7 HIGH-RISK AREAS IN A WAREHOUSE
Like a city, warehouses all have their own black spots and traffic to contend with. These black spots are areas where the risk of an accident is higher than average. Areas with a high volume of forklift traffic are typically the most prone to accidents that result in property damage or, worse, personal injury. Fortunately, there is a way to improve safety in every high-risk area.
AISLES AND RACKS
Aisles are the veins of the warehouse or distribution centre. Typically narrow, they leave little room for unexpected manoeuvres. In addition, pedestrian and forklift traffic lanes are flanked by racks that rise several metres above the ground. Assuming the forklift driver can avoid a pedestrian just in time, there is still a chance that the vehicle will hit the shelves. Not only will this damage the racking, but pallets can fall out and cause serious injury or damage.
To prevent pedestrians and forklifts from coming too close, it can be beneficial to divide aisles into pedestrian and vehicle lanes. One way to do so is to use marking tape. For example, tape in one colour can mark a pedestrian aisle, while another colour can mark a forklift aisle. However, physical segregation is more effective for ensuring the traffic flows remain separate. For example, you can use polymer handrails to protect pedestrian areas.
Meanwhile, polymer rack protectors reduce the likelihood of racks collapsing or becoming damaged in the event of a collision. For example, the RACKBULL® provides an additional buffer if a vehicle collides with a rack support. In addition, the bright colour of the easy-to-apply protection boosts the visibility of the supports.
To minimise the risk of falling goods, you can protect pedestrians walking along the aisles with an HT TUNNEL. This is a sturdy polymer structure that can be placed around walkways or mounted to the wall.
WALKWAYS
A walkway connects one work platform to another or else allows pedestrians to access different areas without having to traverse moving traffic. While the latter is a safety solution in itself, this is only the case if the walkway is equipped with the necessary protection.
The most common application is the handrail surrounding the walkway, which prevents workers from slipping or falling if they lose their balance.
You should also make sure the structure itself is protected. Many walkways are supported by columns or posts. In areas with forklift traffic, you can protect these colums/posts using column protection.
To secure a loading bay, there are two points to consider: visibility and protection.
To increase visibility, you can place bollards with LED lights on the inside of the dock to help illuminate the cargo area of a trailer or lorry. If a person is inside the cargo area, forklift drivers will be able to see them more quickly. Marking tape can be used to clearly demarcate the hazardous area and increase vigilance. Issuing fluorescent vests to those working in and around the area also helps to increase visibility.
Another measure is to install physical protection in the form of safety barriers. For example, a safety barrier with a single or double rail can provide a buffer to the dock door if a forklift comes too close to the building. Kick rails can also prevent forklifts and pallet trucks from accidentally colliding with walls or personnel.
Wheel stops can be used to prevent external collisions. Boplan supplies chocks in three sizes. The largest and heaviest variant can handle lorries weighing up to 40 tons.
OPEN ON-SITE AREAS
There are also risk areas outside the warehouse. Depending on the type of product, goods may be stacked in open areas. In general, the same risks and safety measures apply as in the warehouse. However, an additional concern should be factored in: there may be more vehicular traffic. Alongside forklift trucks, lorries and light vans are present on site.
To avoid collisions between vehicles and people, be sure to draw up a clear traffic plan that demarcates traffic streams, install polymer safety barriers where necessary, and install bollards to delineate specific zones or to protect infrastructure.
STORAGE SITES FOR HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES
It is not just the chemical industry that has to store hazardous materials. In fact, they come in all shapes and sizes. They can be toxic, such as treatment agents, or flammable, such as maintenance products or fuels. These are products that are found far and wide. Any company that works with or stores hazardous materials is expected to pay special attention to safety measures.
In addition to safeguards specifically designed to protect hazardous materials, it is advisable to install safety barriers if forklifts are also used in this area. This prevents hazardous materials from being released or igniting as a result of a collision or chemical reaction due to a steering or judgement error.
HOW TO MAP HIGH-RISK AREAS IN A WAREHOUSE
To understand where all the high-risk areas are located, conduct a risk assessment – also known as a risk inventory & evaluation (RI&E). A risk assessment is the foundation of any prevention policy. Once you have a clear picture of the risk areas in your warehouse, you can focus on improving safety, minimising the risk of accidents and avoiding expensive repairs to buildings, machinery or vehicles.