In relation to safety, workplace compliance means adhering to the legal regulations that govern your industry. All workplaces must adhere to certain health and safety laws, such as the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992.
However, there are additional regulations and guidance that can be relevant to warehouses and logistics companies, such as:
Understanding your obligations is the first step to achieving compliance, so it’s vital that you’re aware of which regulations and laws are applicable to your organisation and its operations. If you use manual pallet trucks or forklift trucks, for example, they must be inspected annually to ensure their safety.
Once you’ve identified the specific regulations and guidance that applies to your business, you can begin creating your custom warehouse compliance checklist.
A warehouse compliance safety checklist should be a key document that governs your operations. However, it’s essential that your warehouse compliance checklist is comprehensive enough to include all relevant safety elements.
Fortunately, there are distinct steps you can take to assist you in creating an effective warehouse compliance safety checklist, including:
It’s easy to assume that you know what risks are present on site but, in reality, you could be overlooking potential hazards. By conducting regular risk assessments, you can determine whether there are any gaps in your current safety protocol. Furthermore, routine risk assessments allow you to identify new risks as they emerge.
As it can be difficult to assess your own workplace, it may be beneficial to work with third-party risk assessors. Their ‘objective eye’ may identify risks that you’re currently overlooking and could be invaluable in helping you to ensure that all potential risks are identified and mitigated.
Numerous types of equipment are used in a warehouse environment, and poor maintenance or malfunction can pose an unnecessary risk to workers. To incorporate equipment checks into your warehouse compliance safety checklist, first inventory your equipment to ensure that every item is accounted for.
Then, confirm what your legal obligations are in relation to inspections and maintenance. Now, you’ll be able to create an inspection and maintenance schedule that keeps equipment, such as forklift trucks, stackers and pallet trucks, in optimal condition. With professional servicing and maintenance options from Premier Lift Trucks, keeping your equipment in tip-top condition can be easier than you think.
Lack of training leads to reduced productivity and efficiency but it can have a negative impact on workplace safety too. In a warehouse setting, it’s critical that staff are adequately trained, and certification may be required before they are permitted to use specific equipment.
However, don’t assume that one-off training is sufficient to achieve a safe working environment. Integrate regular training for all staff members into your warehouse compliance checklist if you want to enhance your operations and maximise workplace safety.
Regular maintenance can enhance the lifespan of equipment but knowing when to replace equipment is important too. With regular inspections, you can monitor equipment that is nearing the end of its life and take steps to replace it. If a forklift truck is showing visible signs of wear and tear or experiences a significant amount of downtime, for example, it may be indicative that a replacement is required.
Not only does this enhance workplace safety, but it can also enable you to plan your budget in advance, rather than waiting for equipment to fail. To find out more about replacing existing forklifts with new or used gas, diesel or electric forklift trucks, contact Premier Lift Trucks now.
All workers have the right to use appropriate safety equipment and, as an employer, it’s your duty to provide it. As well as being available to workers, safety equipment should be inspected regularly to ensure it’s functional and replaced when needed.
The type of safety equipment that’s required can vary depending on a worker’s role but it’s not unusual for warehouse operatives to use various types of safety equipment, such as:
When you’re creating a warehouse safety compliance checklist, it’s tempting to focus mainly on industry-specific issues, such as improving storage or providing secure platforms for workers who are operating at height. However, there are general safety issues that need to be addressed too, including:
Every warehouse should maintain a detailed record of their safety actions. This means documenting every inspection that’s undertaken, in addition to recording the actions taken to improve workplace safety and compliance. By doing so, you can create a safer environment for your staff and protect your organisation’s liability.
The use of industrial equipment, such as forklifts and other lifting equipment, can pose a potential safety risk in warehouses, but choosing the right equipment for the task and conducting regular servicing and maintenance can mitigate these risks and create a safer environment.
To find out more or to arrange forklift servicing and maintenance, contact Premier Lift Trucks now on 01254 583 533 or submit a contact form. Alternatively, if you’re in the market for a forklift, check out our collection of new and used forklift trucks!
Also make sure to check out our other blogs on green warehousing, the latest warehouse technology trends, how to improve warehouse safety, and how to improve warehouse efficiency.
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