For the last six or seven years, my older brother has worked in a warehouse in which he has received numerous injuries. There are more than I can count in the last six months alone.
This should be of great concern for his employers, not only because of the damage done to his overall health and well-being, but also because of potential workers' compensation suits, along with the potential trouble incurred with OSHA, the government's right arm when it comes to workers' protection and regulation.
If you manage and/or own a warehouse, you need to make your employees' safety your number one priority. If you do this, then anxieties over the other two issues I mentioned should diminish along with injuries in the workplace.
Make yourself familiar with the OSHA standards and then take time to pinpoint areas in the working environment that need to be improved in order to align with those standards. In many cases, you will want to exceed them in order to ensure maximum safety, but it is up to you and your team to decide how to go about doing that.
Many managers mistakenly believe that the best way to maintain a hazard-free warehouse is by developing and posting stringent rules and then inflicting severe punishments (such as non-paid suspensions) when these regulations are broken, whether accidentally or on purpose.
But this is not generally effective. Instead, focus on thoroughly training every single worker. For instance, each employee over the age of 18 should be taught how to properly operate a forklift, and, even if it isn't part of the normal duties, teach "refresher" courses on a regular basis.
Making sure that the building itself doesn't play host to any potential hazards is crucial. Be sure that you follow all local building codes, especially in regards to electrical wiring. All exits and fire extinguishers should be easily located and clearly marked. Have any and all spills cleaned up promptly.
Many warehouses feature aged staircases that have become worn and unsafe. It will be very useful to install non slip stair treads, which are layered on top of existing stairs to create more friction, reducing the risk to all those coming and going.
Respiratory hazards are a huge factor behind current class-action lawsuits across the country. Become familiar with the laws specific to your region and work field and then abide by them carefully. When necessary, provide protective equipment to your works to keep them safe.
Doing some of these things may not sound easy, but it is also difficult to deal with and/or replace injured employees, face potential lawsuits or issues from the government, and so on. Make the effort to protect your workers now.
Author Resource:
Amstep Products (http://www.amstep.com/) renovation stair treads are the economical way to repair worn, stair nosing and dangerous stairways. Art Gib is a freelance writer.Distributed by Content Crooner
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