Warehouse safety is perhaps the number one concern for companies with large distribution centers. At Hughes, safety is a top priority. We have protocols in place for our own warehouse, we ensure that our customers who purchase machinery are equipped with the training to stay safe, and we sell the products needed to protect a warehouse from hazardous scenarios.
The modern warehouse has been saved from challenges of the past due to tech advancements. We have come a long way in workers’ safety by replacing or supplementing the roles that require unsafe scenarios with robots and safer equipment. Ergonomical awareness and solutions have also reduced the harm that can be caused by workplace stressors.
With that being said, the modern warehouse still has daily challenges when it comes to workplace safety.
Preventing eye injuries with protective eyewear
A staggering 300,000 Americans visit the emergency room every year with eye injuries that were sustained on the job, costing businesses an estimated $300 million. For the victim, this means multiple missed days of work and potentially life-altering consequences such as blindness. For the business, this means a loss of productivity and potentially worker compensation.
Ninety percent of the injuries mentioned above could have been prevented with the use of the right safety eyewear. Common dangers include manufacturing, construction, any environment with airborne materials or objects, radiation or chemicals, and operation of tools or equipment. OSHA has a variety of regulations depending upon the workplace scenarios and potential injuries that could be caused in the workplace. Contact a Hughes packaging expert to find out what type of eyewear your workers and machinery operators should be wearing.
Preventing health issues from airborne particles
Many industries require employees to perform roles where they could potentially breathe air that is harmful or dangerous. Industries that have a particularly high need for protection against harmful air include: spray painting, sanding, welding, construction, janitorial, manufacturing, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and chemical manufacturing.
The number one solution for protecting workers from airborne concerns is providing respirators. We help our customers by offering workers a variety of protective respirators.
All of our respirators are comfortable, lightweight, adjustable, and convenient. The differences include whether the respirator is disposable, reusable, or powered/supplied air. We also help our customers integrate respirators into their workplace by providing training on how to properly position the straps and nose clip and perform a seal check.
Repetitive Motion Injuries in the Workplace
There are many workplace scenarios that require daily operations that are exhaustive on the body. Overuse and improper use are common ways that workers end up with strains and sprains. Sometimes workers end up in scenarios where they have such long term damage that they have to consider a career change. Companies are preventing this by learning about ergonomic solutions and what it means for their workers.
One way to reduce these injuries is to encourage workers to stretch and strengthen their muscles. Weakened or fatigued muscles lead to injury, so it is important for workers to increase their blood flow and take care of their muscles. There are also ergonomic principles to keep in mind in the workplace: place frequently used items in easy to reach places, use automated machinery, and more (view the full list here).
More Workplace Injuries to Be Aware of
The number of hazardous scenarios in a warehouse are endless. Workers’ compensation attorneys wouldn’t have a booming industry if this was not the case. It is our responsibility in the warehouse to make sure all operators are protected as much as possible. The only path to prevention is knowledge: it’s our goal at Hughes to equip our customers with the knowledge needed to be safe in the warehouse. With the proper knowledge, our customers can put protocols, machinery, and protective supplies in place.
Eye injuries, breathing concerns, and repetitive motion injuries are three of the most common types of workplace injuries. Other hazards to be aware of include:
- Hearing loss: use the right ear protection to prevent hearing loss
- Back injuries: heavy lifting and bad posture should be avoided
- Poison: provide a clean and safe environment for your workers with marked containers and proper storage
- Injuries from falling items: provide proper headwear for scenarios that could cause trauma to the head
- Falling: provide proper signage and warnings in areas in which a person could fall
Is your warehouse safe?
There are many harmful scenarios that workers encounter in their day-to-day lives. From the more serious injuries in warehouses, such as falling off of ladders and forklifts, to the more long-term damages that happen from overuse and improper use of machinery. Contact a Hughes packaging expert to find out if you could be doing more to protect your workers.
