Distribution Center Safety Topics for Meetings

Your successful business relies on an efficient distribution center. Deliveries, stocking, storage, and more are all integral to your bottom line. But accidents to employees and damage to property can take a big chunk out of it. How can you mitigate these incidents?

Start with discussing these distribution center safety topics at your next company meeting.

6 Topics for Distribution Center Safety

Here are just some of the topics to consider at your next warehouse safety meeting. Brainstorming with your colleagues invites discussion about safety opportunities that are unique to your facility.

1. Forklift Operations and Maintenance

Many industrial distribution centers use forklifts to move heavy pallets and boxes. And forklifts are dangerous. The first step in improving forklift safety is to implement proper training and certification. Check out OSHA standards for driving forklifts and study common hazards with your drivers.

2. Walkways and Working Areas

Debris, trash, and obstructions are potential dangers.

Tip: Keeping pathways clear will prevent tire damage to vehicles, trips, and falls. A tidy workplace is a safe workplace.

3. Material Handling and Storage Protection

OSHA has extensive recommendations for material handling and storage that protect employees and your inventory. Certain materials need to be bound or wrapped, and other hazardous materials can’t be placed in areas with high heat or near other reactionary materials.

Tip: Know the layout of your floor plan. Consider protecting high-risk areas of your warehouse with bollards, barriers and guardrails, and more.

4. Lighting

People need to see where they’re going. Poor lighting and low visibility increase the chances of major accidents.

Tip: Keep all bulbs and fixtures on at all times. Know where your circuit breaker box is located, too.

5. Inclement Weather

Place water-resistant mats and flooring near entrances and exits leading out of your warehouse. Water and ice make the floor slippery, so it’s a good idea to keep mops, buckets, towels, and other cleaning supplies handy—no matter the weather.

6. Checklists, Training, and Safety Delegation

Every distribution center should have a distribution center manager or supervisor in charge of delegating duties and responsibilities. Daily, weekly and monthly checklists help keep your distribution center running smoothly. Everything from vent and plumbing inspections down to railing checks, footwear, and appropriate clothing should be categorized and checked. New equipment should always warrant new safety training.

Discussing safety topics at meetings keep employees aware of potential hazards and establish a chain of command for reporting potentially dangerous situations in the workplace. More information about warehouse safety can be obtained from OSHA.

Shop for Distribution Center Safety Products with McCue

At McCue, we provide Total Distribution Center Protection. We’ve designed the most innovative asset protection products available to the material handling industry. Our angle? Our products spin, absorb, twist, and deflect trouble upon impact.

Protect your facility. Your business moves at a fast pace, and we do everything we can to keep up the momentum. Contact us to get a quote today.

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Sources:

OSHA forklift operation: https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/pit/operations/maneuvering.html

OSHA: https://www.osha.gov/Publications/3220_Warehouse.pdf

Originally published September 2018.