There is something especially satisfying about being able to mark off an item on a checklist. Most of us in the warehousing and materials handling industry are fans of the checklist. These simple to-do lists help us keep track of what’s coming next, make our priorities clear, and keep track of items to buy and sell. If you work in the warehousing industry, you probably use checklists every day. But do you use them to help ensure that the proper safety rules and regulations are being followed in your warehouse? If you aren’t, you could be missing out on an opportunity to make your warehouse safer than ever.

Worried about the safety in your warehouse? Our warehouse consultants can help you find better safety solutions. Give us a call today for more information on making your warehouse safer.

Why Checklists Are Good for Warehouse Safety

  • It’s a good visual about what you need to do.
  • Easy to track what’s been done and when.
  • Keeps warehouse teams up-to-date on safety rules.
  • Easy to modify and customize to changing warehouse needs.
  • They can be placed in highly visible locations.
  • Teams are less likely to forget a step when they have it listed in front of them.
  • Ensures that safety processes are documented.

How to Create a Warehouse Safety Checklist

You can make a variety of checklists to ensure your warehouse is safe, including areas such as building safety, emergency preparedness, fire prevention and materials management. It’s up to you about which areas of health and safety you wish to address in your checklists. The goal of the checklist should be clear, though: to document the proper practices and help ensure that everyone is following them.

In order to create a good warehouse safety checklist, you can start by looking at examples from other warehouses or simply listing out the things that should be checked on a daily, weekly, monthly and annual basis. Or, you can start with this free warehouse safety checklist from OSHA. This is a very general list that includes items such as clearing aisles of clutter, allowing for rest breaks, and ventilating the warehouse. Chances are you’ll have a number of other things you’ll want to add to the list, but at least this will help get you started and assist with brainstorming what should be on your list.

What To Do With Your Safety Checklist

Once you’ve created your warehouse safety checklist, print it off and laminate it. This will create a reusable checklist that can be checked off with a dry erase marker. You can keep this an informal process or formalize it by requiring employees to initial the items they’ve completed and ensuring that all items have been checked off within a certain time period. Make sure the safety checklist is in a prominent area where everyone can see it.

This won’t be a one-time creation. A good safety checklist should be periodically updated with new information as your warehouse grows and changes or you think of new items that should be addressed.

Are you worried about the safety in your warehouse? The RMH Systems team can help. We have experienced warehouse consultants who have worked with some of the biggest warehouses in the country to help ensure they are meeting and exceeding expectations for safety and productivity. If you have concerns about your warehouse’s safety, talk to us. You can call us or contact us through our website and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. We have warehouse equipment, optimization, and planning services that can make your warehouse a safer place to work.