The vast majority of workplace accidents are caused by
inadequate working conditions or known risk factors. These accidents do not
normally occur due to natural or unavoidable causes.
Risk factors are classified as follows
Work teams
The damage that work equipment can cause can be truly serious and cause very serious accidents for the health of workers: accidents, crushing, being run over, cuts and falls.
We refer to work equipment as those that are necessary to carry out the storage and handling operations of materials, such as, for example, facilities, tools, machines, etc.
Environmental conditions
Environmental conditions are present in the warehouse environment and can negatively influence the health of workers, who are exposed to noise, gases, vapors, vibrations, chemical or biological agents, etc.
Workload
When workers perform manual loading and unloading activities for long periods of time, they can cause back and joint injuries due to the physical strain of handling high loads.
Work organization
Another aspect that can affect the health of the worker is the organization of work, which can lead to problems of anxiety, stress, job dissatisfaction ...
Issues such as the distribution of activities, work shifts, assignment of tasks, how to coordinate and perform these tasks, social and hierarchical relationships are aspects that negatively influence health.
Damage to the worker's health
The worker who carries out his activity in poor conditions may suffer, immediately or in the long term, injuries such as: occupational accident, occupational disease, job fatigue and job dissatisfaction.
Preventive security measures
The company is obliged to apply a risk prevention policy, appointing a department or a service in charge of Integrated Safety, which must group all those problems that may derive from risks, whether of diseases or accidents.: fires, robberies, explosions, machine breakdowns, natural phenomena, etc. ...
In reference to the responsibility that each worker must acquire in terms of occupational safety, the basic principle of Integrated Safety states the following: “the worker is directly responsible for everything over which he has an obligation and authority or competence, by reason of the position of work you do”.
Next, we will see the elements that pose the greatest risks within the warehouse.
Order and cleanliness
When our warehouse is dirty or untidy, it can lead to accidents due to slips or falls when passing through slippery, wet or greasy floors and bumps and trips, with materials and tools deposited in halls and corridors.
When the warehouse is clean and tidy we obtain certain advantages, such as:
- Work is safer and more enjoyable, as clutter and dirt are common causes of injuries, accidents, and fires.
- Work is easier and more fluid, because less time is wasted looking for things and fighting against inconveniences.
- The work is more profitable, because with less time more is produced and better results are obtained.
- Work is more pleasant and comfortable, as accidents decrease and productivity increases.
- Order and cleanliness are essential factors for safety, so the standards that are adopted will try to foresee the causes that produce disorder and periodic inspections will be made to keep the places in perfect condition.
The basic rules for keeping the warehouse cleanliness are as follows.
Adopt safe methods for stacking materials
Before lifting loads, we have to check that the passageways and storage areas are clear in order to avoid accidents.
Warehouse shelves must not be overloaded, the height of each location and the load that is allowed for each square meter must be taken into account.
Machines and work equipment
In the first place, the dangerous elements of the machines must be correctly identified with the colors of the Signaling System to draw attention to their presence and thus be able to avoid dangers.
Correct maintenance and cleaning of the handling machines reduce the number of breakdowns, providing safety to the operator and avoiding dripping of oil or grease on the floor.
Tools and utensils
When working at height, it is necessary to avoid the fall of materials and tools, so as not to injure people located at a lower level.
Waste, clippings and scraps
Cartons and packaging remains should not accumulate on the floor, shelves or workplaces, they should be deposited in specific containers and the necessary measures taken to remove them as they are generated.
Waste of combustible materials must be deposited away from heat sources and removed before proceeding with any welding operation, to avoid the danger of fire.
Tools and utensils
When working at height, it is necessary to avoid the fall of materials and tools, so as not to injure people located at a lower level.
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