Warehouses are often full of noise, dust and interference, making them dangerous workplaces. Air quality can also be extremely variable, and heat and smoke often pose additional risks to workers. Therefore, maintaining the safety and health of warehouse employees requires a strong culture, compliance and the right combination of technologies to support safety initiatives.
According to the UK government's health and safety agency, there were no less than 11 fatal injuries in the whole transportation and storage industry last year, while an estimated 28000 workers suffered non fatal injuries and lost ? 322 million in productivity. As for the warehousing industry, about 3000 workers are injured every year, equivalent to nearly 3% of the country's total labor force.
These figures demonstrate the vital importance of improving worker safety. Although modern systems and methods have led to a slight decline in injury rates over time, the overall number is still too high and needs to be significantly reduced before warehousing is considered a safe work industry. Technology can play a key role in achieving this goal, but it is important to choose the right hardware and system to maximize results.
Fortunately, there are more and more products and solutions for organizations to implement to enhance security. Here are five good examples.
(1) Better communication tools
High speed communications and real-time insights, delivered directly to employees through rugged mobile devices, allow them to understand key variables around them, such as air quality, temperature and other potential hazards nearby. With this knowledge, they can respond faster and / or take necessary measures to prevent accidents before they occur.
(2) More accurate hazard identification / prevention
On site physical security management through applications and professional software can help organizations ensure that they identify and correct hazards when they occur. Workers can take dangerous photos and complete mobile safety checklists to ensure that everyone is protected, while it equipment connected to forklifts can install screen blank software to prevent drivers from being distracted when the vehicle is driving.
(3) Integration of virtual and augmented reality technology
Virtual reality and augmented reality technology can help train employees how to deal with dangerous situations without actually putting them in danger. Augmented reality technology allows technicians or experienced workers to guide others through processes such as machine maintenance without increasing the actual number of people in the environment. This may be useful if maintenance is dangerous, conditions are dangerous, or where social distance is required.
(4) Greater use of drones
When the site is too dangerous for people to investigate, UAVs can be used, for example, if there is a gas leakage or other chemical leakage. Drones can capture information and allow cleaning teams to determine the safest course of action without being exposed to danger.
(5) Using automation and Robotics
Automation improves security by eliminating the burden of heavy manual work. Robots can focus on heavy tasks and make people more creative. This is particularly useful in understaffed warehouses, where the pressure to maintain productivity creates a culture of accepting some risks in exchange for completing work faster. Adding robots to the workforce can reduce stress and risk.
Robots can also help production facilities. People no longer need to go from one place to another to get the materials they need to complete their assembly parts. On the contrary, robots can bring them the parts they need when they need them, reduce the distance people walk, and reduce the risk of fatigue and accidents.
In order to make full use of these technologies, storage organizations need to deploy robust solutions to deal with the harsh environment of the warehouse. Simply choosing a tablet or laptop similar to a consumer to connect to the technology will cause more problems than solutions in the long run. Instead, organizations should choose special equipment that can withstand falls, shocks, vibration, noise, dust and extreme temperatures.
For example, when completing safety checklists and induction training, the use of durable equipment with highly readable screens can help make the process easier. The lighting conditions in the warehouse may vary, so it is important to design a screen that can read in harsh strong or dim light. At the same time, it is also important to have a sensitive touch screen that can be used with gloves, wet hands or stylus.
The equipment should also include a camera to capture images of hazards and repairs, make oral or written descriptions unnecessary, and improve the accuracy of reports. This makes it easier to digitize and track problems that need to be corrected.
As augmented and virtual reality applications become more and more common, it is also important to prove future IT investment by selecting equipment with the processing power and connectivity required to reliably run these applications. Consumer grade devices are not necessarily up to standard, and they cannot withstand the warehouse environment. In this case, they are a bad choice.
The warehousing industry is still a dangerous workplace, but technology is playing an increasingly important role in correcting this situation. With the increasing number of professional applications and solutions, organizations have never had more tools to protect employees and keep them safe. However, in order to make full use of them, they must first ensure that the IT equipment they invest in can also deal with the highly physical and often chaotic environment found in modern warehouses.
