Question

1. You assume the role of a warehouse/DC supervisor and share with us the three biggest challenges you face when trying to maintain a safe working environment for everyone.

Answer 1

The Warehouse or a Distribution center supervisor is responsible for managing the inventory in a warehouse and to maintain the records and documents regarding the movement of goods or stocks within the store shelves or to the trucks. The three biggest challenges they face in maintaining a safe working environment are:

1. Poor warehouse facility: Most of the warehouses are not considered and equipped well by the organizations that result in a low storage area, poor lighting, ventilation, etc., that leads to improper storage of the stocks. For example, Batteries need to be stored in a cool place but due to lack of storage facilities, they are stored in unsafe conditions because of which accidents can happen when there is a rise in temperature.
2. Worker inefficiencies: According to OSHA, averagely two workers die every month because of the lack of training on the equipment they use especially when dealing with heavy materials. The workers need to be trained regularly on the different handling techniques that need to be considered while dealing with different types of materials and while using the different types of equipment that facilitate the handling processes. This also includes the ergonomic procedures while manual handling, the safety measures to be taken while handling harmful substances, etc.,
3. Lack of communication: It is hard for the supervisors to communicate each and every aspect of the safety of the workers in the warehouse when there is a lack of communication mediums especially when forklifts or trucks are involved. A lot of accidents happen in the loading or unloading dock when the trucks, man lifts, forklifts, etc., are not properly guided. Adequate workers should be allocated both for operating such equipment and to guide them inside the warehouse.