Warehouse Safety

Course Description:

You may not think of the warehouse as a particularly hazardous place, but annual injury and fatality rates are rising, and the fatal injury rate for the warehousing industry is higher than the national average. Warehouse work is physically demanding, with workers constantly on their feet walking, bending, and lifting, and workloads can vary widely from day to day or even from hour to hour. Environmental factors, such as extreme temperatures, high noise levels, and poor lighting, can also affect workers’ health and safety.

With every activity in a warehouse covered by at least one Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, regulation, the wide variety of potential hazards can seem unavoidable.

Fortunately, there are a number of safe practices that you can follow to address each of these hazards and to ensure your safety while working in a warehouse.

Why “Warehouse Safety” Matters:

At the completion of this course, the participant will be able to:

• Identify warehouse hazards
• Prevent back injuries by using proper lifting techniques
• Work safely with material-handling equipment
• Protect against accidents on the loading dock
• Store and handle materials safely
• Prevent fires; slips, trips, and falls; and temperature-related illness

Key Points:

• Warehouses contain many hazards you need to be aware of.
• Always practice safe lifting to prevent back injuries.
• Use material-handling equipment safely, and watch out for forklifts.
• Stack and store materials properly to prevent accidents.
• Practice good housekeeping, and wear required personal protective equipment.