Warehouse Safety In The Pandemic- How Business Owners Can Go The Extra Mile

Warehousing is a labor-intensive domain, so the risk of being infected runs high for the workforce.

Pickers, packers, and shippers across the US are vulnerable in the course of daily duties because they come in contact with people and packages.

But they have to stay operational to keep the supply chains and e-commerce businesses up and running amid the pandemic.

Business owners need to ensure that employees stay safe because it will keep their businesses compliant and operational.

You must think beyond the usual rules such as temperature checks, hand washing, social distancing, and mask and glove-wearing and step up your employee safety initiatives in the pandemic.

Here are some steps that can take you the extra mile.

 

Limit equipment sharing

Small warehousing companies have a limited number of forklifts and hydraulic stackers in their fleet. It means that employees may have to take turns operating them, which can be risky at this point.

Consider limiting each piece of equipment to a single operator per day to empower your workplace safety initiative. Ensure that each piece is disinfected and sanitized every morning.

For smaller equipment such as safety glasses, body harnesses, and taper knives, investing in larger numbers is a good idea.

 

Have sanitation arrangements at all access points

The risk of getting the virus in from outside is the highest, so you must make sure that you have all the access points covered. Positioning sanitation stations and checking temperatures at all entrances is the first step.

Curb unnecessary contact between people by encouraging drivers to stay in their vehicles even as they enter the facility. Establish a dedicated rest area for them but ensure they follow social distancing at all times.

 

Go the extra mile with training

It is easy to overlook routine safety at your warehouse amid the concern of an outbreak. But accidents can still happen, and they are the last thing you will want to deal with during this crisis.

Many warehousing business owners in Pennsylvania are already doing the needful by enrolling each operator for forklift certification in PA to prevent forklift collisions in facilities.

Training is equally crucial to prevent mishaps due to falling items and other injuries. Right now, you can revamp the training program to cover illness prevention as well.

 

Avoid crowding in the facility

Since there are many people around in a warehouse at one time, you must make sure that they are at a safe distance.

The area along the conveyors is at the highest risk because people often stand along them to package products. You can keep workers at a distance by simply installing floor tape or placing shields between work positions.

The expense is worthwhile because it can curb the infection risk.

 

Disinfect packages

Shipping packages can be a source of infection, but they often go unnoticed at busy warehousing facilities. You need not do much to limit the risk.

Spraying them with disinfectants while loading and unloading is a good measure to ensure virus safety for employees and customers. It gives you the advantage of customer trust, which is valuable in a crisis like this one.

Like all other businesses, warehousing companies must implement every possible measure to protect the employees. It wouldn’t cost a fortune but can keep your employees, customers, and business safe from the pandemic.