Increase Warehouse Safety Archives

Essential Safety Tips for Powered Industrial Movers from OSHA

Motorized Dolly OSHA Safety

Forklifts and powered industrial movers are a common part of warehouses. This type of equipment is used to move items from place to place conveniently, but it comes with risks. Whether operating a forklift or using a powered trailer dolly, OSHA offers the following safety tips to help keep warehouse workers as safe as possible on the job.

Pay Close Attention to Rated Loads

Forklifts and powered industrial trucks are able to carry or move heavy items and equipment, but there are limits. Those operating these warehouse vehicles should always be aware of the rated load. Exceeding this load is unsafe and can lead to injuries or accidents.

Ensure Proper Training

Operating a forklift or powered industrial truck requires training. Only workers who have been properly trained should operate these vehicles. Warehouse owners should ensure that workers receive training on the type of vehicle they will be operating, including how to use it safely in workplace conditions. The use of a motorized trailer dolly reduced the risk of injury as this electric tug does not require any special training or licenses.

Check for Damage Before Using

Forklifts and powered industrial trucks can develop damage from wear that makes them unsafe to operate. These types of warehouse vehicles should be carefully checked for any conditions or damage that makes them unsuitable for use. Repairs should be made before these vehicles are used again.

Go Slow in Certain Areas

Driving a forklift or powered industrial truck should be done with caution in areas that are crowded. These congested areas have a higher risk of injuries as these vehicles pass through. Forklifts and powered industrial trucks should also be operated carefully when surfaces are slippery in order to lower the risk of accidents.

Ensure Routine Maintenance

Warehouse vehicles, such as forklifts, can develop minor damage that goes undetected, which puts drivers and other warehouse workers at risk of injuries. These types of vehicles require routine maintenance to keep them in safe operating condition.

Consider Trailer Dollies

Motorized trailer dollies provide a safer way to move items around warehouses compared to forklifts. Warehouse owners should consider switching to these dollies to make their warehouse safer.

If you’re exploring trailer dolly options for your warehouse, contact DJ Products. Our experts can help you choose the right dolly to improve safety and efficiency.

What is Amazon’s Plan to Reduce Warehouse Worker Injuries by 50%?

Warehouse Safety

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, warehouses and storage facilities have by far the highest injury rate of any industry. As the world’s largest online retailer and marketplace, what is Amazon doing to improve safety for their workers? Our Sales Engineers at DJ Products, makers of the eco-friendly trailer dolly, take a look at Amazon’s recent activities and policy changes.

Amazon Invests in Employee Safety

In 2019, Amazon launched WorkingWell, a program designed to offer a number of wellness services to their workers. WorkingWell was implemented at 350 sites across North America and Europe, covering a total of 859,000 employees.

Despite this measure, Amazon’s continued growth has triggered extensive criticism about working conditions. Last year, in an effort to address these complaints, Amazon rolled out WorkingWell to their U.S. operations across the board. They also announced an ambitious goal to reduce recorded incident rates of worker injury and illness by 50 percent as of 2025. Overall, the company invested $300 millon in various safety projects during the year.

How Is Amazon Reducing Their Injury Rate?

Musculoskeletal disorders, or MSDs, are a primary focus of these initiatives. MSDs make up approximately 40 percent of work-related injuries reported at Amazon. Many of them, such as sprains and strains due to repetitive motions, are associated with new employees.

John Dony, senior director at the National Safety Council, compared the situation to baseball coaches training pitchers in mechanics to help prevent risk of repetitive-motion injuries. In fact, Amazon has hired many certified athletic trainers to work as injury prevention specialists, providing one-on-one employee coaching and assisting with workstation ergonomics.

Other steps being taken by Amazon include:

- Daily meetings, called “Health & Safety Huddles,” to watch short interactive videos
- Hourly prompts asking employees to complete brief mental and physical exercises
- Addition of dedicated onsite wellness spaces
- Increased availability of healthy food options

Reduce Injury Risk with the Trailer Dolly from DJ Products

Are you doing enough to reduce the injury rate in your warehouse or storage facility? Contact us at 800.686.2651 to learn more about our material handling solutions from our friendly and helpful Sales Engineers.

Increase in E-Commerce Creates a Booming Demand for Warehouse Space

As foot traffic in brick-and-mortar stores continues to decline, commercial real estate is being hit hard by mall closings. But that’s good news for warehouse landlords, who are seeing an increase in demand driven by the rise in online shopping.

Warehouses: The Hot New Real Estate Properties

Most retail properties are controlled by real estate investment trusts, also known as REITs. Retail store closings and bankruptcies have caused retail REITs to drop nearly 20 percent in early 2017.

On the other hand, industrial REITs that control warehouses are benefitting from a demand that outstrips current supply. Jonathan Petersen, analyst for global investment banking firm Jeffries, says the shift to e-commerce has caused price targets for industrial REITs to be raised across the board.

According to industry estimates, online retailers require three times as much warehouse space as traditional brick-and-mortar retailers. Peterson explains that e-commerce makes up 10 percent of retail sales, and simply doubling their share would create a need for 600 million square feet of new warehouses.

What Does the Future Hold?

The increase in e-commerce and warehouse demand is more than just a cyclical event. Peterson goes on to say that he and Jeffries see it as the beginning of a “secular growth trend” that’s expected to continue for several years.

Electric Industrial Tugs from DJ Products

As warehouse use increases, efficient operations will be more vital than ever. Industrial tugs such as our CartCaddyShorty let a single employee move loads of up to 3,000 pounds quickly and safely.

Visit our website and let our cheerful sales engineers help you find the right industrial tugs for your applications.

Mobile Computers and Their Role in the New Warehouse Landscape

The digital age has made its presence known with material handling equipment, but is warehouse intelligence as effective as it could be? Hardware and software experts are working to use mobile computers for a more integrated communications system.

Mobile Computers: Expanding the Horizons

Mobile touchscreen computers are making it easier for lift truck operators to handle the work flow. According to Mike Maris, senior director of transportation and logistics at Zebra Technologies, they could be even more efficient if the technology was integrated into one central communications point.

Directing a lift truck from point A to point B is only part of the equation. Each lift truck is part of an entire fleet of vehicles that needs to be managed, and maintenance also needs information to keep the trucks in good working order.

Instead of simply communicating work orders, mobile computers have the potential to handle a number of data streams. Different screens can be dedicated to different functions, such as one that provides task instructions and another that relays maintenance information or real-time maps.

Better Technology = Improved Productivity

Maris explains that the mobile computer on a lift truck can serve as a point of communication to broader systems rather than just a portal restricted to one vehicle. Streamlining the process can pay off with a 10 to 15 percent improvement in productivity.

State-of-the-Art Material Handling Equipment from DJ Products

Maximizing your work force is a major element of top productivity. Visit our website to learn how using electric material handling equipment such as our CartCaddyLite can be like adding an extra employee.

Knowledge of Hazards Boosts Procedure Changes Making Your Warehouse Safer

Increasing Warehouse Safety

According to the 2015 numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, five out of every 100 warehouse employees were involved in a workplace injury and 75 percent of those cases included lost time or job restrictions. Your company can reduce these numbers by observing some basic on-the-job safety measures.

Proper Forklift Operation

Data from OSHA indicates that approximately 95,000 forklift-related injuries occur each year.

All forklift operators should be 18 and over, fully trained and certified, and periodically evaluated.

Regularly review forklifts for broken parts and other damages.

Make sure operators observe the stated weight limits.

Keep aisles, loading docks and other traffic areas free of congestion.

Make seatbelt use mandatory.

Ensure that operators are protected from open pits and other dangers from covers or guardrails.

Repetitive Motion Activities

Poor form and awkward conditions make repetitive motion tasks, like lifting, another common cause of injuries.

Use power equipment instead of manual lifting whenever possible.

Enforce individual weight-lifting limits and require employees to seek assistance with heavier loads.

Adjust shelves to avoid lifting items from shoulder height or higher.

Keep floors free of debris and clean up spills immediately.

Provide adequate lighting.

Conduct ergonomic training, with instructions such as lifting with the legs and avoiding twisting when carrying items.

Lighten the Load with Industrial Tugs from DJ Products

Our battery-powered industrial tugs reduce the amount of force an employee must use to maneuver a load, and they’re ergonomically designed to eliminate stress on muscles and joints.

Call 800.686.2651 or visit our website to learn how our CartCaddy and other industrial tugs can improve efficiency and reduce injuries in your warehouse.

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