Distribution centers and warehouses should be safe places for those spending their working hours at these locations. Unfortunately, not all employers put an emphasis on the safety of workers. Instead, they focus primarily on the output of the goods they are sending out.
Without proper safety procedures in place, workers are in grave danger. There are many common hazards that must be addressed immediately in these businesses or the workers can suffer.
Storage hazards
Shelving and the items placed on them can be dangerous for workers. Things on the shelves should be placed in a secure fashion. No unit should be top heavy, and nothing should be placed in a manner that might lead it to slip off the shelf. There is a risk of shelving systems tipping over and falling on employees or hitting other shelving units in a way that knocks them over.
Lifting challenges
Distribution center workers often have to twist and lift to get the job done. They should use lift assist devices when possible, and they might also need to use team lifting techniques. When there is a need to lift above the head or around other objects, care must be exercised. Pushing and pulling on items must also be done carefully.
Other safety hazards
Other safety hazards include factors like spills on the floors and things that are strewn on the floor. These can cause workers to slip or trip and can lead to serious injuries. Trash must be discarded properly. Items placed too close to the fire sprinkler heads can be a hazard because the water can’t reach the fire if it is blocked.
Items placed too close to exits can prevent people from being able to leave in an emergency. Working around forklifts and other equipment can be dangerous, so workers who operate them must be trained and others should know how to avoid getting in the way of them.
Cumulative trauma injuries
Because these workers often do the same motions repeatedly and spend much of the day on their feet, there is a chance that they will suffer from repetitive motion injuries. These often seem bothersome at first, but you might not think that anything is wrong. As time progresses, the injury will get worse. Eventually, it can be debilitating if you don’t get medical care and begin a treatment program soon after the first signs of injuries.
Any warehouse or distribution worker who is injured at work in Sacramento and can’t return might qualify for Social Security Disability. The application process isn’t quick, so be sure to get it started as soon as possible.
