You’re probably already aware that any functional warehouse will be full of factors that can put the health and safety of your employees at risk. Sometimes, it may seem like there’s a potential injury around every corner!
The fact of the matter is that there are plenty of risk factors in every warehouse. However, there are actions that can be taken to reduce the risk as much as possible and make your warehouse a much safer place for you and your people. What’s more, reducing the likelihood of injury in your warehouse will save your employees and your business time and money.
Here are some of the most common health and safety risks in warehouses, and some tips on how to minimise the risk.
Slip and fall accidents
Slip and fall incidents are some of the most common causes of injury in not only warehouses but most workplaces around the world. In fact, in 2021, slip and fall accidents caused the second most workplace injuries in Australia, with almost 28,000 incidents reported. These injuries made up almost 25% of all workplace injuries for the year, a huge portion.
These sorts of incidents often happen thanks to spills that are left unattended. These spills may well be made up of water that has found its way into your warehouse, or something more sinister such as oil, grease, or another chemical compound. Any of these substances can easily reduce traction and make it more likely for your employees to slip and injure themselves.
What can be done?
Reducing the likelihood of slip and fall injuries is quite easy and there are several actionable steps that can be taken. For example, ensure that containers that hold chemicals and liquids are secure at all times and are not leaking. Ensure that your entrances and walls are not allowing water to enter your warehouse and if they are, make the necessary repairs.
For existing stains, it’s very important to ensure that you are cleaning your concrete surfaces regularly. The best way to do this is to hire a professional Sydney warehouse cleaning company. We’ll use our cutting-edge sweep and scrub machines to ensure that your concrete floors are sparkling clean and to reduce the chance of slip and fall injuries.
We use a combination of hot water, high pressure, and brushes to remove any nasty contaminants, like chemicals, grease, and oil. And for particularly tough stains, we can utilise eco-friendly degreasers. All of this combines to create a safer, healthier workplace for you and your employees.
Exposure to chemicals
Many warehouses are used to store potentially harmful chemicals and compounds. If this isn’t the case, machinery and vehicles can still be sources of chemical contamination, which can threaten the health of your workers. Safe Work Australia reported that in 2021, while chemical exposure only made up 1% of all workplace injuries, more than 1,000 people were still affected. The nature of chemical exposure makes it quite a particularly nasty kind of injury and the effects for the victim can be long-lasting.
Measures to take
Chemicals and potentially dangerous liquids should always be kept in a safe, secure space, and checked regularly. What’s more, if you do experience chemical spills or leaks in your warehouse, ensure you contact a professional Sydney warehouse cleaning company to clean the spills and return your workplace to a safe environment.
Heavy lifting
The most common workplace injury in Australia in 2021 was body strain, much of which is caused by heavy lifting accidents. These injuries made up 37% of all reported incidents across workplaces in Australia, which is an enormous figure. Unfortunately, heavy lifting is required every single day in Sydney warehouses.
Your employees may move boxes around, carry materials and perform tasks that require lifting throughout the day. If they are not correctly trained in how to lift heavy items, it’s much more likely that your workers will experience an injury.
Proper training
The best way to prevent injuries due to heavy lifting is through proper training. This training should be conducted during induction before your staff even begin working in your warehouse, but regular refresher training doesn’t go astray. Hiring a professional health and safety training company to conduct a session in your workplace is an excellent option and will help reduce heavy lifting injuries in your warehouse.
Trips and falls
Similar to slipping incidents, trip and fall injuries are also commonplace in warehouses. Injuries occur regularly when employees trip on objects that may be left lying around your space, or on cracks and crumbling parts of your concrete floor. Tripping incidents can cause serious injuries such as broken bones and dislocated joints, and in some cases, even death.
Warehouses are often filled with stock, which can fall from shelving and block your walkways. These items can then cause your workers to trip and fall, usually onto hard concrete. Cracks and fissures in your concrete floors are another culprit, presenting a serious risk to your employees.
Other factors that can contribute to tripping in the workplace include:
- Obstructed views
- Poor lighting
- Loose cables and leads
- Items sticking out from shelves
- Uneven floor coverings.
Clear your floor
It’s so important that you remove any obstructions or objects that might cause your employees to trip and fall. That means doing a regular sweep of your corridors and storage areas to ensure that nothing is sticking out that can present a tripping hazard.
What’s more, regular Sydney warehouse cleaning, sweeping, and scrubbing is critical to maintaining the integrity of your concrete floors. If grime and liquids are permitted to build up on your surfaces, they can cause cracking and crumbling, thereby directly contributing to tripping incidents in your warehouse.
Hire a professional Sydney warehouse cleaning company today
Regular sweeping and scrubbing are absolutely vital in any operational warehouse. Not only does it keep your space looking fantastic, but it also creates a more productive and efficient working environment. And, more importantly, it’s conducive to a safer space for your people.
Get in touch with Sydney Sweep and Scrub today.
