Warehouses might just seem like giant storage areas, but they present serious risks for workers. Most warehouses deal with lots of heavy-duty equipment and items. This can cause some bad injuries if employees don’t follow proper safety precautions. Here are the biggest potential risks to workers in a warehouse. Knowing these will help you identify and limit hazards.

Slipping

One of the largest causes of injuries is slipping and tripping in a warehouse. This isn’t a simple matter of clumsy workers; most falls come from obstructions or unclean work areas. If workers have enough space and no obstacles in their way, they’re less likely to fall and hurt themselves. 

Damaged Racking

Most racks are heavy-duty and can carry huge loads, but they wear down over time. Without proper maintenance, racking can fail and break, causing substantial product damage and worker injury.

Repeated Stress Injury

Having workers continuously repeat the same strenuous action can really hurt them. Enforce proper loading techniques and variate jobs to help prevent this. Also, make it easy for workers to access products. This way, they won’t strain themselves while picking out items.

Falling Items

Overloading racking or improperly installing it can cause items to fall. These objects can hit workers and injure them. Don’t overload racks and practice proper loading methods to avoid these problems. Furthermore, use professional racking installers for their many benefits, such as safer racking. 

Machinery

Heavy machinery is also a large risk to workers. Forklifts are among the top causes of injuries in the warehouse workforce. Proper training and safety features will help prevent many of these injuries. 

The last big tip for avoiding the potential risks to workers in a warehouse is running frequent inspections. Examine all your equipment and storage areas every week or two. This way, you can catch any damaged equipment before it injures anyone. You can also clean up any obstructions and identify other risks during your inspections.