ACCIDENT FREE! 3 STEPS TO A SAFE WAREHOUSE.

DID YOU KNOW?

In Ontario 2018, 76 people died from work injuries. That’s 76 too many.
On top of that there were 78,504 lost-time injuries.

In Canada, 1,027 workers died due to work related causes in 2018.

A warehouse is so much more than rows of racking stuffed with goods.
Think of it as the heart of your business. Goods enter, are stored, and move on.
Like a human heart, the warehouse must be kept safe, and the flow maintained.

A safe, well-planned warehouse and the right material handling equipment can keep product moving efficiently – and avoid work accidents.

So where do I begin?

1. Identify the Hazards in your warehouse

• Inspect your plant and warehouse in detail.
• Think through every operation and task.
• Be aware of areas where human error could be fatal or dangerous.
• Don’t count on your employees keeping themselves safe.

2. Do a Risk Analysis of workplace dangers

• Mobile machinery: Are pedestrian walkways clearly demarcated?

• Are your fork lift operators trained and certified in accordance with provincial regulations?
• Mezzanines and elevated walkways should have adequate barriers to prevent falls.
• How safe are your loading docks?
• Your racking. According to the CNESST, (Commission des normes, de l'équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail) accident reports show the following factors to be responsible for most accidents involving racking:
  • The total or partial collapse of a pallet rack
  • Falling loads
  • Falls from heights
• Floors should be examined too. Serious accidents have happened from falls on the same level.
• Is all machinery properly guarded?
• Keep an eye out for electrical hazards.
• Chemicals: Follow Canada Health and Safety Regulations for any hazardous substances used, produced, handled, or stored for use in the work place in order to prevent accidents, injuries and occupational diseases related to them.

3. Plan to Eradicate or Lower Warehouse Risks

• Now that you have a list of potential dangers in your warehouse, you can plan how to protect your workers and your property.

Some common dangers

1. People and machinery don’t mix.
Pedestrian walkways should be clearly marked out with signage and handrails.
Where forklift and other motorised traffic is an issue impact-resistant barriers are a good choice.

2. How safe is your racking?
The design, construction and installation of pallet racks must adhere to the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) as well as all regulations set out by your provincial government.

From CNESST: Even if manufacturers or suppliers are required to provide racking that is safe, it is up to the employer to ensure the safety of the rack structures that are set up in his facility.

When racking comes crashing down, CNESST points out that it results from weaknesses in design or installation, faulty usage, or lack of maintenance and repairs.

That’s why it’s a good idea to work with a company that can manage your project from concept to completion.

Protecting the upright frame columns of your racking system will prevent impact damage to your racking plus lessen the risk of a pallet racking collapse.

3. Falls from heights
Prevent falls from elevated structures by installing self-closing ladder gates.
They’re obligatory in most provinces and states where there’s an opening in a guard rail for an access ladder.

All catwalks, mezzanines and stairs should be fitted with safety rails or fences.
And don’t forget those toe boards, to stop tools from landing on the unsuspecting!

Every warehouse has its own challenges, but as we’re all aware, safety is always a top priority. Why?

1. Your people.
They matter. As a business owner or manager, it’s your responsibility to keep them safe.

2. Your ROI.
The environment matters, and we do care about the whales, and the plastic trash on the sea floor. But, let’s face it, that warehouse is there to make money. Efficiency = Profitability.

3. Government Conformity
You don’t want to waste time and money, paying fines for non-conformance or filing claim forms for accidents that should never have happened.
Lost work hours can make a serious dent in your profit margin.

We can help.

It happens that at Meriton we live, eat and breathe safety.
We also want you to be profitable. Do you have challenges that you’d like us to tackle with you?
We’re offering Free Site Evaluations to help you get set up.

Interested?

Yes! I want an appointment