Transparent procedures and securely designed workplaces translate into increased efficiency of the entire company.

Of course, more and more arduous work on production lines or in warehouses is done for us by machines or robots. However, it is the man who remains the most important element. According to data provided by the Department of Labor in e.g. US, employees physical injuries due to the lack of ergonomics costs US taxpayers an average of $ 15-20 billion a year. At the same time, the British Occupational Safety and Health Inspectorate reports that about one million people come to the UK every year with musculoskeletal injuries resulting from non-ergonomic workplaces.

What exactly does implementing the principles of work ergonomics translate into?

1. Cost reduction

The systemic reduction of risk factors translates into fewer accidents, and thus reduces the costs associated with them.

Less accidents – less downtime during work, fewer machine repairs that are related to accidents, and greater availability and efficiency of a team of employees.

According to the American center Bureau of Labor Statistics in the USA, the average total cost of injury at work is on average $51 000 and is associated with a minimum of 12 days of absence from the employee.

2. Increased productivity

A more ergonomic workplace is a more efficient workplace. When the task requires less effort it is more convenient, and the person who is responsible for the task feels safe – If that’s a case  the productivity must increase.

It is also worth paying attention to the continuity of work, which results from fewer injuries. Better organization of workplaces in cooperation with employees and the management staff will definitely facilitate the process.
 
Aging is also very important. In the labor market, there is a tendency of people working over 50 who, because of their age, have some natural limitations and particularly require optimization of their work place in terms of ergonomics.

3. Improving quality

On the other hand – a poorly designed workplace translates into a growing frustration of employees who feel that given activities could be performed more effectively. Frustration and fatigue sooner or later translate into the fact that mistakes are made, for which the entire company is ultimately responsible.

How to introduce the principles of work ergonomics?

1. Review risk factors

The first step to take before any other action is to review the risk factors that occur in the workplace.

The most common risk factors include:
• repetitive movements,
• movements that require high force,
• activities that require unusual body posture,
• fast movements,
• vibrations, high pressure,
• low or high temperatures.

So… gather information about the activities performed by the workers:
• weight occurring during the performance of a given activity,
• time and distance of its execution.

Check and compare these values ​​with the current health and safety guidelines.

Specify the types of critical posture – in which the employee’s musculoskeletal system is heavily loaded, e.g. back tilting, squatting.

Prepare photos and short films in which the correct and incorrect body posture is presented during various activities.

2. Mark the non-ergonomic work stations

Nobody knows better whether a given workplace is optimal or not than a person who has a daily contact with it. Therefore, if you want to achieve the goal, it’s best to talk to team leaders and operators.

3. Check how you can increase the level of ergonomics of work without investments

Sometimes, with a few simple steps, you can significantly increase your level of security.

Analyze if you can reduce the employee’s load at a critical moment by reducing the weight of the goods being moved, reducing the distance or assigning an additional employee or equipment to a given workplace.

Develop new rules

The next step to take is to develop new policies and procedures that address the previously identified threats.
In many cases, to reduce risks, it is enough to properly train your employees and instruct them how to perform their work optimally.

Regularly update procedures

You should create a timetable for updating procedures. Your company will definitely benefit from regular reviews of workplace and threats that may occur. Do not forget about the trainings concerning safety. 

4. Invest in more ergonomic workplaces

Of course, simply developing policies and procedures, or implementing cost-effective optimization is not enough. If the workplace does not meet safety requirements due to underinvestment, even the best rules or ideas will not help. Therefore, you must be ready to spend some funds on increasing ergonomics.

It is a good idea to review all of the work stations and prioritize which ones should be the first to be moderated, because of the  threats they pose.

5. Involve employees to optimize the workplace

Nobody knows the risks in the workplace as well as people who works there..

How can you engage your employees?
• conducting interviews,
• analyzing the work process,
• prototype solutions should be created using cheap materials such as cardboard, and then tested with the employees,
• developing a list of all items of equipment that can contribute to increasing the efficiency and ergonomics,
• find out if employees in a given position are right / left-handed, or whether the workplace requires height adjustment.

An ergonomic workplace should:
• be adapted for smaller and larger people, with the possibility of adjustment, depending on, among others height or weight
• allow the employee to take a comfortable and stable position,
• have a chair / armchair that can be adjusted,
• allow both sitting and standing,
• if possible, use gravity instead of muscle strength to move materials,
• have a monitor adapted to your eyesight,
• have legible and clear statements concerning safety,
• have the right temperature and moisture level.
 
Of course, these are not all of the potential hazards that may occur in the workplace. In addition, it should be taken into account that they occur not only in warehouses or in production halls. They must also be taken into account in the office – a poorly organized workplace in such a place can lead to back injuries or, for example, carpal tunnel syndrome.

It is a common knowledge that accidents in warehouses happen quite often, but following simple instructions allows to prevent most of them.

Here are some tips for the ones working in any type of warehouse.

The tips below will significantly increase safety while working in a warehouse / storage. So, read the article and avoid any type of accident.

Appropriate division of the warehouse

Creating an appropriate division of the warehouse is a basic safety issue. Communication routes allow to carry out all of the duties faster. Moreover, employees know exactly in which places, for example, a forklift or a pallet truck, can move.

In the event when a construction of the hall allows for it, and it is possible to create wide communication paths, it is worth assembling steel barriers that will separate pedestrian routes from the roads for forklifts, stackers, or work positioners. In this way, it ensures maximum security in the warehouse for all of the employees.

However, if the above is not possible, the division can be carried out even with a simple colored tape. Just stick it to the ground to mark the paths. Thus, navigating the warehouse will be much safer for both employees and customers.

For larger warehouses, you can also try boom barriers or barricades that will separate the space from use. In addition, magnetic flexible bollards are a great way to fence off the space while removing elements from a greater height with a forklift or pallet truck. Thanks to this action, the unwanted person will not be nearby.

Rack system guardrail

A commonly used safety features are bollards and bollard covers made of polymer. Thanks to them, a collision between a forklift or a pallet truck and a rack will not result in damage. The force of the impact will be suppressed by the system.
A trolley moving in the corridor often rolls over the anchors, rubs against the steel covers and destroys them.
So, this type of protection with rack system guardrail makes sense in case of small size corridors between the racks, as the use of anchored steel fenders takes extra space.

A big plus of the solution is its very fast assembly and mobility. Dismantling the fender leaves no trace on the warehouse floor. The fender itself is very light and fully recyclable. The material from which it is made of is at the same time resistant to corrosion and most chemicals.

The possession of oil-binding granules

Binding granules are one of the products that should be in every warehouse where there is a possibility of leakage of various types of oils or substances hazardous to life and health of the employees. The granules have excellent absorbency and all you need to do is sprinkle the leakage with them. Then just collect the whole granulate and recycle. By betting on these products, you can quickly control any leak without compromising your own health.
It is best to place the granules bags or cans in a visible, accessible place. Thanks to this, a quick response will be possible in the event of a leakage and higher security will be guaranteed in your warehouse.

Keeping order on the shelves

Even arranging of the products available in the warehouse makes the place more safety. Keeping order on the shelves is very important in order to ensure greater safety. When placing goods, it is important to ensure that all parcels are stable and do not protrude beyond the edges of the rack. This will prevent hazardous situation in the warehouse.

Deleting items that you can trip over

Of all workplace accidents, slipping, tripping over and falling down are the most common accidents. Therefore, it is worth ensuring that there are no needless elements on the traffic routes. The elimination of all kinds of thresholds, unevenness and slippery surfaces is the basis of the warehouse security.

Suitable clothing

It’s best to equip the team with certified reflective vests that will be visible even from a long distance. In this way, the person in charge of a forklift, a trolley or a pallet truck will be able to notice another employee and there will be no accidents.

Marking the warehouse

Warehouse safety signs are required by law. For this reason, it is necessary to assembly them in such an amount that moving around the warehouse is simple and safe. Signs should alert you and your employees to any potential hazards that may occur.

Powerful warehouse lighting

Appropriate lighting in all nooks and crannies will improve employee’s safety and make it easier to move around the storage. If you want to save on lighting, you can opt for a solution in LED technology.

Luminaires should maintain stability of parameters for a long period of use. The basic parameters that are taken into account when choosing light sources in a given warehouse include the distribution of light and its intensity. Lighting must always be matched to the individual requirements of the workplace.

Training for the whole team

Every year many accidents occur in warehouses due to improper operation of storage systems, forklifts and other warehouse lifting equipment. Many of them can be avoided thanks to regular team training.

Training is necessary for employees so that they can learn about the threats that may arise, and to acquire the ability to cope with crisis situations. During each training they are shown how to react quickly, as well as what to do when an accident occurs and how to avoid it.

To cut the story short

So, if you want to ensure maximum safety for employees in your warehouse, you should remember about all of the above. Following our guideline will result in fewer accidents and increase efficiency of the entire team. Running a warehouse will thus be much less stressful for all entrepreneurs.