Common Misconceptions about Warehouse Safety

Despite the industry’s long history, a surprising number of misconceptions about warehouse safety still persist. As a premier dealer of warehouse equipment and supporter of warehouse safety, A Plus Warehouse is here to put several of the most common misconceptions about warehouse safety to rest.

Read on to find out what they are and help make your workplace safer.

Misconception #3: If a shelf’s capacity can support it, it’s okay to store anything

It’s too easy to think of shelving in terms of its capacity. For example, how much a certain type of shelving can hold versus what it should be used for. We see this all the time with wire racks, which can be incredibly strong, being used for pallets. However, wire racks should only be used in instances where small items could fall between the shelving, while pallet racks must support the use of forklifts. So just because a wire rack has enough capacity to carry your pallets of products, a pallet rack would be safer.

Misconception #2: Warehouse safety is completely dependent on the user.

Although this is mostly true, even workers who are paragons of safety can still encounter warehouse dangers. The truth is there are just some things about daily warehouse work that people should perform with more caution. Mostly we’re referring to employees who try to move more than they should when there are solutions available to help them complete their work safely.

Certain warehouse equipment can help ensure a safe warehouse. Products like anti-fatigue mats, adjustable pallet stackers, and other material handling equipment are essential for not only employees’ well-being but the warehouse as a whole. Changes to the warehouse can also be made to promote safety, such as reducing the depth of your shelving. This way, your employees don’t have to risk injury by overextending their reach.

Misconception #1: A warehouse is generally just a dangerous place.

With so much high-powered equipment and activity going on all the time, it’s easy to assume the warehouse is a dangerous place to work. However, the warehouse isn’t dangerous on its own. Instead, neglect and unsafe work practices can make working there dangerous, and these can easily be solved.

You can invest in certain warehouse equipment like we mentioned above to create safe work conditions. You can also schedule training sessions to ensure your employees are using equipment properly. This will get everyone on the same page and using warehouse best practices according to OSHA law and requirements.

As long as you work smart and within the proper rules and regulations, you’ll have a safe warehouse on your hands.