Reduce Risk and Liability: Safety Checklists for Warehouses

A warehouse safety checklist is a must-have for ensuring a safe working environment. This tool isn’t just for ensuring the safety of your employees, it can also help your team maintain optimal operational efficiency.

With the rise of eCommerce, globalization, and technological advancements, warehouse operations have grown exponentially. This has fueled the need for warehouse operations that are quick and accurate. However, with the need for an efficient and effective team, safety may not be prioritized.

Put your employees first by giving them the security of working in a safe environment. Our comprehensive warehouse safety checklist will give you an idea of how to properly manage warehouse storage racks and we also give quick tips on how you can continue to improve your operations’ safety.

The Importance of Warehouse Safety Operations

Managing and storing goods in a warehouse facility isn’t as easy as picking them up and storing them. Depending on the complexity of the operations, heavy machinery and industrial heavy-duty trolleys may be needed, and it can be a very fast-paced environment, which can create safety hazards.

Warehouse operations include receiving, storing, picking, packing, shipping, inventory management, order fulfillment, quality control, maintenance, and safety and security. Needless to say, that it’s a laundry list of tasks just to get items where they need to go – and with so many things to do, accidents are more likely to occur if the warehouse operations don’t have proper systems in place.

If you’re still unsure whether you should implement a warehouse safety checklist, here are some of the reasons why you should do so:

1. Employee Health and Safety – Your employees are your biggest investment in your warehouse operations. Protecting their health and well-being is essential to their productivity because if they feel safe at work, they can focus on the job. So, remember to always promote workplace safety to reduce injury rates.
2. Cost Efficiency – Unsafe warehouses are prone to accidents, and we all know that accidents can lead to long operational downtimes and potential lawsuits. Being proactive with warehouse safety operations and regular equipment maintenance may be costly at first, but they can save you and your business a lot more in the long run.
3. Regulatory Compliance – Complying with Occupational Safety and Health Standards (OSH) is crucial to your warehouse operations. Warehouse managers must be trained to follow specific protocols to ensure worker safety. Failure to follow these standards can result in legal issues, penalties, or shutdowns.

Key Elements of a Warehouse Safety Checklist

To help you get started with boosting your warehouse operations’ safety, here’s an example of a warehouse safety checklist.

Remember that this is just an example, and you should edit this checklist according to your operations:

1. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

• PPE has been inspected for wear and tear.
• PPEs are functioning appropriately.
• Employees are equipped with the appropriate PPE (e.g. helmets, gloves, goggles, vests).

2. Proper Use of Equipment

• Ensure that all employees operating machinery have been trained and certified.
• Regularly inspect and maintain machinery to prevent malfunctions.
• Report any machine malfunctions to management ASAP.
• Document machine usage in the logbook after every use.

3. Emergency Procedures and First Aid

• Train employees in basic first aid.
• Ensure that first aid kits are easily accessible.
• Check if first aid kits are well-stocked.
• Document any injuries and if first aid kits were used for proper inventory management.
• Establish emergency protocols for fires, accidents, and hazardous material spills.

4. Body Mechanics

• Train each employee in proper lifting techniques to avoid injury.
• Ensure that warehouse supplies like trolleys are readily available to reduce the need for manual lifting.

5. Traffic Management

• Establish clear walkways and zones for foot traffic and machinery.
• Use signages to mark vehicle movement paths and hazardous areas.
• Ensure that all pathways are clear.

6. Warehouse Storage and Racking Systems

• Check if warehouse racks are sturdy and installed correctly.
• Conduct routine inspections to check for any signs of damage or instability in shelving systems.
• Follow correct stacking procedures.
• Follow safety guidelines for loading and unloading items.

7. Housekeeping and Cleanliness

• Check if the warehouse is clean and free of clutter.
• Implement clean-as-you-go (CLAYGO) for all employees working in the warehouse.
• Ensure that each employee knows the waste disposal plan for hazardous materials.

Tips to Continuously Improve Warehouse Safety

We’ve presented you with a checklist for warehouse safety, but even then, you can still take extra precautions to ensure that your operations are safe.

Here are some additional tips you can do to enhance safety practices in your workplace:

Regular Safety Training

Over time your employees may forget the safety rules that you’ve implemented. Having routine safety trainings can help them remember and practice the rules to ensure that they’re working safely and that they’re handling machinery correctly.

The safety training should also include checking employee ergonomics especially when they’re lifting heavy objects. This short exercise can reduce the risk of long-term injuries and keep your employees healthy for longer.

Regular Inspections

Schedule regular safety audits of your heavy machinery, storage racks, and other equipment. This ensures that your workplace is safe, and it can also help you avoid major issues down the line by solving minor issues now.

Proper Labeling and Signage

Make sure to tell your employees to label all hazardous materials, emergency exits, and machine operating zones. These visual cues can help your employees navigate the warehouse safely to reduce the risk of accidents.

Integrate Technology

Using technology in your warehouse management systems can help simplify maintaining records of maintenance schedules, safety incidents, and employee certifications.

Prioritize Warehouse Safety Now

Warehouse safety is essential for any organization that wants to maintain a safe, efficient, and legally compliant workplace. By implementing your own warehouse safety checklist, your team can have a safe workplace that runs smoothly and efficiently.

Here at Global Nexus, we want our partners to have excellent operations so that they can have a better bottom line. Improve your workflow today by learning more about the benefits of pallet racking for warehouses or explore our blog to see how you can improve your operations.