Working in a material handling facility should be as per guidelines to increase the efficiency of the factory warehouse. With the right knowledge and proper training, working in a warehousing company is equally rewarding. However, the onus of offering a safe working environment falls on everyone working in the facility alike. Managers, operators, supervisors, and workers are all responsible to make sure there are fewer possibilities for an accident to happen. Here are a few safety tips which will help you maintain a safe surrounding even while working extensively with high efficiency.
Offer proper forklift training
When it comes to enhancing safety at a storage facility, the first thing to consider is offering is a proper forklift training to the employees. Employers must prioritize imparting as much knowledge about safety practices to the ground staff as well as forklift operators. This will not only help them be better at their jobs but also increase the safety quotient of the facility.
According to the statistics, most accidents happen due to improper forklift training. Therefore, providing proper forklift operation training needs more attention as working with a forklift is not an easy job. It needs an operator to be fully trained and qualified to operate. Working with a qualified forklift operator will reduce the possibilities of accidents as well as boost productivity.
Using material handling equipment correctly
Material handling equipment makes life easy at a storage facility and also enhances safety and productivity by using the right equipment for the required assignment. Using the wrong equipment can be dangerous as it can cause damage to the load, the machine, or the operator. Proper know-how of using material handling equipment helps offer a safe working environment. For instance, if the load is to be placed in compact places, a forklift operator must know that a forklift made to offer easy manoeuvrability in compact spaces will be a suitable choice or using a warehouse equipment like reach truck or stacker. Failing to take such a will result in damaging the loads around as well as the forklift leading to increased expenditure in repair that could have been avoided in the first place. Also, it would reduce the efficiency of the equipment being used.
If you are new to the material handling business, a forklift manufacturer will be able to help you with all the information about the proper usage of any material handling equipment.
Following worksite safety rules
Every warehousing facility has some rules which all the employees must adhere to. Failing to do so most likely result in minor or major accidents or damage to the load. Rules such as driving on a designated path, adhering to the speed limits, checking signs and drive accordingly and looking out for docks, ramps, and bays are to be strictly followed to offer a safe working surrounding.
Wearing safety workwear
Wearing protective clothing while working in a warehousing facility ensures that you are safe from the common accidents that happen most often. High visibility jackets, safety shoes, industrial hats, gloves and tight clothing are a must while working in a material handling location.
Running a routine inspection on the forklift
For a smooth forklift operation, as an operator, you must run a thorough inspection before you start working with it. The daily check includes checking for leakages, proper functioning of horn, lights and controls, sufficient air in tires to name a few. It helps in identifying issues beforehand and escalating them to the worksite supervisor to take immediate action. Acting on the defects right away will help reducing forklift maintenance costs and the possibility of accidents as well as increase the longevity of a forklift. Failing to perform a routine check on the forklift or any other material handling equipment before using it can cause serious accidents and an increase in repair costs.
If you are planning to buy a new type of forklift or other material handling equipment or availing services like forklift training and forklift maintenance and repair, OM is a leading forklift manufacturer in India that offers these services along with a wide range of forklift models that can be a great value add to your material handling facility.