Handling storage goods involve various operations such as using heavy pieces of machinery; driving forklifts loaded with bulky goods and materials, carrying bags of products manually, and managing overall safety.
The proper handling of materials is crucial to the industry. However, often, the benefits of safety guidelines are overlooked. In addition, the result of inappropriate handling and storing of goods lead to severe injuries and product damage.
Using safety procedures will not only increase productivity, but also give higher employee satisfaction. When safety measures kept in mind, fewer workplace endangerments and workers’ absence takes place.
On the other hand, machinery downtime is another reason for product damage and workers’ injury, which can be warded off with the proper use of signage and safety steps.
Here are five things you should consider while handling heavy goods and materials:
Implement Necessary Signage at Risk-Prone Areas
Heavy equipment should be kept in specific areas, and safe walkways should be displayed through necessary signage. One quick fix to light up hazardous zones is by putting warning signs on the dangerous equipment and barriers on the areas that are at high-risk.
This enables workers to be aware of risk-prone surroundings and help them in avoiding misfortunes that can cause severe injury.
Provide Training Courses
Make sure all staff are well-trained and up to date with the right skills and expertise about handling equipment like forklifts and perform safe practices within the worksite.
Equipment training as per the OSHA requirements will provide an employee with knowledge of how to drive a forklift as well as how to make a work environment safe for others.
This allows staff members to not only understand the safety procedures, but also makes them fully aware of the threatening consequences that can arise from an unsafe workplace. Thus, they can use safety procedures more clearly and efficiently.
Raising Awareness among Employees
Awareness in the workplace is a crucial safety factor. This can be done through active communication between workers and other staff members. Supervisors being vocal to others during work can remarkably reduce collisions of equipment and workers injuries and fatalities.
When driving a lift with heavy loads, simple supervision can alert other employees of their spots and allow them to drive safe from busy pathways. All staff members and coworkers should be motivated to be constantly aware of activities happening around them and have communication with everyone to avoid collisions and accidents.
Incorporate Safe Lifting Approach
When a load needs transporting, choose the best-suited method for its movement. If lifting is the best method, inspect the pathways to see the routes are clear and have enough space for the load at its stopping place. Safe lifting techniques should be carried out, and the goods should not block the view of the lift operator.
Use all load handling machinery carefully and follow the safe operating procedures. Use the push technique rather than pull and lean in the course that is being traveled.
Avoid Common Safety Hazards
Make sure all floors in your worksite are free of liquids, wires and cables, ‘slips and trips’ and other potential risks. All employees must implement this safety check regularly.
It is also crucial that any pits and cracks in the flooring not be overlooked as these can cause some severe injuries to workers and damage expensive equipment.
These safe material handling and storing guide will help you to understand the importance of safety procedures and worker training when it comes to building a safe workplace environment!
