What is a Warehouse Safety Checklist?
A warehouse safety checklist is used by safety officers and warehouse workers to identify safety hazards and come up with preventive measures to avoid accidents and injury. This tool is often enforced in warehouses to ensure that workers take precautionary measures inside the facility and ultimately protect assets and lives.
General Warehouse Safety Checklist
This general warehouse safety checklist aims to evaluate potential risks observed during warehouse operations. It also focuses on evaluating warehouse safety and security procedures, and the implementation of emergency and safety procedures.
Use this warehouse audit checklist to:
- Provide general information about the business and an evaluation of warehouse location, dock areas (exterior and interior), equipment, and sanitation.
- Take photos of noted findings and easily attach it to the checklist.
- Issue findings to concerned personnel and set deadlines (with corresponding reminders) for corrective actions.
- If defects are identified, the inspector can add recommendations and actions to improve overall safety in the warehouse premises.
Download sample warehouse inspection report for your reference.
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In this article
- Why is Warehouse Safety important?
- Warehouse Safety Steps
- How are Warehouse Inspections Done?
- Warehouse Safety Checklists Should Include What Items to Check?
- Efficient Warehouse Safety Inspections with SafetyCulture
Why is Warehouse Safety important?
Warehouse safety has always been important, but its importance is heightened by increased shipment and storage of hazardous items and the handling of heavy machinery. It is important to establish a proper safety protocol, conduct regular safety training, follow a long-term and short-term housekeeping procedure, and have the proper safety products and equipment.
Warehouse Safety Steps
A lot of factors are considered when it comes to warehouse safety and keeping track of them all can be a little bit challenging. To help with that, below is a list of steps to follow or best practices to implement in order to keep warehouses safe:
- Promote general safety – Emphasize the importance of safety in every aspect of the business. Provide training and courses, boost hazard awareness, and communicate constantly with employees and third-party vendors or suppliers that also occupy the site.
- Use safety equipment – Utilize safety tools that help prevent injuries such as forklifts, guard rails, anti-slip tapes, etc. With this, be sure to follow protocols on shelving safety and vehicle safety—conduct training and observe safety practices constantly.
- Remove potential hazards – Enforce good housekeeping strategies and involve the employees in implementing them. To avoid workplace injury and damage to machinery— floors should be free from debris, liquids, unnecessary cords, cracks, and pits.
- Mark hazardous areas – As one of the most effective ways to keep a workplace safe, clearly indicate hazardous areas in your warehouse using safety signs and symbols. It is critical that equipment, harmful zones, and emergency exits, among others, are properly labeled and marked.
- Wear protective clothing – Similar to other danger-prone workplaces, practice the use of protective clothing such as hard hats, gloves, and eyewear, especially when in the area of operations. It is also encouraged to avoid loose-fitting clothes which can get caught in equipment or machinery.
- Conduct fire safety drills – Regularly conduct fire safety drills to ensure that all warehouse occupants are aware of the evacuation plan in case of emergencies. Drills also help ensure that fire alarms, smoke detectors, and emergency lights are all in good working conditions.
- Perform regular inspections – Raise your warehouse safety efforts by performing regular and random inspections. These assessments help ensure that safety protocols are consistently followed, enable you to identify areas where there are instances of non-conformance, and allow you to spot processes where safety can further be improved.
How are Warehouse Inspections Done?
Warehouse inspection may seem utterly overwhelming, but its importance cannot be argued as it can spell the difference between a safe warehouse operations day and a fatal accident. Fail it and your company could be out thousands of dollars;. Or worse, your hundreds of jobs—or even your business— may suddenly be in jeopardy.
With that, here are 4 key steps you can follow so you can ensure a comprehensive warehouse inspection:
Examine the Warehouse and Identify Opportunities for Improvement
Warehouse inspections are crucial to the prevention of accidents, injuries, and illnesses. An in-depth warehouse walkthrough can help identify and record potential risks for corrective action. With a warehouse audit checklist, you can ensure that you don’t miss inspections of specific areas because you have a comprehensive list of everything that needs to be checked. Complete and accurate inspection data ensure a safe working structure for you and your warehouse staff.
Review Warehouse Safety Program to Know Strengths and Gaps
A smart way to identify strengths and gaps in your warehouse safety program is to put it side by side with best safety practices for warehouse operations by OSHA and international regulatory bodies. Assess the workplace conditions to identify strong areas and duplicate its effects; on the other hand, you should also discover areas that need improvement with regard to compliance and traditional OSHA safety standards or international practices.You can note these findings on the warehouse inspection report and use it as a point of discussion for improvement with the management.
Develop a Strategy to Address Gaps
Remedial action for findings is the key to achieving warehouse safety audit success. Active effort from the management team will help implement changes to get the best results. Develop an action plan that lists all areas that need to be addressed to ensure that all aspects have been considered. This will also ensure the succeeding audits go smoothly.
Do More Than What Is Necessary
You need to take it up a notch and beyond minimum requirements if you want to provide the best safety measures for your warehouse employees. There are basic requirements to be met that can protect your workers from injury, and going beyond these will further develop a positive safety culture in your warehouse in the long-run.
Warehouse Safety Checklists Should Include What Items to Check?
Warehouse safety checklists should ensure that the following are checked:
- Aisles and open areas are clear and open
- Racks should be in good condition
- Fire extinguishers are regularly inspected and in good condition
- Overhead lighting fixtures are working and in good condition
- Loose/unboxed materials are properly stacked
- Derail and/or bumper blocks on spur railroad tracks
- Employees are in PPE when handling chemicals
- There are covers and/or guardrails to protect employees from fall hazards
- Elevators and hoists are used correctly for lifting materials
- Hazardous materials containers are properly labeled
- Dock doors are working properly and closed when not in use
- There is adequate ventilation
- Equipment is in good working condition
- Pest control is effective
- Training and evaluation in place for employees
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Efficient Warehouse Safety Inspections with SafetyCulture
Maintaining and using multiple warehouse checklists can be burdensome and unproductive. With the SafetyCulture mobile safety audit software, warehouse managers can perform paperless warehouse safety assessments using a smartphone or tablet. The warehouse safety app allows you to schedule and conduct your warehouse safety checks using only your mobile device. Additionally, warehouse managers can do the following:
- Build, customize, and easily update warehouse audit checklists
- Schedule and assign regular warehouse safety inspections and know when and where they were completed
- Capture detailed information and review photos taken during inspections
- Quickly act on emergencies and record all actions taken
- Maintain convenient recordkeeping of all warehouse management inspections, findings, and corrective actions taken
- Have an overview of the status of multiple warehouse sites using an online dashboard
To get you started, we’ve collated the most comprehensive warehouse checklists you can use to improve the safety and working conditions of your workers.
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OSHA Warehouse Safety Checklist
This OSHA warehouse safety checklist converted using SafetyCulture is used to inspect the general safety of all employees working in a warehouse. In addition, assessment of employees is also conducted to ensure material handling procedures were followed and hazard communication process was discussed. Use this OSHA warehouse safety inspection checklist to conduct a digital inspection and generate on-the-spot reports.
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Cold Store/ Warehouse Inspection Checklist
This cold store/ warehouse inspection checklist is used to identify defects and damages to the structure, design, and facilities of your warehouse. This cold storage safety checklist covers food storage facilities and practices, temperature monitoring, pest control, and food dispatch and transport. Use SafetyCulture to schedule your audits and never miss any of your scheduled inspection again
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Warehouse Walkthrough Checklist
This warehouse safety compliance checklist is a walkthrough inspection tool which checks the condition of aisles, stairs, ladders, and air emissions. Use this warehouse assessment checklist template before you start your shift to identify if employees wear appropriate PPE, aware of the emergency procedures and are fully trained on material handling. You can also utilize this tool as a warehouse hazards checklist and note potential hazards observed during the walkthrough. Use SafetyCulture to capture photo defects of tools and materials that need to be replaced or removed in the warehouse.
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Warehouse Forklift Checklist
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Forklifts are used to carry heavy loads in and around the warehouse. Operating forklifts pose numerous hazards to the worker. Use this warehouse forklift checklist to evaluate visual damage, faults on control functions, and unusual noise or vibration on forklifts before commencing operation at warehouse. Use SafetyCulture to capture photo of the defects and generate efficient reports
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Warehouse Ergonomics Checklist
Use this warehouse ergonomics checklist to assess the ergonomic movement, workload, posture and transport of goods in your warehouse. Workers must know and exercise best ergonomic practices to avoid physical stress and other health related injuries. Use this SafetyCulture warehouse audit checklist to capture best practice behaviours in warehouse ergonomics and areas for improvement.
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Warehouse Maintenance Checklist
This warehouse maintenance checklist can be used to regularly conduct maintenance inspections of warehouses. Use this warehouse assessment checklist tool to ensure that different components of the warehouse facility comply with internal and international maintenance standards and keep an overall safe working place for warehouse workers.
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Warehouse Food Safety Checklist
This warehouse food safety checklist can be used to inspect good manufacturing practices (GMP) for food production in warehouses. Use this warehouse food safety audit checklist to ensure that food storage practices are compliant with international standards.
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Warehouse Health and Safety Checklist
This warehouse health and safety checklist helps perform a general assessment of a warehouse’s health and safety practices. Using this checklist for a warehouse health and safety audit, you can identify both good and bad practices, and proactively address the bad ones by conducting interviews with respondents. You can customize this warehouse health and safety audit form to include your warehouse company’s internal inspection standards to ensure having the most comprehensive responses for your health and safety audit.
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Covid 19 - Warehouse & Depot Check
This template is a guide to areas in a warehouse/depot that may need to be checked more frequently if still operational/returning to work.
FAQs
What is the 6S checklist for warehouse? ›
Following these 6S principles Sort, Set, Shine, Standardize, Sustain, and Safety allows us to improve the quality of our services, maintain a clean work environment to enhance safety measures, and make sure teammates can perform their jobs safely and efficiently every day.
What is warehouse safety checklist? ›A general warehouse safety checklist is a tool that can help you proactively evaluate the safety of your warehouse operations, so you can develop preventative measures to minimize potential hazards. This can help ensure that your safety standards are functional, compliant, and properly enforced.
What are the OSHA requirements for a warehouse? ›General OSHA Safety Guidelines for Warehouses
Implement proper lockout/tag-out procedures. Block off exposed or open loading dock doors and any area where an employee could fall more than four feet. Clear floors, aisles, and surfaces of any hazards that could cause trips, slips, or falls.
- Determine your safety inspection checklist needs. ...
- Look to other examples. ...
- Work with SMEs to build your workplace safety inspection checklist. ...
- Build safety checklists that are automated or site-specific. ...
- Incorporate ongoing audits to ensure compliance.
The 5 steps to do to get a clean and organize workplace as per in 5S are: Seiri means Sort, Seiton means Set In Order, Seiso means Shine, Seiketsu means Standardize and Shitsuke means Sustain.
What are the seven 7 functions of warehousing? ›- Storage. A primary function of a warehouse is offering storage space for inventory, equipment or other items. ...
- Safeguarding goods. ...
- Moving goods. ...
- Financing. ...
- Price stabilisation. ...
- Information management.
- 1) Reduce Workplace Stress. ...
- 2) Use Tools and Machines Properly. ...
- 3) Use Mechanical Aids When Possible. ...
- 4) Wear Protective Equipment. ...
- 5) Stay Sober. ...
- 6) Be Aware of Your Surroundings. ...
- 7) Correct Posture Protects Your Back. ...
- 8) Be Alert and Awake.
- Always wear your seatbelt when in a vehicle or heavy equipment. ...
- Always inspect equipment and tools. ...
- Always use fall protection when working at heights. ...
- Stay of out the blind spots of heavy equipment. ...
- Never put yourself in the line of fire.
- #1 Dependable. Every employer in every job type would probably list the ability to rely on their employees as their number one request. ...
- #2 Flexible. The warehouse world isn't just about being able to lift boxes or drive a forklift. ...
- #3 Organized.
Potential hazards for workers in warehousing: • Unsafe use of forklifts; • Improper stacking of products; • Failure to use proper personal protective equipment; Failure to follow proper lockout/tagout procedures; • Inadequate fire safety provisions; or • Repetitive motion injuries.
Do and don'ts of warehouse safety rules? ›
Only allow staff to drive vehicles if they have received practical training. No one under the age of 18 should operate a forklift. Ensure workers maintain speed limits – you should put up signs to remind them. Drivers of forklifts should not exceed 5mph.
Is there a checklist template in Word? ›On the Home tab, choose the down-arrow next to the Bullets list to open the bullet library, and then choose the checkbox symbol.
What is OSHA checklist? ›OSHA General Industry Inspection Checklist
It includes fields covering safety programs, first aid and medical services, fire protection measures, and PPE provided by the employer. It also helps employees and management review the general work environment to see areas for improvement.
But one of the most popular methods is to develop warehouse management KPIs (Key Performance Indicators), which measure how effectively your processes are reaching their goals and objectives—sort of like a report card for your warehouse.
What is Kaizen in warehouse? ›In warehousing, Kaizen generally involves thinking with your team and fishing out creative ideas to solve problems. You can use this strategy with everyone, from managers to plant workers to make the most out of it. All ideas will have equal value, followed by testing to measure how effective an idea is.
What are the 5 reports every warehouse manager should be using? ›- #1 History By Supplier Report. ...
- #2 Vendor/Supplier Report. ...
- #3 Inventory On Hand Report. ...
- #4 Empty Bin Report. ...
- #5 Expense Control Report.
Picking and packing are two core functions performed in a warehouse. A warehouse management system should generate pick lists for each picker to retrieve items in the most efficient way.
What are the 4 basic functions in a warehouse? ›Regardless of the product, every warehouse moves things, stores them, keeps track of them, and sends them out. Those four functions result in our four essential categories of equipment: storage, material handling, packing and shipping, and barcode equipment.
What are 20 general safety rules? ›- Follow the dress code. ...
- Wear safety gear. ...
- Maintain personal hygiene. ...
- Take responsibility for your personal safety. ...
- Maintain a clean workspace. ...
- Follow work procedures. ...
- Learn how to act in an emergency. ...
- Report accidents if they occur.
Everyone has an obligation to stop work that is unsafe. People must be trained, competent and fit for the activity. Work must not be conducted without a pre-job risk assessment appropriate to that level of risk. Safety equipment must not be removed, overridden or disabled without authorisation.
What are the 7 safety tips? ›
- Keep work areas clean. ...
- Use the proper tool for the job. ...
- Always wear the proper PPE for the work task. ...
- Never work on live equipment. ...
- Make sure chemicals are properly labeled and stored.
- Communicate hazards to other personnel. ...
- Stop work when needed to address hazards.
We recommend an approach that we refer to as the “Four Pillars of Safety” — prepare, prevent, protect and respond — to help ensure that your people and facilities are safer and more productive.
What are the 3 pillars of safety? ›These pillars include Workplace Injury Avoidance, Health Precaution, and Inclusion Check-in.
What is the biggest safety hazard in warehouse? ›Heavy equipment (forklifts)
This is OSHA's top warehouse safety risk. An average of two workers die each month on the job as a result of being crushed, says OSHA. Typically these deaths result when workers don't handle equipment correctly.
Failure to Wear Proper Equipment
Unfortunately, one of the most common OSHA violations in warehouses is not wearing PPE. This situation increases the risk of accidents and injuries, including crushing and impacts, breathing in contaminated air, eye injuries, and hearing loss.
- Do: Improve your picking process. ...
- Don't: Let inventory pile up. ...
- Do: Reorganize for efficiency. ...
- Don't: Ignore a mess. ...
- Do: Continually invest in the facility. ...
- Don't: Ignore maintenance needs.
Warehouse management is commonly associated with six basic tenets: accuracy, cost control, efficiency, cleanliness, safety and security, but the underlying processes are complex and dynamic, presenting major problems for warehouse managers across industries.
What are the most common hazards in a warehouse? ›- Physical Strain.
- Moving Machinery.
- Loading and Unloading.
- Falling Objects.
- Exposure to Harmful Substances.
- Lack of Safety Training and Knowledge.
- Slips, Trips and Falls.
Slips, trips and falls can often occur in a warehouse environment because of the fast moving nature of this type of work. Hazards such as discarded boxes, box ties, cables or spilt substances can all cause injury.
What are 5 examples of unsafe conditions in the workplace? ›- Overtime. ...
- Lack of Proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) ...
- Unqualified Personnels Working with Dangerous Tools. ...
- Poor Lighting Conditions. ...
- Improper Workstation Layout. ...
- Ignoring Safety Symbols or Signs. ...
- Poorly Maintained Equipment.
What PPE is required in a warehouse? ›
Common types of PPE used in a warehouse include: Hard hats. High-visibility jackets. Safety glasses or goggles.
Is there a free checklist app? ›Google Keep is a free checklist app that helps you manage notes and checklists using a simple interface. You can add notes and ideas in Google Keep. In addition, you can create simple to-do lists and share them with your team.
Does Excel have a checklist template? ›A checklist in Excel is a custom list of items you can create to track tasks, projects, training or other items that often use checklists. Excel has several templates you can use to build your checklist, or you can create your own.
How can I make a checklist online for free? ›- Open Canva. Open Canva and type "Checklist" in the search bar. ...
- Choose a template. If you need a little inspiration to get started, Canva's library has hundreds of checklist templates to choose from. ...
- Add graphics and text. ...
- Personalize some more. ...
- Save or print.
Microsoft Excel Pros
Better if you want to combine multiple elements onto the page e.g. a habit tracker and a checklist or a daily schedule and notes box etc.
- 1 – Add a title. Start a new Word document, and type out the title of your checklist. ...
- 2 – Add the checklist items. Type out each item in your checklist, then we'll begin to style the text. ...
- 3 – Style your checklist. Now for the fun part! ...
- 4 – Add a footer. ...
- 5 – Save as a PDF.
Google Sheets also allow you to make custom checklists and save them as templates. You can do it by adding checkboxes to the desired cells and keep the sheet for future use. To add the checkboxes, you need to click on the Insert tab at the top, select Checkbox, and you're all done.
What are the safety checklist? ›What is a Safety Checklist? A safety checklist is a simple tool used by frontline workers to identify hazards, mitigate risks, and apply control measures before performing tasks. Safety officers use safety checklists to perform routine site checks and assess employees' safety behavior.
What are the 7 core elements of a safety program? ›The OSHA recommendations include seven core elements for a safety and health program: management leadership; worker participation; hazard identification and assessment; hazard prevention and control; education and training; program evaluation and improvement; and communication and coordination for host employers, ...
What are 7 of the employer's responsibilities under OSHA? ›Provide safety training to workers in a language and vocabulary they can understand. Keep accurate records of work-related injuries and illnesses. Perform tests in the workplace, such as air sampling, required by some OSHA standards. Provide required personal protective equipment at no cost to workers.
What are the 6 steps of 6S? ›
- Sort (Seiri) Sorting, the first step in the 6s methodology, aims to reduce clutter and make it easier for essential work items to be easily located for improved efficiency. ...
- Set in order (Seiton) ...
- Shine (Seiso) ...
- Standardize (Seiketsu) ...
- Sustain (Shitsuke) ...
- Safety.
- Step 1: Identify “Stupid Mistakes” That Cause Failure. ...
- Step 2: Seek Additional Input From Others. ...
- Step 3: Create Simple “Do” Steps. ...
- Step 4: Create Simple “Talk” Steps. ...
- Step 5: Test The Checklist. ...
- Step 6: Refine the Checklist.
The six fundamental warehouse processes comprise receiving, putaway, storage, picking, packing, and shipping. Optimizing these six processes will allow you to streamline your warehouse operation, reduce cost & errors, and achieve a higher perfect order rate.
What are 5S standards? ›5S is a five-step methodology for creating a more organized and productive workspace: Sort, Straighten, Shine, Standardize, and Sustain. 5S serves as a foundation for deploying more advanced lean production tools and processes.
What are the 8 wastes of lean? ›- Transport. Transport waste is defined as any material movement that doesn't directly support immediate production. ...
- Inventory. ...
- Motion. ...
- Waiting. ...
- Overproduction. ...
- Over-processing. ...
- Defects. ...
- Unutilized talent.
What is 5S? 5S is a systematic way of organizing workplaces by eliminating waste, improving flow, and reducing the number of processes where possible. It applies the five principles: Sort (seiri), Set in order (seiton), Shine (seiso), Standardize (seiketsu), and Sustain (shitsuke).
What is simple checklist method? ›Under checklist method, a checklist is forwarded to the rater regarding the performance and behaviour of the employees. The rater on analysing the question and the employees, rates the employees. Such questions carry score which is given by the HR manager.
How do I make an employee checklist? ›- Assess the needs of the role. ...
- Separate the checklist into sections. ...
- Create a checklist of pre-hire items. ...
- Determine the tasks for their first day. ...
- Designate responsibilities for their first week. ...
- Check in with them after their first month.
What is a simple checklist template? A simple checklist template is any kind of process or list of tasks arranged in the form of a checklist; in other words, it's a to-do list where the order of tasks is usually important.