Page 48 - OHS, October 2023

TRAINING: MATERIALS HANDLING tion. It’s also a primary reason why sprains and strains are the number one cause of lost worktime injuries each year. While incorrect liftfting and awkward motions are the leading reasons for injury, lack of housekeeping is commonly a contrib- uting factor. Empty boxes leftft in aisles create tripping hazards. Loose packing materials such as shrink wrap and banding are slippery and can get tangled between employees’ feet. Left un- checked, these wastes increase the risk of slips, trips and falls that cause soft tissue injury, lacerations, concussions and broken bones. Good housekeeping is sometimes as simple as having an ad- equate number of recycling bins located in areas where packaging waste is created. This allows operators to quickly and convenient- ly pick up shrink wrap, banding straps and other packing materi- als as they are generated and put them in a pre-designated area. Where a procedure already exists, review it and add steps to help ensure that wastes are not abandoned. For example, add a step that instructs employees to break down a box after emptying it and take it to the cardboard recycling area before beginning another task. Slips, Trips and Falls Only slightly behind sprains and strains; slips, trips and falls to the same level are the second leading cause of lost worktime in- juries. While many people anticipate icy patches on sidewalks during winter months or water on the floor in a production area, warehouses are generally thought of as dry places. This can cause employees to let their guard down. However, wet weather seeps in at dock doors, and sometimes containers leak, creating spills in and around aisles. When water accumulates at the dock and spills are left to spread, the risk of injuries increases. These risks can be anticipated in warehouses and in every other area of a facility. However, because they don’t happen every day, even when plans and procedures are in place, and even if employees have been trained to clean them up promptly, cleanup may not be a common part of the daily routine. Stocking response supplies increases the likelihood of em- ployees responding quickly. This can be as simple as having paper towels or absorbents at the end of aisles or between dock doors. Consider containers and signage that make them visible from a distance to help everyone locate them quickly. Post cleanup in- structions with the supplies as well as information about where to put spent materials and phone numbers to call for assistance in cleaning up chemical spills. Same-level fall awareness can be included with fall-from- height training. Incidental spill cleanup is a good fit for inclusion with hazard communication training. Including spill cleanup as part of other trainings also helps to reinforce it as part of a process and not just another thing that needs to be done. Fire Hazards A retail chain store has been in the news multiple times through- out the past three years for repeatedly violating OSHA’s require- ments for good housekeeping and maintaining fire exit routes in their stores. Storing packages in aisles, failing to remove empty boxes and unstable stacking are among the citations issued at sev- eral of their locations. Storage space is a precious commodity in most workplaces. It can be easy to rationalize putting things in aisleways or over- stacking pallets and racks for just a few minutes, especially while a truck is being unloaded. Although warehouses and material storage areas at facilities do have more space and are not identical to smaller storage areas in retail stores, lessons can be applied to larger spaces. Not only do clutter and overcrowding create physical hazards for employ- ees, they also create several fire hazards. Piles that accumulate on floors can be initiated by an errant spark. Stacking products or supplies on top shelves that are too close to lighting and sprinkler heads can also be hazardous. Having a plan that details where every item – from raw materi- als to finished products — is to be stored and having a procedure that includes immediately storing items in their designated spaces can help to eliminate hazards. Establishing designated temporary storage areas that are out of walkways is another alternative. Falling Object Prevention Unstable packages and containers that are stored in racking sys- tems can shift and fall. This makes anyone under or around them vulnerable to injury. Some of the most common problems are failing to shrink- wrap full pallets before putting them in racking systems; failing to repackage damaged boxes, creating an unstable base when stacking; and pushing boxes or products into a rack or shelf that already has something in the space. Including awareness of these common issues during forklift certification training helps operators to be more mindful when stocking products. When employees pull items from boxes to fill orders, keeping less-than-full boxes at ground level and establish- ing processes for refilling the areas where items are pulled also helps to minimize these dangers. Pest Control When items are left on floors, they create a cozy spot for insects and small animals to nest. This can be especially problematic dur- ing winter months. The good news is that housekeeping measures that are incor- porated to minimize other hazards, such as fire or ergonomics, will help control pest harborage. Mental Health In addition to the hazards already mentioned, clutter and disor- ganization create unnecessary stress. They can also increase the time that it takes to find products or complete orders, which can add an additional layer of stress. When material handling areas are maintained in a clean con- dition, operators are better able to focus on the task at hand with fewer distractions. Incorporating good housekeeping measures into trainings and routine procedures reduces risks, prevents in- juries and helps to promote a healthier workplace. Karen D. Hamel CSP, CIT, WACH, is a regulatory expert, trainer and technical writer for HalenHardy and an OSHA-Authorized Outreach Trainer for General Industry, Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Trainer and Hazmat Technician. She also serves as a planning section chief for the Blair County, PA Emergency Operations Center. 48 Occupational Health & Safety | OCTOBER 2023 www.ohsonline.com