Every company that operates forklifts struggles with pedestrian safety problems. The issues are well-documented; forklifts are often the most problematic safety machinery in any operation that utilizes them.Â
5 Ways to Help Prevent Forklift-Pedestrian Accidents
December 12, 2023
by Scott Stone
Tags: plant safety, forklift safety, forklift
Posted in Forklift - Pedestrian Safety|
Climb Towards Ladder Safety
March 26, 2019
With OSHA statistics showing that every year more than 100 workers are fatally injured of suffering disabling injuries in ladder-related accidents, it makes sense to take time in your facility to educate and train workers on safe ladder operation procedures. This month, the American Ladder Institute (ALI) is sponsoring its annual National Ladder Safety Month to promote ladder safety at work and home.
Tags: warehouse, plant safety, worker safety, safety training, facility safety, safety issues, warehouse accidents
Posted in Safety & Ergonomics|
Improving Ergonomics in the Warehouse
November 28, 2017
With the rising costs of workers’ compensation insurance and global pressures to increase productivity, warehouse and distribution center managers are taking a much closer look at improving ergonomics. With as many as 65% of worker’s compensation claims associated with manual materials handling, insurance companies are raising their rates—or mandating ergonomic improvements for continued coverage.
Equipment suppliers are responding to the need, engineering and designing features into their products to help workers minimize the strains associated with lifting, reaching, twisting, pulling and pushing. These new product features can also help address the demand for increased productivity as well.
Tags: Material Handling, order fulfillment, warehouse safety, ergonomics, plant safety, Order Picking & Fulfillment, Safety & Ergonomics
Posted in Safety & Ergonomics|
Ergonomics and Adjustable Workstations: A Guide
May 25, 2017
Adjustable workstations make operations like packing, picking, assembly and inspection safer, more comfortable and more productive because they easily let operators work in the ergonomic “golden zone” suitable for their own needs – the same station can be used by someone 6’4″ as someone 5/2″ on multiple shifts, or if the load or work varies in height, like multiple sized boxes or various motors that may be different sizes. These workbenches are adjustable, usually by crank or by powered switch or pushbutton. What might suit you best?
That said, having to utilize a crank to adjust the height is inherently counter to the fundamentals of ergonomics, and it’s slow. To combat this, consider electric adjustable workstations, which provide multiple advantages over their cranking counterparts.
Tags: Safety & Ergonomics, Warehouse Management, warehousing, warehouse, workstations, ergonomics, plant safety, forklift safety
Posted in Storage, Organization & Workstations|
ISNetworld Helps You Connect with Reliable, Safe Contractors
April 20, 2017
ISNetworld is a global resource for connecting corporations with safe, reliable contractors/suppliers from all types of industries. ISN collects self-reported safety, procurement, sustainability, quality and regulatory information from contractors and suppliers, verifies its accuracy, and then reports the results in an easy-to-follow format. This allows corporations to select companies that best meet internal and governmental requirements, while providing contractors/suppliers the opportunity to centralize their conformance information, saving time and gaining presence in the marketplace.
Tags: worker safety, facility safety, safety issues, warehousing, Material Handling, warehouse safety, warehouse, plant safety, forklift safety
Posted in Safety & Ergonomics|
Step Up for Ladder Safety
March 26, 2017
According to the American Ladder Institute (ALI), every year more than 300 fatalities in ladder-related accidents. Thousands more suffer disabling injuries. That’s why the ALI has declared March National Ladder Safety Month – the organization wants to raise awareness of ladder safety. As you plan ahead for the coming month, consider using March as a time to emphasize ladder safety among your workers.
Ladder-related citations are frequently among the top 10 most frequently cited safety violations, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), currently ranking number 7 overall.  Make sure you’ve created a safe work environment in your facility for ladder safety.
Tags: safety training, facility safety, safety issues, warehouse accidents, warehouse, plant safety, worker safety
Posted in Safety & Ergonomics|
Industrial Shelving: How To Prevent Collapses and Falling Products
August 4, 2015
by Scott Stone
It’s common to store large amounts of inventory on industrial shelving. The diversity of that inventory—bins full of parts, boxes of varying weights and other odd loads—can contribute to the dangers of falling product. Shelves are accessed frequently and by a variety of people, meaning that every time they are loaded, unloaded, picked or bumped, a spill could happen. A falling shelf load could cause worker injuries and of course ruin your inventory. What can you do about it?
Tags: warehousing, shelving, plant safety, Inventory protection
Posted in Storage, Organization & Workstations|
You Must Control Access to Your Facility
July 2, 2014
by Scott Stone
Above: a driver security cage, which allows entry into a dock area door, but restricts access within the facility
It’s difficult enough to handle the people who are supposed to be in your plant every day, much less visitors. Even those you invite.
The problem has two components: safety and security. From a safety standpoint, you have no idea how an untrained guest might behave. That guest may not know which machines are dangerous. He may not know to use your specified pedestrian walkways, wear steel toe boots, or stay clear of running conveyors. He doesn’t have your safety training. From a security standpoint, guests can be problematic from a number of angles. A plant visitor who has access to storage areas has access to inventory. With even the cheapest of phones now having good cameras and video built in, a guest may photograph something you don’t want made public. That guest could also damage something, accidentally or otherwise. There are lots of wrinkles.
Tags: plant safety, Safety & Ergonomics, Industrial Security
Posted in Security|
Video: Slip & Trip Accidents
April 8, 2013
by Scott Stone
Check out this video from ESH Safety News America for some common ways people fall in a variety of situations. The video is informative, and sometimes funny (see the shovel part), but the consequences of a slip & fall accident certainly are no laughing matter.
Tags: industrial accident prevention, plant safety
Posted in Safety & Ergonomics|
Don’t Climb that Pallet Rack!
March 18, 2013
by Scott Stone
To save time, people sometimes climb pallet racks to pick orders or do other things. This should never happen. While it’s faster to climb than it is to bring a rolling stair ladder or a forklift in to do it right, it’s dangerous and counterproductive. Do it long enough and there will be injuries.
Tags: Safety & Ergonomics, warehouse rack, plant safety
Posted in Pallet & Warehouse Racks|