by David Tullis, on Jun 13, 2023 11:00:00 AM
National Safety Month is here again! In 2023 it’s not enough to only comply with OSHA standards - warehouse operations managers must now meet guidelines from their State Government and the CDC to protect their people. To help keep your operation working smoothly and safely, check out this roundup of the top safety tips from the Southern States Toyotalift Blog.
Make Pallet Rack Safety a Priority
Rack collapse is a genuine concern for warehouses that don't take pallet rack safety seriously. Falling objects accounted for over 700 workplace deaths in 2021, and rack collapse contributed significantly to those fatalities. Luckily, there are 7 steps you can take to improve pallet rack safety in your facility. These steps cover everything from installation to loading to repairing your existing racks.
Tread Carefully on Loading Docks
Loading and unloading trailers at the loading dock is one of the most hazardous duties of a forklift. Each time a forklift enters or exits the trailer, the motion can result in dangerous trailer creep if proper safety precautions are not taken. The ultimate result is the forklift falling from the loading dock. This kind of accident almost always results in either severe injury or death. However, anticipating loading dock hazards can prevent these serious outcomes.
Invest in Forklift Safety Lights
Not sure which forklift safety lights you need? You aren't alone. Forklift safety light requirements vary depending on your facility layout, lighting, and pedestrian activity. Understanding forklift headlights, taillights, strobes, blue pedestrian spotlights, and red side pedestrian lights is vital in ensuring you have the proper lighting to keep your facility safe.
Clean and Sanitize Your Floors
In order to keep your workers healthy and safe, you need to keep your workspace sanitized to help reduce the risk of transmitting viruses. Using a floor cleaning machine with the correct process and cleaning solution can keep your workers healthier, and even reduce the risk of injuries due to slips, trips, and falls.
Maintain Clear Forklift Data Plates
Forklift data plates are required on all equipment by both OSHA and ANSI. To keep your operators safe, it’s not enough to make sure that they know how to read a forklift data plate - the plates themselves need to be properly maintained to remain readable and accurate for all parts of the forklift specs.
Forklift Operator Training
Implementing a thorough forklift safety training program is a cornerstone of safe, productive businesses. It presents an opportunity to minimize risks, qualify your employees, and reinforce the importance of safety for your company. Go beyond a basic training program to implement knowledge that is key for your location and business to keep your operators safer and more productive.
Maintain High-Use Forklift Components
Regular maintenance is essential for safe operation of your forklifts. In particular, high use items such as chains, forks, and tires require more attention and maintenance than other components. Incorporating a strong daily walk-around inspection to your training standards is key for catching any issues before they become big problems for you.
Add Forklift Safety Attachments
The right aftermarket forklift attachment can help drastically improve performance and safety. While common items like side shifters empower greater productivity, options such as alarms, wire guidance systems, and back up blue lights can increase awareness and decrease risks of collisions or injuries in your warehouse.
Update Your Aerial Lift Standards
ANSI updated its regulatory standards for aerial lifts at the end of 2019. In fact, they’re not even called “aerial lifts” anymore. The new standards for Mobile Elevating Work Platforms include specific provisions for maintenance and operation to increase safety in the workplace. Make sure your company is compliant to keep operators safe.
Build a Culture of Safety
Building a culture of safety in your workplace is no easy task. However, businesses that embrace these needs are often more productive, profitable, and tend to avoid OSHA fines. Every aspect of your company’s operation from training, management, and daily work should reinforce the high value of safety for all of your employees.
Top OSHA Violations
Learning from the past is one of the best ways to prepare for the future. For National Safety Month, take a look back at the top OSHA violations from last year. Chances are many of these will make the list this year too. Learn from other’s mistakes (such as missing pre-operation equipment inspections) to keep your workplace safer into the future.
Need assistance improving your workplace safety? Whether you need help with a robust training and certification plan, or a workplace safety audit, we’re here to help. Contact our team today online or by phone at (800) 226-2345.
Further Reading:
Top 8 Forklift Safety Products
Forklift Safety Checklist
Why Are Forklift Pre-Shift Inspections Important?
