the problem can usually be solved with the help of a few different people, and an accident would be avoided. Without communication, employees will have a hard time completing their day to day job duties

You should make it a point to double check with people about anything you feel hesitant about doing.

Be Aware of Falls

Falls are the most common cause of workplace injuries and deaths, accounting for nearly 40% of employee fatalities in 2016, as per the OSHA website. Falls can happen anywhere and anytime – it does not take a lot for a person to fall, merely a loose piece of fabric on a rug or a small we spot on the ground. These falls often take the victim by surprise, and as a result, there may be no time to break the fall.

In some cases, the falls happen near equipment or excess merchandise. Still others happen due to an unreported problem with a staircase or a corridor. As a worker, you should make it a duty to report any issues you find before they become sources for accidents.

Do not fall victim to a trip or slip. You can quickly lose everything if the accident is severe enough.

Construction and Injuries

Construction workers have some of the most dangerous jobs in the country, data which is supported by the OSHA. Even though police officers and firefighters may face more apparent risks, construction workers enter job sites each day surrounded by extremely deadly equipment and low levels of safety. It is not uncommon for construction workers to be struck by falling objects, fall in trenches, or be crushed or harmed by equipment.

These workers need to do everything they can to prevent injury, whether that is undergoing additional training or implementing more safety measures. For all employees, you must not be afraid to voice your opinion if you feel something is dangerous or if there needs to be higher standards of safety and more hands on training.

Other Jobs

You should keep in mind that construction, public service positions, and other similar careers are not the only ones that have risks. Employees in every kind of company suffer injuries at work. Food service workers are usually on the receiving ends of burns, while desk workers in offices are often afflicted with carpal tunnel syndrome.

There is always the chance for injury at a job, whether it is by electrocution, violence, falling objects, falls, or occupational hazards. No job is completely safe, and you should be properly knowledgeable about procedures just in case an accident occurs.

Worker’s Compensation

In many states, the chance to earn worker’s compensation in the event of an injury is invaluable. There are people who suffer injuries that are not their faults, and their medical bills can be taken care of. In some states, like California, there is a no-fault system in place, which deems that you can collect worker’s compensation for an injury you sustained while at the workplace regardless of whose fault it was.

It is important that you learn more about worker’s compensation in your state, but it is also equally important that you obtain the information from your employer. The lack of a visible sign detailing worker’s compensation benefits and procedures can be an offense. You should be aware of your rights ahead of time instead of attempting to figure out what you can do after an injury already happened.

Pain and Suffering

Speaking of worker’s compensation  did you know that you are generally unable to sue your for pain and suffering or noneconomic damages? The majority of cases end in award settlements for compensation of medical bills and reimbursement of lost wages. There is usually an agreement that is signed upon hire that disallows employees from suing for these damages. It is to be expected, as pain and suffering can net a fairly sizeable amount of compensation on its own.

Deaths in the Workplace

In 2016 alone, over 5,000 employees were killed n the workplace for various reasons. Many of these incidents could have been prevented by using some of the tips discussed above. It is a complete tragedy to see a worker pass away due to a job-related incident or injury.

No matter what kind of occupation you hold, whether you are a truck driver who may be at risk driving while tired or a factory worker who is in danger of developing lung problems because of the smog, you should take care of yourself and do everything in your power to stay safe.

Independent Contractors

Independent contractors do not always have the same set of rules that employees do. For example, someone who has been contracted to do construction is not an employee of the business doing the contracting, and the company cannot be held responsible for any injuries. In other cases, such as with Uber, this is not true.

Uber initially claimed that its drivers were independent contractors and the company was not liable for any accidents that occurred while the driver was on the clock. This was later changed after a law was put into effect; now, Uber carries insurance policies for its drivers that allow them to recover compensation for damages in the event of an accident. There may still be some confusion at times, however: these Uber accident lawyers claim that some Uber drivers are still curious if they can earn worker’s compensation in the event of a crash or if they have to rely on the insurance coverage from Uber. The short answer is the latter; Uber will not provide worker’s compensation benefits for its drivers.

What to Do Next

Workplace injuries are serious incidents, and the amount of information present on standards, laws, statistics, and more is near limitless. There are many outlets for information, and we recommend finding out as much as you can. It is better to be well prepared before anything happens than it is to be rushing for help in the wake of an accident.