Top 10 tips for making your warehouse safer in the run up to Christmas

With the increase in online shopping and Christmas not far away, warehousing and storage facilities are extremely busy. Follow our top 10 tips to making your warehouse safer.

Employees can become preoccupied with the high demand and can become complacent when it comes to adhering to health and safety rules during busy times. An employer is required at all times to ensure the health and safety of their workers, so why not implement a daily documented check to ensure that your workers stay safe. Here are put tips below.

1. Have all employees received quality manual handling training.  Are there any additional manual handling assessments required?
2. Are daily FLT checks being conducted? Has your FLT been serviced and inspected?
3. Have you got a traffic management plan in place?  Are moving vehicles controlled?  Clear separation between pedestrians and vehicles with clear walkways?  Appropriate convex mirrors and signage displayed?
4. Is PPE being worn? (including the right safety footwear to BS EN 345)
5. Is the racking safe and secure, to prevent falling objects? Has a 12 monthly external inspection by a SEMA approved inspector been conducted? Monthly checks in house by SEMA trained personnel?
6. Are floors kept clear from slip/trip/fall hazards?  All packaging should be removed and disposed of safely and spillages should be cleaned up immediately.
7. Has work at height been suitably assessed?  Can it be avoided?
8. Are employees taking their breaks to reduce fatigue?
9. Has a Toolbox talk been conducted by an IOSH Managing Safely trained Manager, regarding the importance of health and safety and specific areas.
10. Are all minor accidents, near misses and hazards being reported and actioned to prevent more serious accidents from happening?  Remind employees how important this information is.

If you need any hands-on practical help that can improve your safety levels in the workplace, please feel free to email info@sentinelsafety.co.uk or call us on 01527 833834, we’re happy to help.