Preventing Common Warehouse Accidents > Slips and Falls
In this series of posts, we’ve explored the most common warehouse injuries and how you can avoid them. Forklift injuries rank as one of the biggest sources of injury, followed by slips and falls. These can be easily mitigated, however, which we’ll outline in the following blog. Before reading on and adapting these safety strategies into your own warehouse workplace, protect your operation with an Orlando Workers’ Compensation Insurance policy.
According to TKO Construction Services, the U.S. Department of Labor states that slips, trips and falls cause most workplace accidents, which cause:
- 15% of all accidental deaths per year;
- about 25 % of reported injury claims per year; and
- about 65% of all work days lost per year.
Repair walkways.
This is straightforward, yet is very often overlooked. If the floor has been damaged, and is sloping or uneven, this is a recipe for disaster in a warehouse. So many people moving though the facility and operating machinery requires an even walking and driving surface. It’s going to cost money up front, but repairing damaged floors can minimize workers compensation claims.
If the floor cannot be repaired immediately, provide warning. Put a bright yellow danger sign next to it or rope off the entire area to prevent anyone from walking on it.
Maintain equipment and cleanliness.
A warehouse is essentially organized chaos. If there are messes of boxes, wires, or miscellaneous items, they can cause road blocks and trip hazards. Once inventory is received, it should be organized and put away immediately. It should be a group effort to ensure daily housekeeping practices are maintained and that personal workspaces are kept clean.
In addition, equipment maintenance is equally important. Ensure equipment is inspected often and that repairs are completed in a timely manner. This also goes for ladders and standard equipment. Everything has proper usage instruction, ensure everyone respects equipment and is trained on how to use them the right way.
Provide ongoing training.
Training is not a one-time required course. Instead, the process should be ongoing, even for veteran employees. One of the best ways to prevent slips and falls is to make sure your employees are mindful of the risks. Post signs and create a safety manual that everyone has access to, but don’t stop there. Engage your workers. Create conversations about your employees. Make sure they know how to react and respond by role-playing safety situations.
About Newman Crane & Associates Insurance
Deciding what coverages you need and what limits and deductibles make the most sense can be tricky. Since 1965, Newman Crane & Associates Insurance has been helping Central Floridians make sense of their options and make the smartest choices for their circumstances. Whether you need Warehouse Insurance or any other type of business or personal coverage, we encourage you to contact our friendly, experienced, and capable team today. Call us at (407) 859-3691 for a consultation.