in: Company News
When it comes to warehouse management tips, every article seems to talk about efficiency. What about safety? An unsafe warehouse leads to accidents, injuries, employee dissatisfaction, higher insurance costs, and more worry for a business owner. Without an emphasis on employee safety, efficiency may as well be just another buzzword. People, as always, must come first over profits.
Warehouse Management Begins With Safe Employees
Good warehouse management begins with employee safety. A companywide culture that values safety is one in which employees feel like the company cares about their welfare. It increases loyalty and improves morale—while improving your bottom line.
To create a corporate culture dedicated to safety, everyone from the top down must demonstrate that they value (and follow) safety procedures. If the supervisor doesn’t wear safety gear, for example, it sets a bad example for everyone.
An anonymous reporting system can also build a culture focused on safety. Allow staff to report safety violations without fear of recrimination and welcome information that can help you improve warehouse conditions. All these steps build a company that says it is serious about employee wellbeing.
Provide Adequate Training—and Refresher Training
Safety training for warehouse personnel isn’t a once-and-done event when newcomers join the team. Such training doesn’t just teach employees how to be safe but why it is important.
Training should encompass:
- Safe lifting and handling directions for moving cargo, containers, and equipment
- Equipment training, such as safe methods of using forklifts, carts, and other materials and equipment
- Health safety, such as wearing protective clothing when handling special materials including chemicals, solvents, and other items
- OSHA safety codes and details
- First aid and emergency response
Also, consider visitors to your warehouse. They may not be aware that warehouses pose danger. Provide adequate orientation and training so they are aware of forklifts, equipment, trucks, pallets, conveyor belts, and other equipment that can pose a risk.
Use Safety Automation Tools
Companies have come up with numerous safety automation tools. Use them whenever possible. These include gates that shut automatically to prevent entry into areas with active equipment, sound alerts on trucks and vehicles, and automatic shut-off for equipment that could be dangerous if left running unattended.
Revise Safety Manuals Periodically
As requirements and regulations change, so too must your safety procedures. Take time annually to review them and update as needed. Subscribe to OSHA updates and review them promptly, making sure to follow new guidelines as they arise.
Consider First Aid and Emergency Training
Everyone should know basic first aid, including warehouse and office personnel. You never know when someone will be injured or fall ill. Such courses aren’t expensive and can save a life in the unfortunate event an accident happens. Check with your insurance provider, too, to see if they may give you a discount if you add such training as a regular professional development feature.
Warehouse Management Software
Warehouse management tips always seem to focus on efficiency. How fast can goods be scanned into inventory? How can you improve picking accuracy? These are important topics, but they aren’t everything when it comes to warehouse management. Safety, clear processes, and good warehouse management software work together for a smooth-running warehouse.
Mindover Software
Mindover Software is a software reseller with a broad range of accounting, ERP, finance, customer relationship management, and other software products. For more information, please contact us or call 512-990-3994.