When it comes to the safety and welfare of your employees, there’s no room to cut corners. And, when it comes to recordable injuries that can be prevented — everything that can be done, should be done. But is your facility still having incidents? Are you unsure what other solutions are available, and, furthermore, if you can afford them? Keep reading for some good news.
What qualifies as a “recordable injury?”
To begin, we’ll give you a quick overview of what these recordable injuries are. If you’re unfamiliar, this includes essentially anything that happens in the workplace — i.e. your facility or warehouse — that needs to be reported to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). By not reporting necessary injuries, your facility is subject to lawsuits or closure. Worse still, you’ll gain a reputation as being a careless employer that doesn’t value safety or your employees.
Any facility that has more than 10 employees must ensure they file injuries with OSHA when necessary. However, there are some exemptions, such as injuries that only require first aid. According to OSHA’s official site, the following qualify as a recordable injury:
- All work-related fatalities.
- Any work-related injury or illness that results in loss of consciousness, days away from work, restricted work, or transfer to another job.
- All work-related injuries or illnesses requiring medical treatment beyond first aid.
- Any work-related diagnosed case of cancer, chronic irreversible diseases, fractured or cracked bones or teeth, and punctured eardrums.
- There are also special recording criteria for work-related cases involving: needle sticks and sharps injuries; medical removal; hearing loss; and tuberculosis.
How to implement better forklift procedures
One of the leading causes of injuries in facilities, particularly those that use pallet racking and material handling equipment, include improper forklift use. In fact, OSHA estimates that forklift-related injuries cost businesses $135 million every year. Though you may feel strapped for time when it comes to fine-tuning your team’s lift truck prowess, we have 14 tips for better forklift safety you may find useful.
How to boost push-through prevention
In addition to arming your team with reinforced forklift protocol, you can also go the extra mile and boost your facility’s pallet push-through prevention. Depending on what kind of items you have on your pallet racks, this will determine what type of warehouse safety product you can most benefit from, if not a combination of more than one. When it comes to time-saving solutions to prevent recordable injuries associated with pallet racking (and that won’t cost a fortune!), it doesn’t get easier than Adrian’s rack safety products.
If your pallets have shrink-wrapped items…
You will benefit the most from the pallet Rack Safety Strap, Adrian’s most affordable option. These straps attach to the back of the rack and keep large, palletized, or shrink-wrapped items from falling off the rack or into the flue space and onto employees.
If your pallets have loose items…
- Back of the rack protection: You will benefit the most from rack safety nets, particularly Adrian’s Fixed Rack Safety Net that attaches to the back of the rack. Its high-visibility yellow netting makes safety checks a breeze. And, it doesn’t require tools or retrofitting to install.
- Front of the rack protection: You will benefit most from Modular Safety Netting, which keeps loose cartons or objects from falling into a work space, aisleway, or equipment.
How to up your safety game (and keep it that way)
If you want to prevent recordable injuries in your facility, it’s up to you and your team. Work together when it comes to preparing for routine safety checks and other forms of training. For more warehouse safety resources, you can check out the rest of Adrian’s blog. And, if you’re interested in a live product demo or working with a dealer, visit our dealer marketplace.
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