Based on the figures from Safe Work Australia, over 3,400 workers died in work-related accidents between the years 2003 and 2016. In fact, in 2016 alone, there were 182 fatal work accidents reported. As an employer, you are responsible for the safety of your employees as long as they are in the workplace. This is especially true if your business uses warehouses for storage and logistics.
This New Year, it’s time to do a check on your business and gauge if there are safety issues that need to be addressed immediately for a safer and more prosperous year ahead. Here are four things that make your workplace or warehouse unsafe for your team. Keep them in mind as you do a check this year.
Lack of heavy duty storage cabinets
Your cabinets for tool storage need to be heavy-duty so that it can last a long time without having to worry about wear and tear and weather-related issues. Making sure that there is enough storage space in the warehouse help you keep the workplace clean and organized. This is especially true if you have a lot of supplies to store and keep out of sight. You can opt for built-in storage cabinets, but movable ones are the best since you have the option to move them around and even transport them to the new facility if you choose to leave.
Lack of proper lighting
A lack of ample lighting, especially in a warehouse, is a huge safety issue. Not only is it physically dangerous to work in a dark place, but poor lighting also affects the performance and mood of your employees. If an area is well-lighted and airy, it helps your employees feel empowered, engaged, and motivated to work. Compared to when an area is not well-lighted, it makes people feel sleepy, dizzy, and lethargic.
Lack of enough floor space
Do you know that a lot of workers die because of forklift accidents? Apart from equipment mishandling, a lack of floor space is also a huge issue. That’s why there are options such as mezzanine warehouse floors so that you can create additional floor space to your current location without having to spend so much. What’s great about mezzanine warehouse floors is that you can also dismantle them and move to the next location. It’s easy to install, and it’s even cost-efficient.
Lack of training
If you want to retain your employees, allow them benefits such as free training. Apart from the fact that it’s a great way to avoid accidents in the workplace, it also makes your employees feel empowered, knowing that they work in a company that values its employees. Apart from equipment training, you can also add seminars such as risk management and disaster-readiness.
Accidents happen, but it’s what you do to prevent them that makes your business a success. Therefore, this year, make it a point to do a check in your company and see if there are urgent safety issues that need to be addressed so that you can have a prosperous year in the business.
