Warehouse Safety: 10 key steps to take after a racking accident
Photo by Jaehyun Kim on Unsplash
All good warehouse managers will do everything they can to prevent accidents in the workplace. But they should also be prepared for any potential accidents. This alarming scenario, with its obvious risks to people, property and the business, can occur when warehouses repeatedly fail to identify and fix racking damage.
However, companies can greatly minimise the risk of a potentially catastrophic racking collapse by promoting a safety culture that encourages incident reporting, and by taking the appropriate steps to immediately investigate incidents and take action.
Why is incident reporting so important?
Racking incidents usually occur when a heavy piece of equipment, like a forklift, truck or other material handling device, strikes a racking structure. When this occurs, damage may be minimal or severe. Regardless, it's critical that a company know about these incidents so the risk can be assessed and preventive action taken. It’s important to understand incidents may go unreported for two reasons:
A poor or inadequate reporting system: Without a clearly defined and communicated reporting process, it may become an accepted practice that a racking accident or accident is “no big deal” or that the reporting system is just too complicated.
Employees fear consequences: Workers may fear discipline or termination after reporting an accident or near accident. In addition to having effective reporting systems in place, companies need to create an environment in which workers feel comfortable reporting incidents to their supervisor.
What should you do after an Incident?
In the event of an accident, steps need to be taken to minimise the impact on a business. By having robust contingency plans in place and by ensuring people know what to do, you can keep people safer, reduce downtime and get back to business as normal faster. Here are 10 essential steps you should take after a racking accident in your warehouse.
1. Consult with workers at the site of the incident
Seek medical attention if required. Examine the incident/injury that has occurred and take note of the situation (remember to include who, what, when, where, how). Inspect the racking to determine the degree and type of damage and set out action steps.
2. Secure the area
Take steps to protect worker safety. Block off the area where the damage occurred, or unload the racking structure if it's safe to do so.
3. Communicate hazards
Inform workers of hazards in the warehouse and obstacles they should be aware of.
4. Find the root cause of the incident
Identify the cause of the incident. It may not be operator error. It could be incompatible forks and pallets so the forks stick out of the pallet too far. It could be poor visibility or poor lighting in the warehouse. Maybe there isn’t enough room between racks for a forklift to turn safely.
5. Put controls in place to address the root cause
Place controls around the root cause to prevent it happening again. This may mean more training for workers, a new warehouse layout, improved lighting or inspections and repair of equipment.
6. Keep communication open
Communicate with management to ensure quick and timely repair to any damaged racking.
7. Take stock of any affected workers
Even if everyone escapes uninjured, workers can be affected and may not be able to return to work in their area. Take steps to redeploy them to another area to keep them working until your warehouse recovers.
8. Relocate undamaged stock
During clean-up, you may find stock that is salvageable enough to sell. Once the site is safe, sort through to see what you can recover.
9. Write a report
Write a report on your investigation and keep records.
10. Inspect and Repair
Make sure you have your racking inspected and/or repaired by qualified professionals.
Book a FREE health check now!
Has your racking been damaged? Do you have damage you don’t know about because it hasn’t been reported? Not sure? Get your racking inspected by the professionals. Book your free health check today.