What You Can Do to Create a Safer and More Efficient Warehouse

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

While when it comes to every business, there needs to be safety and efficiency, as both need to go hand-in-hand when it comes to warehouses, this is something that should probably be even more important, especially given that warehouse (and also factory) employees tend to be more at risk of getting injuries. 

So, with that said, when it comes to inventory for the warehouse – since that’s essentially one of the biggest components, you’re especially going to want to ensure that both the inventory is safe and the employees stay safe while the whole operation is running efficiently. But how can you be sure that this is already happening? What can you do to make sure that there’s this perfect balance between safety and efficiency? Well, here’s everything you need to know!

Don’t Ever Stop Training Your Employees

Unfortunately, one major mistake that so many businesses keep making in the name of saving money is simply skipping out on employee training or doing it once and calling it a day. Honestly, the more risks and injuries your employees get into, the more costly it’s going to be for the business. You’re losing out on things such as worker’s comp and lawsuits, and there are things like bad PR and low morale, too. Do you really want to deal with that?

So, you’re going to need to understand that by investing in thorough training programs for warehouse staff, you’re making it a safer and more efficient workplace. It’s basically the foundation! Employees should always keep learning, and every time there’s new equipment or a new brand of equipment like some chain hoists, then that’s a call for some new training. Sure, it’s tedious, but so what? At the end of the day, everyone knows what they’re doing, they’re confident, and they’re safe. 

SEE ALSO: 4 Unique Strategies for Improving Company Productivity

Make Sure There’s Regular Maintenance on the Equipment 

If the equipment isn’t working, that immediately destroys efficiency until it’s fixed again. But even if equipment is on the brink of not working, that can still risk putting people in danger. So, you’re going to want to ensure that all machinery and equipment in the warehouse are regularly inspected and well-maintained. 

Malfunctioning equipment poses a significant risk to anyone under that roof. So, there absolutely needs to be an established routine maintenance schedule to address issues promptly and keep everything in optimal working condition. Seriously, don’t wait until it’s too late. 

SEE ALSO: How to Make the Most Money From Selling Your Old Phone

Emphasize Proper Lifting Techniques

Alright, so this should technically be a part of training, but make sure this is pressed into every single employee, even those who won’t be doing any lifting. So, manual handling is a common cause of workplace injuries in warehouses. That’s something everyone knows, and it can cause serious back and knee issues, which, of course, can potentially lead to worker’s comp or other costly issues. If you don’t have it already be sure to buy equipment like forklifts to make the process go faster. 

What’s the Emergency Response Procedure?

Legally speaking, every single business has one, or at least needs to have one. Make sure that this is developed flawlessly and that there’s clear communication when it comes to emergency response procedures such as first aid. Try to conduct drills regularly, ideally once a month.