Top Safety Accessories That Keep Warehouse Workers Safe

Every day, warehouse workers get exposed to a long list of potential hazards, ranging from platform falls to heavy equipment misuse. As a result, warehouses are one of the most hazardous work environments. Despite the risks, warehouse workers can perform at their best without injury with the right safety equipment.

Warehouse safety is crucial to a company's success. With warehouse safety equipment and accessories, you can create an efficient workplace and bring peace of mind.

The Importance of Warehouse Safety

The fatal injury rate for the warehousing industry is greater than in other industries, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). For example, every year, around 100 workers get killed and 95,000 get injured while operating a forklift. Forklift turnovers are a common cause of a fatal forklift-related injury.

Work-related back injuries, although usually not fatal, are also a common warehouse hazard that could keep a worker home for weeks or longer. They are one of the leading causes of disability and affect more than 600,000 employees every year. Warehouse workers often lift heavy packages repeatedly. Without knowledge of proper lifting techniques, workers put themselves and their company at risk of lost time and lowered productivity.

In general, common workplace hazards include:

• Improper and unsafe use of forklifts
• Tripping hazards
• Exposure to hazardous chemicals
• Improper lifting or overexertion leading to back injuries
• Falling from a height
• Crushed or struck by moving equipment
• Improperly stacked boxes and objects
• Failure to use protective equipment
• Repetitive motion injuries
• Poor fire safety planning
• Failure to follow proper lockout/tagout procedures

It's important to train workers to recognize and control hazards, since a safe warehouse:

• Boosts morale
• Boosts productivity
• Reduces injuries
• Lowers workers' compensation claims
• Improves reputation
• Retains workers
• Wins and keeps customers
• Avoids lawsuits and OSHA citations

With all the hazards workers face every day, it may seem impossible to ensure warehouse safety. Fortunately, most accidents are preventable. Equipment for warehouse safety promotes alertness and control of potentially dangerous situations with minimal costs to owners. In the end, a safe warehouse makes a win-win situation for all.

Warehouse Safety Accessories

If you're looking for safety equipment for warehouses, we're here to show you must-have accessories. Keep things operating injury-free and stay OSHA-compliant with the following critical accessories for warehouse safety.

1. Floor Signs

Warehouse work calls for high productivity. Workers zip around by foot or on a forklift to get packages where they need to go. Sometimes they put speed and productivity before safety, and that's when incidents happen. Floor signs remind workers to stop, look and be aware at all times.

Floor signs are a visual aid to support the 5S's and make a warehouse safe, clean and efficient. The 5S method stands for:

• Sort: When the most important items are the easiest to reach, there is less chance a worker will practice improper lifting as they hurry to complete an order.
• Straighten: Organized, neatly stacked and clearly labeled storage bins keep workers moving with less risk of getting struck by falling objects.
• Shine: A clean workplace is free of tripping hazards like empty boxes or packaging materials. Regularly clean and maintain all work areas for safety.
• Standardize: Set standards all employees and management can clearly understand and follow, to keep work flowing and the environment safe. Visual aids like floor signs help implement consistency.
• Sustain: Stick to the rules and make improvements when needed. Make safety training an ongoing practice for all employees.

Floor signs are easy to peel and stick for a smooth, clean finish. We design all our floor signs to withstand the daily wear and tear of forklift and foot traffic, and they help keep workers safe by instructing, directing and communicating critical safety information.

We offer a variety of essential floor signs available in six different sizes to meet your warehouse needs.

• Circular Floor Sign Series: Available in yellow and black or three other color combinations, our circular signs feature pre-printed messages or custom messages. Yellow is the perfect color to communicate caution.
• Polygon Floor Sign Series: Remind forklift drivers to stop and look when crossing through high-traffic areas with our red-and-white Stop floor signs. Use attention-grabbing red for the most impact.
• Rectangular Floor Sign Series: Instruct forklift drivers to turn right or left with a rectangular floor sign and avoid a hazardous situation or help new workers gain control of their job. Rectangular signs are powerful shapes for communicating guidance or instructions.
• Triangular Floor Sign Series: Remind forklift operators and other equipment operators to yield to pedestrians with a yellow triangular floor sign and help prevent serious accidents.

2. Cabinets

Warehouse workers might face the risk of chemical burns. All hazardous materials and chemicals such as flammable liquids, gas cylinders and paints need proper and secure storage to avoid fires and injury. They also need proper labels, and employees must have the proper training to handle hazardous materials safely.

Our industrial cabinets are OSHA-compliant to take worry out of the equation. With our cabinets, you know chemicals and other liquids are safe and stored to prevent fires and leaks. Our cabinets:

• Comply with OSHA regulations
• Meet National Fire Protection Association Code 30 standards
• Are finished in two-part urethane paint in safety-boosting colors like yellow or red
• May include warning signage, galvanized steel shelving and self-latching doors

We offer five different models to meet your unique storage requirements, including the following.

• Corrosive and acid storage: With leak-proof lining and corrosive-resistant urethane coating, our corrosive and acid storage cabinets help keep workers safe from eye and skin burns. Our corrosive and acid storage cabinets are available in different sizes to make sure you have enough space for all types of container shapes.
• Environmental cabinets: Our environmental cabinets provide a simple solution to storing any sensitive material. Vertically store heavy drums of hazardous materials, and use the ball bearing rollers to prevent back injury while enjoying easy removal.
• Flammable liquid storage: Keep flammable and combustible liquids like paints or cleaning solvents in our secure, compliant cabinets. We design our cabinets with safety in mind, and they feature double-wall construction to contain flames if a fire breaks out, non-sparking doors and warning signage.
• Gas cylinder storage: Store gas and propane cylinders with durable aluminum or steel storage units. You have the option to store cylinders vertically or horizontally, and always keep them out of reach of dangerous situations.
• Paint and ink storage: Our paint and ink storage cabinets keep materials neat, organized and safe. Available in red or yellow and with many shelving options, these cabinets will increase efficiency and the shelf life of your materials.

3. Signs

Warehouse employees can more effectively protect themselves if they know exactly what they are working with and where they are heading. Everything in your warehouse, from machinery to evacuation routes, should be identifiable.

Signs are a cost-effective solution to warn employees, safely guide them where they need to go and communicate important rules and regulations. Signs are vital accessories in communicating clear, simple messages for quick interpretation, such as where smoking is permitted or directional signage denoting fire exits.

OSHA recommends placing visual warnings near dock edges to remind workers to drive slowly, make sure dock plates are secure and prohibit jumping from docks. We offer the signs you need to create an environment that's easy to navigate, to promote awareness and to enforce safety rules. We offer pre-designed signs or customizable options for any workplace, such as the following.

• Factories: Factory workers spend their days around dangerous machinery and potentially hazardous materials. According to OSHA, amputations, often resulting from the use and care of machines, are the most debilitating workplace injuries and often result in permanent disability. Remind all workers daily of the risks and hazards of manufacturing machinery.
• Warehouses: New employees and warehouse visitors can easily get lost in a seemingly endless warehouse. Directional signs guide workers and increase their productivity by decreasing the amount of time they spend wandering. Stop signs and warning signs are important aids to keep all employees safe, whether they've been working there for years or are just getting started.
• Warnings: Warning signs remind workers they are handling dangerous machinery or materials, and they must take their work seriously if they want to prevent a trip to the hospital. Storage cabinets, heavy equipment, loading docks, conveyors and charging stations are just a few areas that need warning signs in an industrial facility.

4. Guards

Employers are required to provide safe working environments, and guards are highly effective safety accessories for warehouses. There are many different guards available for the workplace, all with the same purpose — to protect people or machinery from damage.

Guards work to protect employees from accidental falls, forklift crashes, shelving tip-overs and other incidents. Although you can't always prevent an accident from happening, you can use guards to help reduce the impact of the occasional accident. We offer a wide variety of guards and barriers to help keep your warehouse accident-free, such as these options.

• Barriers: Made from steel or aluminum, our high-quality barriers deter entrance to hazardous areas.
• Bollards: Bollards are short, vertical posts which can form a boundary, protective barrier or pathway. We've designed our selection of highly durable bollards to sustain an impact and prevent a vehicle collision.
• Columns: Our column guards absorb the impact of a collision, reducing injuries and structural damage. Installation is quick and easy and features two steel pieces for a high level of protection.
• Conveyor guards: Conveyor guards serve as a barrier to protect forklift drivers from a collision with a conveyor system. An accident could lead to expensive equipment damage, product damage, lost time, disrupted workflow and, worst of all, severe injury. Fortunately, conveyor guards act as a floor-mounted buffer to keep things up and running if an operator's attention slips.
• Machinery guards: Our heavy-duty machinery guards are perfect for creating a protective barrier around operating machinery, keeping employees safe from tripping or crashing into dangerous moving components.
• Modular: Our modular guards allow you greater flexibility to design and arrange guards where you need them when you need them.
• Overhead door tracks guards: Forklifts or other material handling equipment can easily damage door tracks. When any type of equipment or track gets damaged, the risk of injury increases. Keep all warehouse components in tip-top shape, including overhead door tracks, with our track guards.
• Post guards: Post guards are easy to install around racks, machinery or other warehouse structures as a barrier against forklift collisions. Our sturdy, steel post guards offer an affordable solution to increasing warehouse safety.
• Rack guards: Our tough, yet affordable, rack guards range from low-profile guards to space-saving rack protectors. Use our rack guards to protect shelving, machinery or pallets from collisions, saving employees from tumbling boxes or other dangers.
• Safety railings: Our steel or aluminum safety railings are highly visible, versatile and affordable. They are a great choice for creating a simple barrier around hazardous areas.
• Wall guards: Wall guards help reduce the impact of a collision while protecting warehouse walls from dents.

5. Floor Safety Tape

Floor safety tape visually creates safe pathways for employees to follow and makes a warehouse feel orderly and organized. You can also use it to tape off hazardous areas, creating a boundary. As one of the most cost-effective safety accessories you can buy, floor safety tape is a necessity for any industrial setting.

Imagine driving down the highway without clear lines separating lanes. Driving would likely feel chaotic and unsafe. Forklift drivers need guidance to help them do their job comfortably and safely. We offer floor tape in an assortment of easy-to-stick colors, shapes and sizes so you can customize your warehouse floor for maximum safety.

• Aisle markings: Achieve the right angles and look with our easy peel-and-stick safety tape solution. Whether you need T-shaped tape for a neat, clean look where aisles meet or footprint stickers to guide pedestrians, we've got it.
• Custom floor safety tape: We'll work with you to design the most effective color, shape and texture you need for the desired results.

6. Personal Safety Gear

Warehouse employees should be well-protected at all times. They should be safe from impact, chemical burns and hazardous fumes. Personal safety equipment, or PPE, may include face shields, eyewear, ear protection, respiratory protection, gloves, vests and helmets.

OSHA regulations require employers to identify hazards that call for PPE, and to train employees in how to wear PPE properly. For example, employees must wear eye and face protection such as goggles or face shields in work environments that expose them to flying particles or hazardous chemicals.

General ergonomics is also very important for employees responsible for transporting heavy loads and operating machinery. Impact-absorbing floor mats with anti-slip features can reduce the strain on warehouse employees’ knees and backs. Train all employees in proper lifting to avoid strains and overexertion. Allow employees to ask for help when needed, and know the physical limits of your workers.

7. Lockout/Tagout Systems

Many industrial facilities utilize “lockout/tagout” systems and policies. Lockout/tagout is a method that allows operators to disable a machine when necessary, which prevents unexpected startups from hazardous stored energy. When a worker is performing a routine maintenance check on a machine, for example, lockout/tagout ensures the machine is fully turned off.

Various lockout/tagout products block access to electrical equipment. Many devices effectively stop a machine from starting in the first place so workers can repair or maintain machinery safely. OSHA provides several steps a warehouse can take to fully comply with lockout/tagout procedures.

8. First-Aid Kit

All workplaces, especially warehouses, should be equipped with complete first-aid kits. Because of the common hazards in warehouses, it is a best practice for a facility to have multiple kits that are all easily accessible.

Warehouses are large facilities, so first-aid kits should be portable. Your first-aid kit should include a variety of items such as:

• Aspirin
• Pads
• Ammonia inhalants
• Bandages
• Antiseptic wipes
• Gloves
• Eyewash
• Cotton applicators
• Scissors
• Burn spray
• Tweezers
• Adhesive tape
• A cold pack

Your first-aid kits should include easy-to-read user instructions, and all employees should receive first-aid training. Likewise, they should know when it's time to call an ambulance. Be sure to post emergency contact information prominently in a central location.

The Importance of Safety Training

Perhaps the most important aspect of a safe warehouse is trained employees. Safety training helps workers and management identify potential hazards. They also learn how to properly report hazards and prevent serious injuries. Safety training is the first step to accomplishing a happy, healthy work environment. Every employee needs to know how to handle machinery and materials and perform job duties safely.

According to OSHA, safety training should cover the following topics for managers and employees:

• How to do the job safely
• How to avoid putting themselves and others at risk
• Looking out for hazards and reporting them immediately
• How to safely work with hazardous materials
• Safety policies and procedures
• Whom to contact
• How to report injuries and hazards
• Their rights
• Techniques for controlling hazards
• How and when to wear PPE

Safety training is so important that many OSHA standards include safety training requirements. All employees should feel comfortable discussing safety concerns and should be encouraged to provide feedback. When you combine training with warehouse safety equipment, you reap the rewards of a productive and energized team of workers. Without safety training, employees will not understand the importance of valuable safety equipment, nor will their how to perform at their best while avoiding injury.

Shop Material-Handling.Com Today

A safe warehouse is a productive warehouse. When workers get injured, you lose time, money and a good reputation. Safety should always be a priority because, without workers, the job will not get done.

At Material-handling.com, we are excited to help you achieve success by supplying reliable and affordable safety equipment for warehouses. Since 1983, we've put our customers and their safety first by providing the best in guards, signs, cabinets and more. Our warehouse safety accessories are built to last and designed to encourage workflow and protection from injuries and accidents.

To learn more about our warehouse safety equipment, contact us online or give us a call at 877-350-2729. If you know what you need and are ready to shop, request a quote or place your order today!