As a manager, do you ever feel stressed about your employees and your machinery?
In your warehouse or factory, is there a potential danger of a collision between a forklift and your installations or even a risk of an accident involving a forklift and an employee?
Are there specific areas reserved for pedestrians and an area dedicated to the movement of forklifts?
Let me tell you, the worst danger is believing that there is no danger.
( This article is only available in French )
We imagine that the forklift driver hard at work will notice our presence in the warehouse. A big six-foot guy, that's noticeable, right?
No.
The forklift driver must, of course, have peripheral vision and be safe in his maneuvers, but it is above all up to the manager to ensure that pedestrians have a "determined" area to circulate in. Hence the importance of adding guardrails at strategic locations.
What will you gain by doing this?
- By protecting your employees (pedestrians), they will feel safe and will be more efficient.
- By eliminating danger zones, there will be a reduction in the number of accidents/collisions, therefore a reduction in expenses (costs related to the repair of damaged equipment, production stoppages, minor and/or major injuries, etc.) In short, prevention is profitable!
- If employees use the traffic lanes designed for them, forklift operators will work better.
- Your stress level (as a warehouse or factory manager) will be greatly reduced.
Guardrails are useful, and even necessary, to create a protective perimeter (a sort of shield) between:
- machinery and forklifts;
- forklifts and employees (pedestrians);
- employees (pedestrians) or internal vehicles and hazardous areas (e.g. electrical panels, gas inlets, etc.).
In addition, guardrails are used to separate and organize work areas within a warehouse, distribution center or factory. It is a clear and highly visible signage. Well placed, it will provide the necessary protection for everything that is important to you and your work.
In closing, a safe work environment is good for everyone. As a manager, you will gain less stress, lower accident costs and more efficient employees. Your workers, for their part, will be happy in what they do and their well-being will be reflected in their performance.
In the end, everyone wins!
