Top 4 Ways to Reduce Workplace Injuries

Warehouses are one of the most common environments for workplace injuries to occur, with heavy equipment such as forklifts and pallet jacks being used daily. Employees can often be working with hazardous materials as well, making the risks even higher. However, by practicing proper manual handling procedures with the correct equipment, employers can significantly reduce the amount of injuries and accidents to their staff.

How To Reduce Workplace Injuries

MHA suggest a few ways on how to reduce possible strategies to practise, in order to reduce the chance of workplace injuries in various industries.

Practice Safe Lifting

It’s important to make sure your staff are protecting their backs and muscles from injury when lifting heavy or awkward items. Back injuries from improper lifting account for a large percentage of workplace injuries and accidents. Using mechanical aids, such as scissor lift tables, conveyors and our Battery Electric Work Positioners to lift stock to unsafe heights, will reduce the risk of injury significantly. MHA supply of manual handling equipment is there to help workplaces eliminate or reduce manual effort in the workplace, while boosting productivity and ensuring workplace safety. 

Manage Loads Carefully

Slips and falls are one of the most common workplace accidents and cause of injury. These can be caused by slippery surfaces, untidy work environments, lack of signage and poor lighting. These types of accidents can also be caused by individuals manually handling lheavy loads without the help of stronger devices. This can be minimised by using trolleys or carts to help. Some suitable devices would include; Multi Purpose X-Cart, and the Nestable Stock Trolley.  It is also essential to display safety information clearly throughout the hazardous area, and workplaces. 

Manage Hazardous Materials Safely and Correctly

Warehouses can be full of hazardous area or items. Ensure staff receive training in the correct handling and disposal techniques for hazardous materials. MHA's containment and spillage products are constructed to protect workers from exposure to hazardous items. As a business owner, it's is very important to consider ethical disposal methods for hazardous waste items to protect the environment as well. The Chemical Spill Kits contain a premium range of bioactive absorbents providing rapid and effective clean up of hazardous chemical, oil, hydrocarbon and water based liquids.

Protect Staff from Falls

Falls from ladders or scaffolding account for many workplace injuries. If you have a storage area that includes high shelving, ensure that you have a safe ladder or step stool available so that you or your staff members are not forced to climb on boxes or on objects to retrieve items. MHA's General Purpose Step Ladders are ideal devices for this purpose. It's important to ensure all ladders are in proper working order and that staff know how to use them correctly, including locking mechanisms. Regularly inspect scaffolding and mezzanine floors for maintenance or repairs.

For the best equipment and advice on preventing workplace injury, view our range of workplace and safety equipment. With hundreds of safety solutions ranging from trooleys to cages, MHA offer products for your workplace to remain a safe environment for you and your staff.