HSE: Helping prevent accidents in storage and warehousing

The free short guide ‘Warehousing and storage – Keep it safe’ INDG412 has been produced to help those involved in warehousing and storage reduce the number of injuries and cases of occupational ill health.

Use the link to download the leaflet – http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg412.pdf.

A more comprehensive guide ‘Warehousing and storage: A guide to health and safety’ HSG76 is also available to buy in hard copy, or to download for free. Though in parts specific to specialist sites (eg temperature-controlled or dangerous substance storage) the majority of the book’s focus applies right across the sector regardless of facility or size.

Many special attention topics, such as manual handling, musculoskeletal awareness, mechanical handling, site transport and working at height plus more, are covered in detail but the broader emphasis is on responsible warehouse practices, general prevention of avoidable risks and hazards and attendant information of accident and emergency procedures.

Use the link to download the book –
http://books.hse.gov.uk/hse/publicsaleproduct.jsf?catalogueCode=9780717662258.

Slips and trips
Slips and trips are the most common of workplace hazards and make up over a third of all major injuries. Over 10,000 workers suffered serious injury because of a slip or trip last year. Most slips occur in wet or contaminated conditions and most trips are due to poor housekeeping.

The solutions are often simple and cost effective, a suitable assessment of the risks should identify the necessary controls and these should include (in no particular order):

• Prevention of contamination.
• Management of spillages and cleaning regimes.
• Effective matting systems.
• Choice of suitable footwear.
• Design of workplace and work activities.
• Maintenance of plant and the work environment.
• Specification of appropriate flooring.
• Housekeeping.
• Effective training and supervision.

Did you know?
95% of major slips result in broken bones and they can also be the initial cause for a range of other types of accident such as a fall from height.

Slips and trips are responsible for, on average:
• Over a third of all reported major injuries.
• 20% of over-3-day injuries to employees.
• 2 fatalities per year.
• 50% of all reported accidents to members of the public that happen in workplaces.
• Cost to employers £512 million per year (lost production and other costs).
• Cost to health service £133 million per year.
• Incalculable human cost.
• More major injuries in manufacturing and in the service sectors than any other cause.

The biggest barriers to putting the problems right include:

• People not taking the risks seriously.
• Little understanding of the causes of slipping.
• Thinking that slips and trips are inevitable.
• Poor application of risk assessment and management controls. But simple cost effective measures can reduce these accidents.

Where to start?
All employers have to assess the risks to employees and others who may be affected by their work, e.g. visitors and members of the public. This helps to find out what needs to be done to control the risk. It is also needed to satisfy the law.

Step 1 Look for slip and trip hazards around the workplace, such as uneven floors, trailing cables, areas that are sometimes slippery due to spillages. Include outdoor areas.
Step 2 Decide who might be harmed and how? Who comes into the workplace? Are they at risk? Do you have any control over them? Remember that older people and people with disabilities may be at particular risk.
Step 3 Consider the risks. Are the precautions already taken adequate to deal with the risks?
Step 4 Record your findings if you have five or more employees.
Step 5 Regularly review the assessment. If any significant changes take place, make sure existing precautions and management arrangements are still adequate to deal with the risks.

Managing health and safety
A good management system will help you to identify problem areas, decide what to do, act on decisions made and check that the steps taken have been effective. A good system should involve:

• Planning – Identify key areas of risk and set goals for improvement.
• Organisation – Workers need to be involved and committed to reducing risks.
• Control – Check to ensure that working practices and processes are being carried out properly.
• Monitor and review – Monitor accident investigation and inspection reports. Try to identify any deficiencies in your management arrangements.