Educating Staff on Proper Equipment Usage Is A Key Way to Keep Warehouse Workers Safe says Midland Pallet Trucks
With warehouse equipment getting more advanced, there is an increased need for warehouse managers to educate their workforce on safe usage to minimise accident and injuries, according to one manual handling expert.
Midland Pallet Trucks, a top supplier of high-quality pallet trucks, manual stacker trucks and lift tables suggests that despite growing pressures on warehouses to fulfil orders and speed up processes, a safety-first approach should always be the first priority. Investing in training and education for staff on how to use the equipment they use for their daily tasks could be the difference between a safe and efficient workplace, or a hazardous environment.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) recently reported that handling, lifting or carrying accounts for 20% of non-fatal injuries in the workplace [1] and, similarly, the British Safety Council claim that around 1,300 UK employees are hospitalised every year following incidents handling warehouse equipment [2].
Midland Pallet Trucks say that in order to prioritise the safety of all warehouse workers, a holistic approach needs to be taken towards health and safety. This includes taking an overarching look at the equipment used in the context of individual warehouses, and the multitude of risks this could cause your employees.
Training should be given to every employee before they start operating warehouse equipment and regular updates should be given to make sure they’re handling equipment the safest way possible.
Phil Chesworth, Managing Director of Midland Pallet Trucks says, “When you see the high numbers of warehouse workers who are getting injured on the job, it is a cause for concern. Proper education and training are all it takes to drastically reduce these numbers, and we encourage all of our customers to be aware of this. At Midland Pallet Trucks, we also promote an Annual Inspection Program which advises users on a series of checks they should carry out to ensure equipment is fit for use and operating smoothly.”
To find out more about the wide range of lift equipment available from Midland Pallet Trucks, visit https://www.midlandpallettrucks.com/
[1] https://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/causinj/kinds-of-accident.pdf