Hiring temporary or seasonal workers is one of the most common methods of alleviating short-term volume problems when your warehouse feels the crunch. However, whether it be a lack of training or qualifications, temporary workers can represent an increase in injuries and overall degradation of safety in an otherwise strict and dangerous workplace. Here are a few tips to handle warehouse safety and provide the best environment to keep your workers safe and avoid liability for you and your business.
Teach And Practice Safety FIRST
While productivity and efficiency may be at the front of your mind when hiring seasonal workers, a lack of safety and training can flip your overall yield and ruin an otherwise effective solution to handling the busy season. To keep your workplace safe and to train workers quickly, follow the following steps:
- Indoctrination Training: Before setting new workers on the floor, you should administer an indoctrination safety meeting to review procedures and alarms and offer general safety tips. While some of the individual parts of indoctrination safety briefings may seem like common sense to you, even the most seasoned worker can use a refresher and have the obvious pointed out BEFORE any accidents happen.
- Run Drills: If a worker’s first experience with an emergency is in an actual emergency, it is more likely they will panic, make dangerous decisions, and can often make a situation worse than it already was. Run drills, both planned and unplanned, to keep workers on their toes and address any failings in a safe environment before an emergency.
- Issue And Enforce PPE: Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is an essential tool for any warehouse environment. If your operation is large or small, items such as eye protection, yellow safety vests, gloves, and other specialized equipment should be worn when required. You can’t always expect temporary workers to bring their own equipment, so providing and enforcing a PPE program can save eyes, fingers, toes, and even lives.
Keep Your Industrial Facility Clean And Organized
While keeping things clean and orderly should be a daily practice, not exclusive to seasonal working conditions, temporary workers will likely struggle to be efficient without an organized workplace. Monitor hazards and unclean conditions and incentivize temporary workers to address any spills or messes promptly.
Minimize Forklift Activity In Work Areas
If you can afford the space, create forklift-free ‘pedestrian’ areas where workers can move along their lanes without having to dodge around heavy equipment.
Don’t Cut Corners With Certifications
OSHA certification is required for any worker operating heavy equipment or forklifts. If an unqualified worker is involved in a machinery-related accident, you and your business will be held liable, not the employee. Don’t open yourself up to such preventable accidents, and check ALL certifications to ensure they are up to date and meet your minimum requirements for any equipment.
Keep Your Equipment In Proper Working Order
Always service your equipment and ensure it is in good working order before allowing any worker to operate it. Keep maintenance logs and check any automation, lift, or conveyer machinery for potential malfunctions to minimize breakdowns and keep your workers safe. Even if it does not require certification, you should instruct workers on how to start, stop, and respond to equipment in an emergency.
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