29 Jul 07/29/2022
Industrial warehouses are large buildings designed to store things like raw materials and finished inventory before those items are sold or used. In total, over 19,000 independent warehousing facilities are operating across the U.S., and that number doesn’t include the warehouses privately owned by companies to store their goods. As of 2021, more than 1,766,600 people work in the private warehousing industry, and that number continues to rise.
Employee growth in warehouses has increased over the past decade due to e-commerce.
Warehouses are classified as general warehousing, refrigerated warehousing, or farm product warehousing. Each has different needs with regards to protecting workers from workplace hazards. Across these different types of warehouses, there are similar types of employees. The most frequent occupations in warehouses are order fillers, laborers who move materials, and packagers. All these workers use their hands, meaning work gloves are essential protection. And, in the case of those working in the refrigerated sector, insulated gloves are a must.
Besides hand protection, workers wear numerous other types of personal protective equipment (PPE), so it’s critical to understand the most common warehouse hazards and how to minimize risks. This article will discuss the most common OSHA violations found in warehouses, review the rules and guidelines that are essential to the safety of warehouse workers, and highlight PPE to help keep warehouse workers safe on the job.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows that the warehousing industry, represented by NAICS code 493, experiences 4.8 total recordable injuries for every 100 employees. That is 39% higher than the 2.9 injury average across all industries. Each year, OSHA provides information regarding the most common warehouse safety violations that often contribute to such a high rate of injuries.
Here are the top 10 safety issues at a warehouse, based on OSHA recorded violations:
OSHA identified the above hazards when they wrote their Worker Safety Series Warehousing Guide in 2014. Based on 2020 and 2021 citations, some others have moved up the list: material handling with 22 citations, OSHA General Duty Clause with 15 citations, and fall protection with five citations.
It’s essential to be current on the latest safety regulations to protect both warehouse workers and owners. Though the above violations can lead to severe injury, steep fines, and legal penalties, there is guidance offered by OSHA to combat hazards and ensure a safer workplace. The online warehousing website lists hazards and recommended solutions to all warehouse-related safety concerns.
OSHA’s Pocket Guide to warehouse worker safety is a helpful resource that identifies a range of warehouse hazards and provides solutions to reduce risk and increase safety. It also provides checklists for warehouse owners to ensure they do everything possible to protect their employees.
Here are some more OSHA resources that can aid operational staff:
What are the safety rules for a warehouse? In some ways, this is a complex question since safety rules vary depending on the types of operations, equipment, and materials used in a particular warehouse. However, some general rules should be followed by workers in any warehouse. Knowing these rules can help you assess your warehouse safety currently and guide you in making the proper adjustments to increase safety.
Here are some general tips anyone overseeing warehouse safety should follow:
In addition to the OSHA online resources above, here are some of our favorite online warehouse safety guidelines and sources we recommend you check out:
As we highlight in our article Safety First: The Top 10 Safety Signs, workplace signs are critical in keeping people informed and aware of potential hazards. Many warehouses don’t have the proper signs to mitigate workers' risk during specific operations. This might be as simple as a stop sign or a label for the fire extinguisher to more significant warning signs for dangerous areas or hazardous materials.
Having the right signs in the right areas of your warehouse helps reduce confusion and dangerous mistakes. Signs increase worker safety, especially ones that identify warehouse aisles and rows, guide forklift traffic, specify rack weight limits, and caution workers about potential hazards.
Here are some of the signs found in almost all warehouses:
Because signs are vital, OSHA is very particular about the rules regarding signage. OSHA’s complete guidelines give detailed information about signs' required symbols, colors, and printing specifications.
Knives are standard tools used in warehouse shipping and receiving, so it’s crucial to have a blade appropriate for a given task. The wrong blade or a dull blade reduces efficiency and increases the risk of injury. Although OSHA doesn’t have set regulations regarding knives, employers must follow best practices, including identifying the correct cutting tool for a particular job, promoting the proper grip and cutting motion, and educating about blade replacement and maintenance.
In addition to using the correct knife, workers must understand correct cutting techniques. Because knives pose safety concerns, it makes sense for workers to protect their hands by wearing cut-resistant gloves. You can find all our cut-resistant glove solutions in our online cut-resistant glove catalog. Click the image below to go there now and check out the options we know users will want to consider in warehouse environments.
Are reflective vests useful in a warehouse? Yes. Every year, roughly 100 employees die while operating or working around forklifts. These accidents often result from workers not being seen.
Reflective vests enhance the visibility of a worker, which is especially important in avoiding forklift traffic accidents. Since safety vests are bright and reflective, they reduce the risk of a forklift or other vehicle colliding with an unseen worker. Vests are relatively inexpensive and comfortable to wear, which makes them a direct investment in the safety of your warehouse employees.
Click the image above to check out all our safety vests, including General Purpose, Class 2, and Class 3 options.
We also stock vests fitted for women.
OSHA mandates that companies give all warehouse employees access to the correct PPE. Hi-vis safety vests and cut-resistant gloves are only the beginning of keeping workers protected. OSHA recommends that warehouse operations managers perform a site hazard assessment to determine what personal protective equipment (PPE) must be worn based on the hazards present and educate warehouse employees on the PPE required.
Below are some additional PPE products MCR Safety offers that a warehouse worker will find helpful.
Workers often sort packages, and coated dotted gloves offer added grip. For those who are not as concerned about grip, we carry a wide range of general-purpose gloves: dotted, uncoated, coated, and coated dotted styles.
Workers wear our dotted work glove styles at warehouses all over the country. They provide users with what is known as the "Grab Factor," making it easier to grab boxes.
Refrigerated cold storage facilities store temperature-controlled goods. Our new 9674IN glove, made with merino wool, provides warmth without sacrificing dexterity. And it’s made with FDA-approved accepted materials, so you are ok when touching food products. For additional insulated worker gloves, click the image below.
Thinsulate gloves for cold warehouse work are top sellers.
The PD1902 box handler glove, featuring A4 cut resistance, is designed to keep hands protected from sharp objects. It also features a red tire tread pattern grip, excellent for handling boxes.
Heat affects warehouse workers who perform work in hot temperatures. Our cooling gear lineup is worn by workers across the country during the hot summer months.
OSHA identifies eye and face protection as necessary PPE for charging stations when handling lead-acid batteries. MCR Safety specializes in producing a variety of safety glasses and goggles.
OSHA identifies the PPE required when handling chemicals or cleaning up spills. Our chemical protection page highlights all the chemical-resistant gloves we offer, along with safety goggles and garments designed to protect against chemical hazards.
In refrigerated environments, workers need safety glasses that won’t fog. Our Max 6 styles feature the most advanced anti-fog coating we offer.
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MCR Safety’s warehouse resides outside Memphis, TN. It has over 500,000 square feet of storage space stocked with personal protective equipment (PPE) ready to ship out to distributors and users across the United States. From experience, we know that even a well-organized warehouse can be dangerous, so protective measures are always taken to ensure individual safety. And at MCR Safety, your safety is our top priority, which is why we’ve provided insight into overall warehouse safety. For any of the PPE highlighted above, we hope you plan on allowing us to protect you!
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For over 45 years, MCR Safety has proven to be a world leader in gloves, glasses, and garments. Whether it's sorting packages on a conveyer belt, moving materials with a forklift, or working at a construction site, we are there providing solutions to workplace hazards. It's all part of our commitment to protect people.
No matter your industry, we have the personal protective equipment you need.
Learn more about MCR Safety by checking out our most recent video. For more information, browse our website, request a catalog, find a distributor, or give us a call at 800-955-6887.