As most warehouse owners are aware, operating their facility comes with inherent safety risks. In addition to following strict safety regulations for your facility, it is imperative you insure your storeroom with Orlando Warehouse Insurance to protect against claims resulting from damaged property or bodily injury. Let’s examine the top five safety risks warehouses pose.
- Heavy Equipment Accidents- Although familiarity with operating machinery is natural for those who use it daily, it is important to educate your employees on the potential dangers and proper safety procedures. It is critical not to underestimate the power of the machinery and the danger that comes along with it.
- Fires- A fire can devastate your warehouse. Premier Handling Solutions claims that this is among the most preventable accidents if you obtain appropriate building permits, have clearly marked exits, exit strategies, and have adequate fire extinguishers. A few more helpful tips: Avoid leaking flammable liquids, make sure there are no worn, exposed wires, and never run electrical cords under carpeting.
- Moving Parts- Observe warning labels of machines with moving parts. These machines are incredibly heavy and can cause severe injury or death when not used correctly.
- Falling Objects- Although it is commonplace to stack materials and products highly on shelves, this poses a significant falling threat. Neatly organizing materials can help to prevent a shifting load to fall and can deter round or cylindrical objects from falling, as well.
- Ergonomics- Employees should be advised to take care of their bodies and follow safety regulations to prevent injury. This includes lifting heavy equipment properly and wearing appropriate shoes for back and foot support.
Bear in mind that these are just a few of the risks involved with operating a warehouse. In our next post we’ll look at a few more. Also, depending on the nature of your facility, more exposures may be involved. For example, a clothing warehouse poses significantly less risk than a warehouse used for food storage. Lastly, products manufactured overseas have higher liability risks depending on what they are, as well.
These are just a few basic risks involved with owning and operating a warehouse. In our next post, we will dive deeper into a few more concerns, as well. Newman Crane is here to provide you with quality warehouse insurance to protect your property and assets in the event of an accident. For more information on how we can serve you, contact us today at (407) 859-3691.