Warehouse Safety Precautions

Workplace injuries account for millions of dollars in workers’ compensation claims every year. Unfortunately, the only people that these claims benefit are the attorneys that are representing the claimants. The injured party is unable to work, which ultimately affects their income, and the company is often embroiled in litigation. Incident rates affect the yearly rate that the company pays the worker’s compensation insurance carrier. Unfortunately, that rate tends to increase annually. The more injuries that the company claims; the higher the insurance rates are.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Office of communications, there has been a consistent decrease in workplace accidents and illnesses the last six years. Warehouses that have made a concerted effort to reduce accidents do reap rewards. The benefit of this effort is lower absenteeism, fewer workers’ compensation claims, less litigation, and few administrative costs. The ultimate prize is a lot less money disappearing from the coffers.

Ralph Cox with the Charlotte, NC based company Tompkins and Associates, the following precautions are recommended.

• Make success a measure of success
• Continually train employees
• Apply disciplinary action if safety rules are not followed by implementing progressive discipline
• Pay attention to near misses; do not just address the result but the cause as well
• Request that someone from another similar facility conduct an unofficial inspection
• Exercise constant vigilance by conducting monthly or even weekly inspections
• Encourage anonymous reports from employees about potential hazards
  

Ultimately, a safe workplace leads to fewer expenses due to illness and injuries. Research additional tips on OSHA.gov.

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