‘Culture eats strategy for breakfast’ is one of those well-known quotes in business. Sometimes attributed to Peter Drucker, nobody is certain whether it came from him, but all the same, we understand what it means. We can plan for change, but unless we can change the way people think and behave in the workplace, ultimately nothing changes at all.
Safety is an area where this dictum absolutely applies. Relying on peer pressure, encouraging workers to report unsafe practices and consistently enforcing the rules leads to good safety habits and fewer accidents in warehouses.
In fact, warehouses these days are safer working environments than they once were, particularly with the wider use of automation and robots replacing some of the more hazardous activities, while data monitoring identifies blind spots, agnostically reporting when things go wrong – or at least, diverge from standard expectations.
LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), for example, is remote technology that uses laser beams to measure precise distances and movement in an environment in real time. This gives MHE (Materials Handling Equipment) like AGV (Automated Guided Vehicles) the equivalent of ‘robot vision’ to accurately detect objects and navigate safely around warehouses, optimising routes without risk of collisions. As this technology evolves, LiDAR is becoming increasingly cost-effective and more widely accessible.
Warehouses are becoming bigger, as our recent real estate report from Savills shows, growing to accommodate an increasingly wider range of activities. Racking systems have adapted accordingly, becoming taller and presenting another potential safety risk. Here again, technology has improved safety with ‘smart’ barriers that not only physically protect racking from impact, but also provide 24/7 monitoring and data analytics.
Impact alerts, automatic incident logging and guided rack inspections are helping warehouse operators avoid repetitive damage, and even racking collapse, with visibility of incidents allowing for better planned maintenance, reduced downtime and maintenance costs, as well as increased safety.
Workers’ wellbeing is also being safeguarded by warehouse technology. Wearables such as exoskeletons help increase efficiency and keep people safe by reducing the risk of injury. With the additional implementation of a powered exo-suit, workers can handle bulky, heavy loads and perform frequent lifts and moves more safely. I saw these suits in use on a recent warehouse visit and the wearers told me they are comfortable and really make a difference when offloading large bags of tealeaves or coffee beans from shipping containers.
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But technology can only take us so far. We still rely on people in the workplace, so fostering a culture of safety awareness amongst the workforce is fundamental.
Beyond implementing clear safety habits and providing mandatory training, how do we make a permanent change to people’s behaviour? The answer is to foster informed leadership.
This is where our new Warehouse Manager CPC qualification comes in. Written by experienced, well-respected consultants, the course is designed to equip existing and would-be Managers and Supervisors with the skills necessary to manage a modern warehouse successfully, including keeping the workforce safe.
Research shows that ensuring safety rules are followed requires a combination of peer pressure and consistent enforcement. Safety in the warehouse is enhanced and supported by technology, but success is also about encouraging good practice and building a culture where good safety habits have become the norm.
Clare Bottle
UKWA, CEO
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