Working Safely in a Warehouse

15 July 2022
Image of a warehouse worker.

Working in a warehouse can be a great way to earn a living and it offers a variety of benefits. If you’re looking for a job that is both challenging and rewarding, working in a warehouse may be the perfect fit for you. A part of the challenge when working in a warehouse is making sure that you are working safely at all times. In this article, we’ll be covering the benefits of working in a warehouse and some health and safety tips to help you work safely.

 

What are the Benefits of Working in a Warehouse?

These are just some of the many benefits.

  • You can learn new skills. Working in a warehouse can teach you how to operate machinery, how to lift and move heavy objects, and how to work safely.
  • You can earn good pay. Warehouse workers are typically paid an hourly wage, which means you can earn more money as you gain experience and become more efficient at your job.
  • You can get health insurance and other benefits. Many warehouses offer health insurance and other benefits to their employees.
  • You can work flexible hours. Warehouse jobs often offer flexible hours, which can be great for people who have other commitments outside of work.
  • You can advance your career. Working in a warehouse can lead to other opportunities, such as management positions or jobs in other departments.

 

Health & Safety Tips for Working Safely in a Warehouse

Slips and Falls

The Health and Safety Executive released statistics that showed slips and falls are the most common cause of workplace injuries in the UK. Also, they stated that most workplace deaths are due to employees falling from high places. How do you prevent or reduce this risk? Firstly, the company should provide training when using ladders or any machine that lifts people up to high heights. Misuse of a ladder or scissor lift can result in serious injuries. Make sure you train yourself with these tools.

While working in the warehouse, make sure you clean up after yourself. Leaving tools, materials, or other objects about means an increased risk of other employees slipping over that object. Good housekeeping reduces the risk of people tripping over objects and injuring themselves.

 

Lifting

We’ve all heard of backache and back-related injuries. To reduce back injuries train yourself on how to lift heavy boxes. When lifting, make sure that your feet are steady and are close to the object you’re lifting. Slightly bend your knees and squat. Hold your abs in and keep your back straight so that you’re lifting with your legs and not your back.

If you are using a forklift or other vehicle to lift up boxes and objects, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the limits of the machine so that you’re operating it safely, otherwise it could result in a package falling off or the machine breaking.

 

Fire Safety

We all know that warehouses have a lot of open space to store all the equipment. Unfortunately, this open space means the fire can spread quickly. Your company should practice fire drills at least once a year and they should have fire alarms, emergency lighting, and a fire warden. When handling materials, make sure boxes are cleared away and chemical or hazardous substances are handled with extreme care and safely stored within the warehouse.

 

Protective Equipment

When working in a warehouse you should have protective gear on to gain the most protection from uncontrolled hazards. Basic protective equipment for health and safety includes; hard hats, high visibility jackets, safety shoes, and eye protection. If needed you may include ear protectors into your protective gear to block out loud sounds.

 

Contact our Team of Warehouse Processing Recruitment Experts

Are you looking for a job in the warehouse processing industry? If so, get in touch with our team at Pure Staff to discuss your job-seeking needs.

Download the Pure Staff Recruitment App today! Click here for details.