Warehouses are the nerve center of any smooth-running manufacturing plant. Massive stockpiles of inventory and raw materials await distribution under massive steel rafters that support these tremendous storage facilities. While warehouses may look like any other large industrial complex, they support the day-to-day operations and distribution of products. As the base point for assembly lines, warehouses provide the raw materials needed to flesh out merchandise. And like any other arm of modern manufacturing, warehouses present inherent risks and hazards for employers. Unexpected visits from OSHA agents can stymie daily operations with fines and civil penalties if potential risks aren’t mitigated. Understanding the nuances and complexities of OSHA warehouse safety can save a company thousands of dollars in lost productivity.
Avoiding the Perils of Improper Storage
Beeping forklifts zig and zag between towering pallets of spare parts and raw materials needed for finished goods. Product managers take careful stock of inventory, carefully checking off boxes and taking notes about potential orders. As employees gaze about this cavernous storage facility, it’s easy to get caught in the blinding light of the fluorescent light. But be careful, such doldrum can lure even the most over-zealous employees into a complacent, catatonic-like state. And when we let our guards down, accidents are more likely to occur. While vigilance in safety, is one of the hallmarks of OSHA warehouse safety compliance, supervisors must implement common sense practices to prevent untimely accidents.
Common Warehouse Hazards
- Trips and falls.
- COVID19 outbreaks.
- Injuries from heavy equipment and materials.
- Noxious and toxic fumes from damaged or exposed products.
- Forklift accidents.
- Sudden fires.
- Breathing issues from poor ventilation and accumulation of dust.
OSHA Warehouse Safety Guidelines
Below is just a few common sense practices and procedures to follow to ensure OSHA warehouse safety compliance.
- Keep warehouse floors free of trip hazards.
- Don’t block off doors and egresses. This is the quickest way to ensure an OSHA citation as employees need unimpeded exit points in the event of a fire.
- Ensure your warehouse has proper ventilation.
- Require employee certification for fork-lift operation.
- Keep a detailed log of fork-lift maintenance. Ensure each fork-lift is equipped with a functional beeping to prevent accidents while backing up.
- Ensure overhead sprinklers are working.
- Make sure all employees wear appropriate clothing, work-boots and hardhats, as well as safety goggles.
- Design a layout that prevents bottlenecking of loading and unloading operations. Overcrowding of transport docks increases the likelihood of accidents.
- Ensure that employees receive vaccination and adhere to COVID safety protocols, including masking when necessary. Keep centralized hand sanitation stations onsite to prevent virus outbreaks.
Prevent Warehouse Overcrowding With Fire-rated Storage Locker
As you likely already know, warehouses are constantly teeming with varied stock and inventory. Overcrowding becomes a persistent concern, as overstocked shelves sway and buckle under excess weight. Steel shelving can only hold so much before the inevitable happens. A four-hour fire rated storage locker from from U.S. Hazmat Rentals is an effective stopgap to short-term storage dilemmas. With the holidays quickly approaching, many manufacturers are also increasing production, resulting in overwhelmed warehouses. As you carefully reorganize your facility to handle the influx of goods, you may also need a pod container storage to handle surplus or supplemental storage.
Our pod container storage pods can help you adhere to OSHA warehouse safety protocols by relieving overwhelmed employees who are suddenly having to deal with so much inventory. These off-site storage container pods can be easily located and removed from company grounds while maintaining a relatively low profile that doesn’t interrupt daily operations. When no longer needed, project managers can easily ship these pods back to our facility. As U.S. Hazmat Rentals, we also understand the value of progress and expansion, which is why these storage pods would also make a logical onsite storage option for ongoing renovation and construction projects.
Exploring Safety Options for Chemical Warehousing and Storage
Unlike traditional warehouses, our fire-rated lockers come equipped with optional safety features to mitigate hazards. Standard options are also available for non-fire rated storage. Below is a quick run-down our lockers optional safety features.
- Innovative spill sump containment to collect spills.
- Dry chemical fire suppression.
- Climate control and ventilation.
- Fire-resistant wall construction.
- Easy to access fire extinguisher.
- Wide-swinging doors for the easily removal and storage of products via forklift
