OSHA, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, requires all employers to provide and maintain a safe and healthful workplace for employees. OSHA completes regular inspections to insure all workplaces maintain their standard of health and safety. During these inspections, they identify any existing or potential hazards in the workplace, and they advise to eliminate or control them. Workplaces are inspected on a schedule based off of the industry. The fatal injury rate for warehousing employees is higher than other industry, so OSHA requires more frequent inspections of warehouses. To ensure the warehouse maintains and exceeds OSHA’s standards, it is recommend that employers use a safety checklist.
Because accidents cost money, employers should complete warehouse safety audits very often. Accidents cause higher insurance rates, reduce morale, medical costs for the injured, repairing any damaged equipment, and so much more. Being aware of the common OSHA violations in warehouses can prevent any of these incidents from occurring.
Top Warehouse Violations from OSHA
- Unsafe Forklift Use
- Hazard Communication
- Electrical Wiring
- Electrical System Design
- Fall Hazards
- Blocked or Unclear Emergency Exits
- Conveyors and Mechanical Power Transmission
- Failure to use PPE Equipment
- Failure to Follow Proper Tagout/Lockout Procedures
- Inadequate Fire Safety Provisions
They are also six areas that organizations in warehouses should pay special attention to. Having the correct procedures, pieces of equipment, and protections against hazardous materials can keep the environment accident free. When evaluating these, employers should be aware of any potential risks and always updating safety methods when change occurs.
6 Areas to Focus On
- Building Safety
- Storage & Material Handling Practices
- Fire Prevention & Protection
- Emergency Preparedness
- Electrical Installations
- Security System
