Health and safety in a warehouse is vital. From hazardous machinery to the manual handling of heavy goods, the potential for injury has always been apparent in warehouses. However, modern technology and automation have helped to reshape the industry, improving speed and accuracy, but more importantly, strengthening health and safety standards across the world.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at how automation and technology are improving health and safety in warehouses.
Reduced Manual Handling
More and more facilities are beginning to use robotics and advanced machinery to take care of repetitive or physically demanding tasks. Employees remain a pivotal part of operations but leveraging this technology reduces physical strain on employees and their exposure to high-risk tasks is significantly reduced.
Wearable Technology
Smartwatches and vests are becoming increasingly common in warehouse settings to track movements, posture, and temperature. Connected safety vests make it easy to track workers in real-time and alert supervisors of accidents or emergencies, significantly improving response times.
Similarly, smartwatches can monitor a staff member’s heart rate and physical activity, notifying supervisors when a worker is being overworked to the point that it’s affecting their physical health.
Over time, the data from wearable technology can inform management where additional support or a redesigned workflow is needed in order to keep employees safe.
Automated Guided Vehicles
Forklift trucks and heavy goods vehicles also pose a significant risk to warehouse workers. Luckily, in recent years, vehicles with pre-programmed routes and obstacle detection technology have been introduced to prevent serious accidents or injury. Advanced telematics can also monitor driver behaviour to detect unsafe practices, allowing for early intervention and additional training where necessary.
Simulated Training
Training warehouse staff is crucial for health and safety. However, the training process itself can be risky for employees, which is why many companies are choosing to train staff via simulations. In doing this, trainees can practice navigating busy aisles or responding to emergency situations without actually exposing themselves or others to danger. Not only does this give workers more confidence, but it also means they will be more likely to follow procedures in the future.
Workforce Management Tools
Alongside physical machinery, automation and technology have influenced safety in indirect ways, too. For example, cloud payroll software is helping managers and supervisors track working hours more effectively, preventing excessive overtime, which is often linked to fatigue-related accidents.
The Future of Warehousing is Safer than Ever
Thanks to advanced robotics, wearable technology, automated guided vehicles, training simulations, and access to valuable employee data, the warehouse industry has not only become more efficient than ever, but also safer than ever.
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