The right combination of barriers throughout a facility can protect employees.
Large industrial facilities, expansive warehouses, and massive distribution centers can be dangerous places for employees. Material handling vehicles, machining equipment, and fall hazards in such facilities all present unique safety challenges—especially when labor supply is tight, and shifts may be operating short-handed.
Forklifts, automated guided vehicles (AGVs), pallet jacks, and other materials handling vehicles are necessary to move products in bulk or efficiently from storage to shipping. Yet, these in-plant vehicles can be dangerous for workers on foot inside a plant. Forklifts alone were involved in nearly 7,300 reported accidents in 2020. There were 78 reported deaths due to forklift-related incidents in 2020.
According to OSHA, falls are among the most common causes of serious work-related injuries and deaths. In fact, slips, trips, and falls account for nearly 700 deaths each year. Fall protection continues to be one of OSHA’s Top 10 most frequently cited violations, but machine guarding is routinely part of this annual list, too. More than 1,100 violations were uncovered in 2021.
Many of these incidents could have been prevented with proper training and the right in-plant safety equipment. Specifying the proper barriers for the facility can help mitigate the daily risk employees encounter.
Reducing Floor Accidents with Fixed Barriers
Unlike painted yellow lines, physical barriers can help prevent forklifts from striking pedestrian traffic. Physical barriers are much harder to ignore, and serve additional functions as well. Beyond separating employees from automated processes and dangerous workspaces, barriers may also be used to protect production equipment and/or the building itself from damage by forklifts, AGVs, or other vehicles.
This article originally appeared in the April 2022 issue of Occupational Health & Safety.
When it comes to OSHA recordkeeping, there are always questions regarding the requirements and in and outs. This guide is here to help!
As organizations digitalize and remote operations become more commonplace, the number of lone workers is on the rise. These employees are at increased risk for unaddressed workplace accidents or emergencies. This guide was created to help employers better understand common lone worker risks and solutions for lone worker risk mitigation and incident prevention.
Thinking of getting an online safety training solution at work but not sure how to evaluate different solutions and find the one that's best for your company? Use this handy buyer's guide to learn the basics of selecting online safety training and how to use it at your workplace.
Whether this is your first time shopping for online SDS software or you’re upgrading from a legacy solution, this guide is designed for you to use in your search for the safety management solution that works best for you and your company.
Risk matrices come in many different shapes and sizes. Understanding the components of a risk matrix will allow you and your organization to manage risk effectively.
14901 Quorum Drive, Suite 425 Dallas, TX 75254 (972) 687-6700