06/04/2019
In honor of National Safety Month, we've written out Tips on Staying Safe in the Warehouse and Vital Tips to Maximize Safety at the Loading Docks!
Warehouse Safety:
1. Always wear protective clothing; avoid baggy or loose-fitting clothes.
2. All areas should be kept clean and free of debris.
3. Treat aisles the same way as you would a busy street; look both ways and always stay alert when crossing or going around corners.
4. Never attempt to operate machinery without proper training.
5. Empty trash cans before they fill all the way up.
6. Be careful lifting heavy objects on your own. Use tools that can help instead.
7. Inspect ladders before each use.
8. Do not sit on or lean against stacked material.
9. Know the weight restrictions for all storage racks and lifting machanisms.
10. Always stack heavier items on the bottom of piles with lighter objects on top.
11. Make sure emergency exits are clearly marked and you know the quickest route to safety from any location in the facility.
12. Immediately report any potential safety hazards to supervisors.
Vital Tips to Maximize Safety at the Loading Docks:
1. Be on the lookout for...
- Slipping or tripping on wet, oily or broken floor surfaces.
- Falling off dock edges.
- Injuries from falls, insecure dock plates or "unchocked" wheels.
- Illness or unconsciousness from inhaling carbon monoxide from trucks.
- Back injuries from improper lifting and carrying.
- Injuries from careless behavior around forklifts and other vehicles.
2. Keep floors clean, dry, and in good condition.
- Place containers, packages, tools and other materials safely out of walking and driving areas.
- Clean and properly dispose of trash.
- Clean up any spills immediately.
- Follow material safety data sheet for cleaning up a chemical spill.
- Watch out for dripping rain, melting ice, etc.
- Report any cracked or broken concrete or other flooring.
3. Keep dock plates in place.
- Check dock plate load capacity to be sure it can handle your load.
- Secure moveable dock boards in position so they don't slip.
- Slide ---- don't drop ---- dock plates into position.
4. Take precautions to prevent falls.
- Walk, don't run, on loading docks.
- Don't fool around or push someone, even as a joke.
- Stay away from loading dock edges.
- Don't jump onto or off a loading dock.
- Wear sturdy shoes with nonskid soles that support both the foot and ankle.
- Watch where you're going.
5. Work safely with trucks and trailers.
- Check that the truck and trailer wheels are chocked before loading or unloading.
- Make sure drivers turn off their motor to prevent carbon monoxide exposure.
- Invisible and odorless carbon monoxide can be fatal.
6. Load and unload correctly to prevent injuries.
- Use forklifts, dollies, and other aids or get help rather than lifting by yourself.
- Never try to lift skids and pallets alone.
- When you do lift, bend your knees and keep your back straight so your legs do the work (not your back).
- Wear snug fitting gloves that provide a good grip when lifting, loading and unloading.
- Load hand trucks with heavy objects on the bottom and weigh forward over axle.
- Balance and secure hand truck loads; keep load height at a level you can see over.
7. Be alert to other vehicles, workers and materials.
- Don't try to ride on a forklift or distract the operator.
- Get out of the way when a forklift horn sounds.
- Pay attention to materials on the dock that could fall or roll.
- Wear a hard hat, eye protection, and hearing protection.
