Nov. 27, 2024
When working in hazardous environments, having high-visibility clothing can keep you safe from serious physical harm. For example, a bright-colored vest enables workers controlling huge vehicles to see you from a distance, hence they&#;re able to avoid hitting you. These vests, however, need to be of a certain standard to be considered &#;safe&#; for such environments.
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That is where OSHA comes in. For every safety apparel used in a high-traffic workplace, OSHA has implemented standards that need to be met in order to ensure occupational safety. So whether you work in a warehouse, a construction site, or any job site that involves being near vehicles, high-visibility garments can keep you safe. In this guide, we will take you through OSHA&#;s requirements for high-visibility garments in .
High Visibility Safety Apparel(HVSA), also known as Hi Vis Clothing, or personal protective equipment, is a set of clothing made from fluorescent fabric and reflective material meant to increase your visibility in the workplace. These work clothes are designed to be visible even in low lighting conditions, thus keeping you and your team safe from accidents.
Hi-Vis clothing is classified into different categories based on the wearer's proximity to traffic, and the light levels in the work environment. Every class has a different requirement for the amount of reflective space allowed on the clothing.
OSHA stands for Occupational Safety and Health Administration. It is a subsidiary of the Department of Labour tasked with establishing and enforcing standards, as well as offering assistance, outreach, education, and training in order to guarantee a safe and healthful environment for workers.
The general duty clause from the OSHA Act of requires that, in addition to compliance with hazard-specific standards, all employers provide a work environment "free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm."
Part 6 of the FHWA&#;s Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) has several requirements that OSHA enforces with regard to flaggers and workers exposed to traffic. The manual on uniform traffic control devices states that all personnel who are in the right-of-way or may be exposed to vehicle or construction equipment traffic must have HVSA as part of their personal protective equipment.
According to the OSHA guide, flaggers must dress in an orange or yellow vest, shirt, or jacket while working during the day. For nighttime work, flaggers should wear a &#;retroreflective&#; vest, jacket, or shirt that reflects back a significant portion of headlight beams. The nighttime clothes can be fluorescent, but they have to abide by OSHA&#;s color requirements. Nighttime safety vests also need to be visible from at least feet. Drivers should distinguish the wearer as human and be able to make out their body movements at a minimum.
The occupational safety and health administration stipulates certain safety vest color codes based on their visibility from certain distances and how they contrast with backgrounds. The most common colors are; fluorescent yellow-green, and orange-red.
So what colors of safety vests are acceptable and at what times? In most job sites and work environments, fluorescent yellow-green is the most popular safety vest color. However, before picking a vest color, you need to take into consideration the surroundings and background as well.
For example, when working outdoors in park areas, the yellow-green vest will blend in with the green from trees and grass, thus making it unsafe for such job sites. In such cases, fluorescent orange-red vests are more appropriate.
For a more in-depth breakdown of the most appropriate colors for safety vests, you can visit: How to Choose the Right Colors for Your Working Environment.
Apart from high visibility material, safety vests also need to have retroreflective material that increases visibility. Retroreflective material refers to the reflective straps attached to safety vests around the arms, over the shoulders, and around the waist. Their purpose is to reflect back any light that lands on them, thus increasing your visibility, especially to drivers.
These straps come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and OSHA standards play a role in determining how thick or thin they ought to be. The retroreflective material(reflective strap) must be at least 1 inch in width, and it must be positioned on the safety vest to outline the human form. The most common placement is around the torso and limbs. The strap must also be visible from a minimum distance of 1,000 feet. That way, even drivers can make out the shape of your body as you work, and avoid hitting you.
Anyone working on a street, adjacent to a road (including a highway right-of-way), next to or on a railroad track, or around large construction equipment is required by OSHA to wear high-visibility personal protection equipment, especially upper body reflective apparel. These comprise shirts, hoodies, vests, and jackets.
OSHA requires workers exposed to the dangers of being struck by hazards to wear hi vis safety vests when working. These workers include construction workers, warehouse workers, parking lot attendants, airport ground crews, emergency responders, and even law enforcement personnel such as traffic officers.
Note: OSHA also requires you to wear high visibility clothing when working at construction sites or highway work zones both during the day and night.
OSHA regulations require different workers to wear different standards of ANSI/ISEA 107-approved high-visibility safety apparel based on:
Their proximity to moving traffic
Imminent danger of being hit by moving vehicles
The complexity of the background and weather conditions
The surrounding lighting conditions
The manual on uniform traffic control devices MUTCD also assigns different occupations different safety apparel based on worker safety conditions. Below, we discuss some of the performance classes of safety apparel and which is right for your kind of work. Make sure to wear the correct class of reflective clothing to avoid penalties for you or your workers.
High Visibility Safety Apparel can be classified into three different categories depending on the amount of background material, and the type of reflective strip. Classes 1, 2, and 3 have varying reflective surface areas, with performance class 1 being the lowest. This means you cannot wear class 1 safety clothing in highway work zones.
This class has the least reflective surfaces compared to other classes. Therefore, it is not suitable for working around high vehicular traffic areas. Since the reflective material is little, the wearer blends into the background instead of standing out from it, which can be detrimental if working on a site with huge vehicle operators.
Requirements for a performance class 1 safety garment according to ANSI/ISEA 107 include:
A background material of at least 217 square inches
When used with a bright background, the combined performance material/reflective tape should cover an area of about 155 square inches.
Without a bright background, the combined performance materials or reflective tape should cover an area of 310 square inches.
Class 1 garments are ideal in situations where the wearer can pay undivided attention to oncoming traffic, or places where there is a huge separation from moving traffic. Note that in cases where the traffic is in motion, vehicles should not be moving at speeds above 25 mph.
Examples of workers that can use class 1 HVSA include warehouse workers, parking lot attendants, and sidewalk workers.
If your work involves working near highways or around traffic, then you need to have performance class 2 or 3 HVSA. Performance class 2 safety apparel has more reflective area than class 1 safety garments, and therefore can be used in more complex job sites, provided there is a barrier between the workers and the traffic/road. Class 2 background area and reflective tape requirements include:
There must be background material covering a minimum of 755 square inches.
A minimum area of 201 square inches must be covered by the background and combined performance materials or reflective tape.
Even though anyone wearing this high visibility apparel can operate close to traffic throughout the day, there should still be a barrier between them and the moving cars.
Class 2 garments are ideal in environments with high visibility requirements such as during the day due to inclement weather conditions, ie snow, as well as areas with complex backgrounds. Workers permitted to use Class 2 HVSA include utility workers, roadway construction workers, and survey crews.
Performance class 3 safety apparel provides the highest level of visibility, with the largest reflective surface. This type of HVSA works well for work sites where workers are required to interact directly with traffic or pedestrians. It can also be used in environments with complex backgrounds.
ANSI/ISEA 107 requirements for class 3 HVSA are:
The safety clothing must make the wearer visible from a distance of at least feet
There must be at least 1,240 square inches of background material.
At least 310 square inches of reflective tape or combined performance material must be used with the background.
Either sleeves or class e pants must be worn with the hi vis apparel.
You can combine a performance class 2 or class 3 safety vest with class e safety pants to create a Performance class 3 ensemble.
ANSI/ISEA 107 stands for American National Standards Institute. They are a group of volunteers that research and recommend standards for various safety attire and are more specific as compared to OSHA.
OSHA is, in essence, a government entity or a component thereof. They create guidelines that become laws. Since ANSI standards The consequences of breaking the rules include penalties, fines, and even termination from your job.
Under OSHA's manual, employers and employees both have a responsibility to make sure they are compliant with any HVSA requirements. Although OSHA mandates that your employees wear safety gear, you are not required to pay for it. If you demand that employees bring their own high-visibility clothing/protective gear, it is your responsibility to make sure that it complies with OSHA regulations and that it continues to function even after several uses.
Yes, there are penalties for noncompliance with OSHA standard for high visibility clothing. OSHA&#;s mission is &#;to ensure safe and healthful working conditions for workers by setting and enforcing standards, and by providing training, outreach, education, and assistance.&#;
The most important words here are &#;setting and enforcing standards&#; Since OSHA is governed by congress, they have the power to create regulatory laws. Employers and workers can suffer harsh penalties such as fines, and even termination from your job, for not complying with these laws.
Just like other garments, high visibility clothing does not last forever. In fact, hi vis gear wears faster with daily usage than other clothes. To be safe, you need to inspect your high visibility clothing each time before wearing it. The reflective straps fade over time, and the background material can also get worn out easily. Make it common practice to replace your HVSA every 6 months depending on how often you use it.
Yes. Warehouse workers are still in danger of collisions with other workers, and need to wear class 1 or 2 safety vests to be safe and remain compliant with OSHA standards.
Black safety vests can become compliant with OSHA or ANSI ISEA 107 standards if they have a sufficient amount of reflective tape attached to them. While black safety vests are not recommended for construction workers, other workers such as warehouse supervisors or sidewalk workers not directly working on-site can wear them. However, make sure the combined performance material of the vest meets at least the required surface area requirement for class 1 HVSA.
High Visibility clothing refers to garments that increase your visibility in poor lighting conditions. The performance class of high visibility clothing varies based on your proximity to traffic, the type of work involved, and the amount of light on site.
A class 2 reflective vest has less combined performance material compared to a class 3 safety vest. Class 3 reflective clothing usually has sleeves, and pants in order to meet the square-inch visibility requirements, while class 2 HVSA only has 755 square inches of background material, with at least 201 square inches of reflective tape.
There you have it, all you need to know to stay compliant with OSHA requirements for high-visibility clothing in . Just remember, if you're not sure about what performance class to pick for your job, pick the next higher class. That way, you can be sure you're complying with OSHA regulations. If you're looking for a good selection of high-visibility safety apparel, don't hesitate to visit our store for amazing deals on your high-visibility clothing. If you need further assistance, contact us for more information.
This is your ultimate guide to warehouse safety.
In this article, you&#;ll:
Learn the top safety guidelines for warehouses
See the latest warehouse safety statistics
Review OSHA&#;s rules and regulations on warehouse safety
Get 15 tips for improving warehouse safety
Let&#;s dive in!
What Is Warehousing Safety?
Warehouse safety includes the regulatory guidelines, actions, and best practices that help reduce injuries, provide workers with a safe environment, and reinforce safe behavior.
Specific aspects of warehouse safety include:
Material handling equipment operation and maintenance
Ergonomic handling and movement of goods
Use of personal protective equipment (PPE)
Fire and chemical safety
With many on-site activities, warehouses can be dangerous places to work compared to other, less dynamic industries.
We&#;ll talk more about specific risks later in the article, but briefly, warehouse workers commonly face hazards associated with:
Forklifts and other material handling equipment
High heat or excessive cold
Heavy objects
Sharp objects
While each hazard presents a direct danger to the workers, the damage can also extend to their co-workers, families, and friends.
Thus, focusing on warehouse safety helps reduce and prevent these risks as well as the accompanying fallout that goes with them.
How to Measure Warehouse SafetyImproving anything first requires taking careful measurements of what you&#;re trying to improve.
Otherwise, how will you know if things got better, worse, or stayed the same?
To measure the overall safety of your warehouse, consider tracking the following areas.
Incidents, accidents, and injuries are the most obvious metrics for tracking the effectiveness of your warehouse safety programs.
The downside is that it&#;s a &#;lagging indicator,&#; which means the changes you make won&#;t be reflected immediately in the data.
Instead, the industry is shifting toward &#;leading indicators,&#; which provide shorter feedback loops to help track changes more quickly.
According to OSHA, a near miss is a situation where no personal injury or property damage occurred but could have with a slight shift in position or time.
Near misses provide insight into the factors that led to the unsafe incident and provide a framework for how to fix them.
Thus, regularly tracking the number of near misses can help you understand whether your warehouse is becoming safer or regressing.
Lost time means lost profits and each warehouse incident and/or injury will result in the loss of time in some way.
For example, an injured employee may have to miss work, spills and debris need to be cleaned up, and damaged equipment needs to be repaired.
Each of these scenarios can be converted into warehouse performance metrics to show how time losses translate into lower business profits.
Employee input is a great way for decision-makers to identify how safe workers feel, if they&#;re getting enough rest, and how sore or tired they get, for example.
And tracking the improvement of these metrics can give you insights into whether safety initiatives are generating the desired effect.
Moreover, acting on workers&#; ideas and suggestions will help you build trust and provide evidence of your desire to give them a safer workplace.
The problem is that many employees find it difficult to talk directly to management about their workplace concerns.
One way to alleviate this problem is by bypassing upper management altogether and instead forming safety committees.
Company safety committees can serve as a neutral platform where employees can feel empowered to express themselves freely without the fear of retribution.
And besides gathering worker input, these committees can also put on events, provide training, and conduct inspections &#; all to help improve warehouse safety.
Lifting items that are too heavy and doing so too often can cause excessive fatigue and risk injury for workers.
Thus, tracking lifting intensity is an important part of ensuring safe warehouse working practices.
Ideally, lifting intensity should be measured by heart rate.
But in a warehouse, tracking employees&#; heart rates may not be feasible.
So the next best solution is to set lifting intensity as a percentage of a worker&#;s weight lifting limit.
Then, limit the maximum number of times a worker can surpass that threshold.
For instance, if the weight lifting limit is 80 lbs., set an 80% threshold (80% of 80 lbs. = 64 lbs.) and track how often workers are lifting more than that.
How Safe Are Warehouses?In the United States, the warehousing industry has a higher rate of fatal injuries than other industries.
That said, the statistics in recent years have shown fewer fatal and non-fatal injuries &#; almost certainly due to COVID-19 shutdowns.
For instance, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports there were 21 reported fatal warehouse injuries in the U.S. in .
Compared to &#;s 24 fatalities, that was a 12.5% decrease.
Furthermore, there were 2.7 million reported warehouse injuries and illnesses in , down from 5.7% in .
Why Are Some Warehouses Less Safe Than Others?There are many reasons why some warehouses are less safe than others, including:
Management or employees taking shortcuts to save time
Reduced spending on warehouse safety training programs
Providing improper, incorrect, or incomplete safety training
Assigning fewer safety officers who can spearhead safety initiatives
Poor housekeeping and lack of mandated safety equipment
Talent and labor shortages can mean fewer experienced workers
The 4 most common warehouse safety hazards (according to OSHA citations) are:
Forklifts and other powered industrial trucks (PIT)
Hazard communication (this covers chemical-handling safety)
Electrical wiring methods
Electrical system design
But there are many other warehouse hazards, including:
Lifting, lowering, pushing, or pulling items (common causes of musculoskeletal disorders)
Slips, trips, and falls (falls are a leading cause of death for people in general and present a danger in the warehouse)
Collisions and crush-hazards from working close to automated or robotic systems
Improper or incomplete use of personal protective equipment (PPE) like fall arrest systems
Obstructed or unmarked emergency exits
Not following proper lockout/tagout (LOTO) procedures
Inadequate fire safety provisions, like not having portable fire extinguishers
Handling hazardous materials, which can result in chemical burns
Improper product stacking and storage, leading to structural collapse and items falling
Heat and cold-related illnesses (such as when working in cold storage warehouses)
Many people wonder: What is the government agency responsible for monitoring worker safety in warehouse operations?
The answer is the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
Now a follow-up question: What are the warehouse safety regulatory standards according to OSHA?
OSHA doesn&#;t have specific warehouse rules and regulations.
Instead, their rules for warehouses are covered by the broader standards for general industry contained in 29 CFR .
Additionally, warehouses must abide by OSHA Section 5(a)(1), often referred to as the General Duty Clause.
This clause requires employers to provide employees with workplaces that are free from recognized hazards likely to cause serious physical injuries or fatalities.
OSHA notes that:
&#;If a serious hazard is recognized in a workplace and the employer doesn&#;t take steps to abate or prevent it, they can be cited for violating the General Duty Clause.&#; &#; OSHA
So, warehouse operators need to follow OSHA&#;s rules for general industry as well as the General Duty Clause.
But that&#;s not quite all OSHA says on the subject of warehouse safety.
Despite not having rules specific to warehousing, they do note several standards that outline warehouse safety best practices, including:
Concerns ladders, stairways, dock boards, and fall protection
Includes maintenance, safeguards, route planning, emergency action plans, and fire prevention
Concerns ventilation and noise exposure
Covers the managing, handling, and disposing of hazardous substances like LPG and anhydrous ammonia
Includes eye, face, head, foot, hand, respiratory, and fall protection
Contact us to discuss your requirements of wholesale safety vest. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.
Covers lockout/tagout procedures among other controls
E.g. fire extinguishers
Includes forklifts, cranes, slings, and other powered industrial trucks (PIT)
Includes requirements for safety guards around machines with moving parts, such as saws, power tools, and pulley systems
Covers hand and portable power tools and equipment
Includes wiring methods, components, and equipment
Concerns proper hazard communication
When warehouse operators run afoul of OSHA&#;s general duty clause or other standards, they risk hefty fines as a consequence.
For example, OSHA issued 454 citations worth over $1.8 million to warehouses and storage facilities between October and September .
And the majority of these citations were for the following warehouse violations:
Misuse of forklifts
Noncompliance with OSHA&#;s Hazard Communication Standard for chemical safety
Improper wiring methods and electrical system designs [29 CFR .305]
Failure to guard openings in walls and floors
Improper access to and labeling of exits [29 CFR .37]
Noncompliance with the covering of mechanical power transmission apparatuses
Improper respiratory protection for workers
Inadequate or improper placement, inspection, and condition of fire extinguishers
Poor warehouse sanitation
What are some safety rules for a warehouse?
Let&#;s go through 15 key ones.
Every warehouse should regularly work to identify and correct all potential hazards before they become a peril.
For example, warehouse operators need to ensure floors are in good shape before workers and equipment work on them.
That means doing things like removing wet or slick substances, fixing any holes and divots, removing clutter, and keeping aisles clear.
It&#;s easy to forget about safety when its importance isn&#;t consistently reinforced.
But forgetting about safety breeds complacency, which can result in injuries &#; or worse.
So, how do you provide consistent safety messaging in the warehouse?
Simply by always talking about it &#; whether that&#;s in company meetings, in employee newsletters, or any other place employees come together.
For instance, you may discuss warehouse safety meeting topics like:
Recent incidents or accidents at the facility, including how they happened and how to avoid recurrences
Safety issues that workers have recently seen and how to rectify them
Analysis of safety issues in the news, including how to avoid the same circumstances in the workplace
Here are some practical methods for managing worker stress and fatigue to help prevent burnout:
Provide workers with scheduled time off for rest and ensure they take it
Encourage worker input on the issues contributing to their stress and fatigue, such as workload, pace, hours, understaffing issues, and worker absences
Make adjustments to the warehouse work environment, such as lighting, temperature, and physical surroundings, to increase workers&#; alertness
Warehouses should have a zero-tolerance policy for risky behaviors and pay close attention to any evidence that they&#;re happening.
For example, skid marks, bent forks, or wheels coming off the ground are all indications of dangerous forklift use.
The next should involve Identifying the equipment and operator involved, then providing corrective instruction and training to discourage that behavior in the future.
Electrical hazards in the warehouse can come from components like service panels, forklift batteries, and extension cords.
Some ways to stay safe from electrical hazards include:
Affix signage near electrical systems like panels, generators, and batteries to warn against unauthorized entry or use
Ground all power supply systems
Ensure sufficient clearance in front of electrical panels
Visually inspect all electrical equipment before use
Be mindful of explosive hydrogen gas buildup when charging batteries (no sparks!)
Dispose of extension cords with any damage or defects (and replace them with cords that have a ground wire)
There&#;s no doubt that warehouse automation has become more popular over the past few years.
Automated guided vehicles (AGVs), smart conveyors, and robotic pallet wrappers are just a few automated technologies more popular today than ever before.
But with all that productivity-increasing equipment also comes the risks associated with its use near people.
That includes equipment striking workers, crushing limbs or bodies, and many other risks.
The best way to protect against this is to work around automated equipment instead of expecting the equipment to work around you.
Thus, part of automation equipment training should include making workers aware of the hazards and instructing them on how to remain vigilant when working around them.
Equipment repair and maintenance activities in the warehouse can present ripe opportunities for injury &#; or worse.
Not only may the activities themselves be dangerous&#;
But equipment that&#;s not properly secured may be capable of releasing stored energy on unsuspecting workers and harming them.
To reduce this risk, warehouses must have a proper lockout/tagout (LOTO) program.
What exactly constitutes a &#;proper&#; lockout/tagout program is beyond the scope of this article.
But generally, workers should be trained on:
What equipment needs to be locked/tagged out and when
How to lock and tag equipment out
The procedure for returning locked equipment to service
You can read more about lockout/tagout rules and best practices on OSHA&#;s dedicated page.
Every warehouse should have an emergency safety plan in place.
This should include what workers must do in case of everything from forklift accidents, fires, and chemical burns to tornadoes, hurricanes, and earthquakes.
For instance, a robust warehouse emergency plan should include:
Fire safety and prevention
Emergency exit locations
Evacuation routes and procedures
Methods for accounting for all workers and visitors
Fire extinguishers, eye wash stations, and first aid locations
The nature of accidents is such that they happen when you least expect them to.
Thus, it&#;s prudent to train and make available certain willing employees to be first responders in case of an emergency.
Some of the common injuries that first responders can attend to include:
Cuts and bleeding
Fire or chemical burns
Crush injuries
Fractures
Cardiac arrest
Of course, every warehouse also needs an accessible first aid kit complete with the requisite medical supplies and equipment.
So if your warehouse doesn&#;t have one, make getting one a top priority.
Many people wonder: &#;What industrial safety equipment do I need for my warehouse?&#;
Common warehouse safety equipment includes:
Hard hats
High-visibility vests, jackets, or overalls
Safety glasses or goggles
Safety boots with steel toe caps
But providing personal protective equipment (PPE) like the above isn&#;t quite enough&#;
Because warehouse operators must also ensure all PPE is worn when required and worn correctly.
Good times to check these things are before the start of all shifts and periodically throughout if there is cause for concern.
Working in warm or cold environments can prove fatal if proper precautions aren&#;t followed.
Both the worker and the employer need to exercise caution in these conditions, including:
Allowing new or returning workers to gradually increase workloads as they build a tolerance for the cold or heat
Allowing workers to take more frequent breaks
Wearing proper clothing and staying hydrated and nourished
Training workers on cold/heat-related illnesses, including how to spot common symptoms and what to do when they&#;re seen
Ensuring the warehouse is well-ventilated and providing equipment like cooling fans or radiant heaters
Forklifts are a common sight in warehouses &#; and also a common cause of injuries.
The following tips can help improve forklift safety in the warehouse:
Provide quality training for beginners and recertification training at least every 3 years
Enforce daily pre-trip inspections and do not use forklifts that are in a deficient operating condition
Keep up on scheduled and preventative maintenance
Install safety separators between pedestrian and forklift traffic
Institute and enforce forklift speed limits
Slow down and honk the horn at blind spots and intersections
Proceed with extreme caution when driving over wet or slick surfaces
Never turn a forklift on an incline or decline
Never exceed a forklift&#;s load capacity rating
Install and maintain seat belts and enforce their use among operators
Do not modify or make additions to the forklift that could affect its capacity and/or safe operation
Storing large amounts of inventory &#; as is the task of the typical warehouse &#; can sometimes only be done by storing those goods vertically in pallet racks and shelving.
But this introduces the risk of those items falling and injuring workers.
So, how can you prevent falling objects in the warehouse?
Here are some tips:
Inspect and maintain your shelving and racking to prevent collapse. If damage occurs, immediately isolate the affected area
Install upright rack guards to prevent damage from forklift impacts
Ensure items, pallets, and containers are properly stacked, blocked, and, interlocked to prevent them from moving
Do not exceed storage shelving and rack load capacities
Wear head protection in case precautions fail
Lifting items is one of the top causes of injury for warehouse workers.
Ensuring that employees know how to properly lift, bend, and work in general can help reduce these injuries and all the negatives that come with them.
Here are some safe lifting best practices:
Replace manual lifting with engineered solutions like material lifts or forklifts as much as is feasible
Use the legs, keep the back in a natural position, and ask for help if a load is too heavy
Keep item weights under 10 lbs. (or 2 lbs. when a pinch grip is used) and tote/case weights to 35 lbs. or less
When consolidating orders, raise pallets or cases between the knee and mid-chest level to allow workers easier access and to reduce bending
Reduce lower body strain with anti-fatigue mats and comfortable, supportive shoes
Promote fatigue and muscle recovery by rotating job duties to allow adequate work/rest cycles
The National Safety Council reports that slips, trips, and falls are the second leading cause of unintentional, injury-caused death.
While that is certainly bad news, the good news is that falls are completely preventable.
The following tips can help prevent fall injuries in the warehouse:
Clean up all spills immediately
Where floors may be wet or slippery, maintain good drainage and use grated floors, platforms, or rubber mats to provide a dry place for workers to stand
Inspect ladders to identify any visible defects and repair them immediately
Maintain 3 points of contact when climbing up or down ladders
Only move mobile ladders and platforms when they&#;re not in use
Make use of personal fall arrest systems for workers on ladders and mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs)
Use chocks to prevent trucks, trailers, and rail cars from moving while they&#;re unloaded by workers or material handling equipment
Frequently Asked Questions About Warehouse Safety
Let&#;s go through some common questions people often ask about different warehouse safety aspects.
No OSHA standard mandates wearing safety vests in a warehouse.
But, safety vests can help prevent injuries &#; especially where there&#;s moving equipment such as forklifts or pallet movers.
So although there&#;s no requirement, it&#;s still a good idea to wear safety vests in the warehouse.
If you&#;re working around forklifts and other material handling equipment, you should wear safety shoes with steel toes.
If you&#;re not working near equipment &#; and if your employer allows &#; wear lightweight shoes to help with fatigue, strain, and lower back pain while working long shifts.
For instance, some shoes recommended by warehouse pickers are Adidas Ultra Boost, DNA Athletic, Reebok Sublite, and Sketchers.
No specific OSHA rules ban having a cell in a warehouse.
Instead, it&#;s up to the employer.
For example, Amazon recently announced that they were reversing their ban on cell phones in their warehouses.
And they are free to do this as the policy is set by the employer and not a higher government authority.
OSHA directly addressed wearing hard hats in the warehouse back in , saying, &#;&#;it is recommended that the employees be provided with such head protection.&#;
That said, OSHA also notes that not all workers need to wear hard hats &#; just those who are likely to be exposed to head injuries.
For example, a forklift operator who is protected by an overhead guard may not need a hard hat (assuming nothing small can fall through the guard and hit them, for instance).
On the other hand, workers walking in aisles may need hard hats because objects from racking could fall, risking head injuries.
In any case, it&#;s best to err on the side of caution and require safety equipment if there&#;s a foreseeable risk to employees.
There is no blanket OSHA requirement for all warehouse workers to wear safety glasses.
Instead, OSHA requires safety goggles when there&#;s a risk of injury from chemical, mechanical, or other environmental risks.
Thus, if there are hazards in your warehouse that would require safety glasses, they should be worn.
Keeping a safe warehouse is no small job. Thankfully, we&#;re here to help. Contact us today to learn how.
ConclusionThat&#;s it: The complete guide to warehouse safety.
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