During the winter months, slips and falls are one of the most common workplace injuries, with warehouses particularly susceptible to this kind of accident. With lots of people, machinery and goods coming in and out, ice can build up upon the warehouse floor and is likely to be the biggest cause of slips and falls in winter. No one wants such injuries at their workplaces, so it’s important to keep your staff as safe as possible by keeping all your products stored correctly on garage shelving located at site like https://www.garage-shelving.co.uk. Read on for some top tips on preventing winter slips and falls in the warehouse.
Incorporate Them into Risk Assessment
Carry out an additional winter slip and fall risk assessment at the beginning of each winter, and add this to your existing risk assessment. For example, you should look at the areas where ice or snow are most likely to be brought in the building and keep sand, salt or grit close by to apply when needed. Ensure the levels of grit, salt or sand are kept up at all times. Advice on risk assessments can be found on the HES website.
Footwear
It might be worth investing in winter footwear for your staff, or at least advising that they buy their own. High-grip boots are ideal and will certainly prevent slips.
Signage
Use signage to alert staff to areas where ice and wetness are likely to build up, advising them to take extra care in the area. Signage is especially important on roofs that may get icy and cause falls. Invest in good signage that can be easily moved to another place when needed, and train staff to ensure they are aware of what the different signs mean.
Leave It to the Machines
Avoid staff being in the warehouse as much as possible by buying machinery that can do the work of people. For example, pallet wrapping machines will prevent staff standing for long periods of time near icy floors wrapping pallets by hand.
Slips and falls are such a major cause of sometimes fatal accidents in the workplace that preventing them should never be overlooked, and especially in winter. Seek professional help if needed to ensure your winter risk assessment is robust, and do everything you can to prevent such accidents.