Safety Training Tips for Improving Warehouse Efficiency
March 10, 2020
Your warehouse serves as the heart of operations. As products are produced and shipped out, your top goal is likely to maintain a high level of efficiency. But one employee injury can cut severely into any profits you make, in addition to serving as a huge setback for your team.
According to
the National Safety Council, work injuries in 2018 brought an overall cost of $170.8 billion, averaging $1,100 per injured worker. Just one injured worker can leave you shorthanded for months at a time, putting a strain on the others on the team. But as a warehouse manager, you probably also care about your workers and don't want to see harm come to any of them. Here are a few things you can do to make your warehouse safer without impacting efficiency.
Conduct Regular Assessments
Before you can make improvements, you'll first need to take a serious look at your current situation. Pay particular attention to
common warehouse hazards
like forklifts, conveyer equipment, stored materials, and hazardous chemicals. If employees are required to engage in manual labor, are they putting their physical health at risk? In addition to surveying the environment, pull employees into a meeting and have them cite any safety concerns they have.
Invest in Resources
Once you've identified safety needs, put time and resources into protecting your workers. This includes investing in gear for your employees. Items like gloves, safety glasses, and hardhats can make a big difference. Use signage and labels to serve as reminders. You should also set up a training program and ensure every employee has the information they need to keep the workplace as safe as possible.
Offer Incentives
You've probably seen warehouses that boldly announce, via signage, how many days it's been since the last injury. There's a reason that signage is effective: it brings out the competitive spirit in employees. Not wanting to break the record, they'll often exercise extra care. You can boost that competitive nature by offering bonuses for teams that can exceed a certain timeframe without an injury. OSHA has an example of such an awards program
on its website
.
Building a successful training program takes time but hiring experienced warehouse workers can ensure you add people to your team who are familiar with safety programs. Express Pros specializes in finding the perfect warehouse professionals for businesses across the country. Contact us at (615) 441-8898 to find out how we can help you.