Related topics: •  Warehouse Workers

Even though some warehouses are an accident waiting to happen, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has general safety standards that apply to the warehousing industry. The agency advises employers to clear aisles and passageways, keep areas clean (with materials properly stacked), use protective equipment such as earplugs and hard hats when necessary, and ensure that industrial trucks meet OSHA safety requirements.

•Don't rush. Your life is too valuable to lose by overloading your forklift in an attempt to meet unrealistic deadlines. If a quota is unrealistic, talk with your supervisor. One solution might be to hire temporary or part-time workers during high production times.

•Take regular breaks or rotate positions to avoid fatigue. Also, make sure you're eating well and getting plenty of fluids so you don't end up exhausted.

•Lift properly. Hold the load close to the body, stand with feet apart, one slightly in front of the other, and bend the knees when lifting and lowering items. Never carry a load on one side of the body or over your head, and allow gravity to help whenever possible by using slides, chutes, hoists, and hand trucks. "Sometimes you get [guys] being macho men and deciding they'll just lift it themselves without assistance or proper tools," says industrial physician Chris Kunis of Shady Grove, Pennsylvania. "So they'll strain their shoulders, smash their hands, or pull the muscles in their back. When you have a heavy load, ask for help."

•Use protective equipment. Wear a hardhat, ear plugs, and steel-toe boots if your job requires it. Use metatarsal guards for foot protection when necessary.

•Get training before you drive a forklift or another industrial truck. Older vehicles can roll over and crush workers that are unfamiliar with them, so such training is essential, according to Robert Goldberg, MD, and president of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. OSHA regulations on industrial truck operators that went into effect in 1999 require both classroom and practical instruction in how to operate the vehicle properly, as well as the hazards of driving the vehicle in the workplace. Employers must also reevaluate drivers every three years, and give them a refresher course in the event of a near-miss or accident. (*For an excellent list of tips for forklift drivers, see the 2001 NIOSH Alert, "Preventing Injuries and Deaths of Workers Who Operate or Work Near Forklifts," http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/2001-109.html).

•Hold emergency evacuation drills. Make sure employees know what to do in case of a fire or a chemical spill. Emergency exits should be clearly marked in the warehouse. Weekly safety talks should cover all these topics to help raise awareness of hazards and reinforce the use of personal protective equipment

•Protect yourself while working in extreme heat. Goldberg warns that workers in sweltering, humid warehouses need to protect themselves with proper clothing that allows the skin to breathe. Protect yourself against dehydration by drinking a cup of water every 20 minutes.

•Protect yourself while working in extreme cold. If you're toiling in a freezer, make sure your body temperature doesn't drop too low. Hypothermia can set in when body temperature drops to or below 95 degrees Fahrenheit, causing fatigue or drowsiness, uncontrollable shivering, confusion, and slurred speech. To prevent cold-related illness, Goldberg says, workers should take breaks as often as necessary to warm up.

•Keep warm. If you work in a freezer, drink warm beverages and eat warm, high-calorie foods like hot pasta to warm up, OSHA advises. (Avoid caffeinated beverages such as coffee, tea, and hot chocolate, as well as alcohol.) Older workers, especially those with heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension, should talk with their doctors before beginning work in the cold. Some medications also affect the body's ability to handle extreme cold or hot temperatures, so workers on meds should check with their doctors about possible side effects.

•Make sure your warehouse is well ventilated. In 1988 NIOSH recommended that diesel exhaust be regarded as "a potential occupational carcinogen," and studies have shown workers exposed to the substance face an increased risk of lung cancer. In addition, the exhaust can cause eye and skin irritation, upper respiratory problems, and even death from carbon monoxide poisoning. Ventilate your workplace by using fans, opening windows, and introducing fresh air into the environment through ducts. Tune up your equipment frequently to help reduce the levels of noxious fumes. In addition, stock the appropriate respirator for emergency use. (Check with OSHA or NIOSH to determine which equipment to have on hand.)

•Install carbon monoxide detectors. Found in diesel and car exhaust, carbon monoxide gas has been called "the silent killer" because it's a colorless and odorless substance. Large amounts of the gas can kill you in minutes. Smaller amounts can cause headaches, dizziness and loss of consciousness; repeated exposure can cause heart disease and hardening of the arteries. If caught in time, damage done by carbon monoxide can be reversed, so having a working detector in place is crucial.

•Get training in dealing with hazardous substances. Any worker who handles hazardous chemicals on a regular basis needs training before he or she begins work, according to Betty Szudy of the Labor Occupational Health Program at the University of California, Berkeley. Employees should know exactly where the hazardous materials are located, their risks, and what to do if there's a release or spill. In addition, the employee should be familiar with the MSDS, or material safety data sheets -- which contain detailed information about the chemicals -- and know where the company stores them. Ask for additional training each time a new chemical makes an appearance. (NIOSH publishes a free pocket guide to chemical hazards for employers.)

References

First published October 6, 2000
Last updated February 29, 2008
Copyright © 2000 Consumer Health Interactive

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