With more than 8 million employees and 19,000+ facilities, the warehousing and transportation industry remains focused on adhering to OSHA warehouse safety guidelines. Over the course of the five years between 2017 and 2022, the number of people employed in the US transportation and warehousing industry climbed by an average of 3.5%. (view statistics at IBISWorld.)
According to the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA), the fatal injury rate for the warehousing industry is higher than the national average. That means there is much room for improvement in making sure our nation’s warehouses are safe places to work.
Common Warehouse Workplace Hazards
The OSHA Pocket Guide for Warehouse Safety lists several hazards for workers in a warehouse environment:
- Unsafe use of forklifts
- Improper stacking of products
- Failure to use proper personal protective equipment
- Failure to follow proper lockout/tag-out procedures
- Inadequate fire safety provisions
- Repetitive motion injuries
How to Make Your Warehouse Safer
One of the best ways to prevent accidents and injuries in the workplace is safety training. Our friends at Grainger are dedicated to safety training too and say:
“According to OSHA, when training is clear, it’s delivered in a language that participants can understand and is free from confusing jargon. When training is practical, it connects directly to participants’ working lives: they understand the ideas and see how they can put them into action.”
Many companies have made the decision to implement protective guarding products on their pallet racking as well to keep employees, inventory, conveyors and equipment safe from falling items. Dangers like these can cause injuries or worse. Adrian’s Safety Solutions offers Rack Safety Straps, Rack Safety Nets, and Rack Safety Cables to address these OSHA warehouse safety requirements.
What OSHA Warehouse Safety Standards do Adrian’s Products Address?
You’re probably already familiar with OSHA’s General Duty Clause which states that employers should provide their employees with “a place of employment which is free from recognized hazards that are likely to cause death or serious physical harm…” It also states that each employee is responsible for following occupational health and safety rules and regulations.
In addition to the General Duty Clause, warehouse supervisors and employees should be aware and adhere to standard number 1926.250(a)(1) – General requirements for storage. This standard states that “all materials stored in tiers shall be stacked, racked, blocked, interlocked, or otherwise secured to prevent sliding, falling or collapse.”
Furthermore, OSHA Standard 1926.250(a)(3) requires that “aisles and passageways shall be kept clear to provide for the free and safe movement of material handling equipment or employees.” You can view all information and standards regarding warehousing on OSHA’s website.
Other Regulatory Requirements – NFPA
While this article is focused on the OSHA warehouse safety guidelines, employers are also subject to adherence to local, state and national regulatory requirements. This includes the National Fire Protection Agency’s (NFPA) guidance on stored materials.
Both NFPA Code 230 and NFPA Code 13 are discussed in detail in the following resources:
→Are you ready to take your pallet rack safety to the next level? Contact us today to discuss your specific safety concerns.
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