by Brianna Crandall — August 7, 2015—From forklifts, docks, and conveyors, to charging stations and hazardous chemicals, unsafe situations exist throughout a warehouse, reminds a new publication from safety and visual communication solutions provider Graphic Products.
In the United States, more than 145,000 people work in warehouses, processing and shipping goods that enable the American way of life. At the same time, these workers face extreme threats to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” says the company. The fatal injury rate for the warehousing industry is higher than the national average for all industries.
Graphic Products has released a Warehouse Safety Hazards & Solutions guide to serve as a safety training tool and resource for the warehousing industry. The guide identifies hazards and presents solutions based on OSHA standards and guidelines (see the explanatory video on YouTube).
The guide includes health resources for electrical hazards and materials handling — including booklets for controlling hazardous energy and basic electrical safety — and offers a safety checklist that facilities can use while inspecting their warehouse.
The guide examines the ten violations most frequently cited by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in the warehouse, including:
- Forklifts
- Hazard communication
- Electrical, wiring methods
- Electrical, system design
- Guarding floor and wall openings and holes
- Exits
- Mechanical power transmission
- Respiratory protection
- Lockout/tagout
- Portable fire extinguishers
Graphic Products has provided solutions for safety and visual communication since 1970. Graphic Products offers safety training materials, educational resources, and up-to-date news and compliance information on topics like arc flash, chemical labeling, and pipe marking to improve facilities’ safety and productivity.
