Ten tips for a safe warehouse

Responsible for managing H&S compliance across Impact Handling’s growing network of branches John Speck believes a safe warehouse is a key step in running an efficient business. Here he shares his 10 top tips for keeping staff safe and your warehouse running smoothly.

• Ensure staff at all levels receive up-to-date H&S training.
Staff training is by far the most critical aspect of keeping a warehouse environment safe. It’s not only crucial to make sure new and less experienced staff receive relevant training, but also beneficial to refresh such training for all team members, making sure they are aware of any new legislation and procedures.

• Use the HSE’s bulletin service to keep up with current legislation and study the details of the prosecutions – asking yourself if you are compliant?

By law, employers and duty holders must know what hazards and risks are in their workplaces and take steps to eliminate or reduce these risks. The HSE bulletin is a great tool for finding out what the current legislation is and how your business must comply.

• Produce risk assessments, method statements and safety handbooks that are easily read and understood by the people they are intended for. Review these annually, and following any incidents.

It is essential that literature regarding health and safety procedures is up-to-date and, importantly, easy to read – don’t fill pages with jargon, set clear and simple guidelines that get to the point.

• Support risk assessments with toolbox talks and training at every opportunity. Get employees to acknowledge receipt of any documentation or training. 

It is important to ask staff to take ownership of their own training, keeping records of what courses they have been on and encouraging them to ask for extra support in areas they feel they would benefit.

• Monitor and supervise staff regularly to ensure compliance and safe working practices.

Creating and maintaining a culture where safety comes first can take time, but is worth the effort. It’s important staff know how important adhering to company policy is – health & safety is not optional and neither is staff compliance.

• Create a simple document or reporting procedure for employees to easily raise any H&S concerns, making sure to follow these up and report back to the originator with findings.

Having procedures in place which encourage staff to share any questions or issues regarding H&S will help strengthen the ethos that H&S is everyone’s responsibility and that everyone’s opinion matters. 

• Hold regular safety meetings and include employees, asking for their input on H&S matters.

Companies are legally required to consult all employees and listen to their opinions on H&S issues, including the best way to provide training and information. Often your employees have the best solutions to H&S-related issues, so take the time to include them in discussions.

• Do not shy away from disciplining an employee who has suffered an accident due to their own negligence or disregard for safe working practices.

It’s no use taking the time to implement H&S procedures, if when they are broken nothing is done about it. Staff who flout company H&S policy need to be tackled – this reinforces to other members of staff how important following procedure is, and that any deviation from this will not be tolerated.

• Employ the services of a good consultant / advisor.

Having a designated person in charge of H&S is not always feasible for a company, so it can be useful to employ the services of an H&S consultant, who will come into your business as often as required and make sure all H&S matters are properly managed.

• Invest in registration to OHSAS 18001:2007, or at least aim to comply with the requirements of the standard.

OHSAS 18001:2007 is the industry standard for health and safety policy and as such it is a great benchmark to match your company’s H&S procedure against. It is not compulsory to have this type of certification but it proves to your staff – and importantly customers – that you have passed all the relevant safety criteria to be awarded it.