Common Warehouse Safety Violations
The warehousing industry has grown exponentially due to Amazon, which currently employs about 79 percent of the country’s warehouse workers. Unfortunately, due to dangerous work conditions and numerous safety violations, warehousing jobs have a disproportionately high rate of worker injuries.
What Are OSHA Safety Standards?
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has rules and regulations in place regarding warehousing safety. All warehouses in the U.S. must comply with these OSHA safety standards. Every year, OSHA releases a list of the most common safety citations given to employers. Below are the top safety violations in relation to warehousing.
Fall Protection
Slip, trip and fall accidents are some of the most common causes of serious worker injuries and deaths in the U.S. each year. OSHA data shows that in 2021, 680 worker deaths were caused by falls from elevations. In a warehouse, adequate fall protection should be provided to anyone working from heights, including ladders, stairways and lifts. The warehouse’s floors should also be free from slip or trip and fall risks, such as grease or clutter.
Hazard Communication
Hazard communication is a program designed to protect workers from injury risks associated with chemicals in the workplace, such as flammable liquids, corrosives, acids and compressed gases. In a warehouse setting, employers should have protocols in place to protect workers from toxins, including visible warning signs and training on how to safely handle and store dangerous substances.
Ladder Safety
Ladder falls can cause serious warehouse worker injuries, including broken bones, head and brain injuries, and back and spine injuries. OSHA enforces various ladder safety rules, including load capacity, ladder types based on the task, rung and step maintenance, and how workers should carry loads up and down ladders. Breaking any of these rules increases the odds of a harmful ladder fall.
Powered Industrial Trucks
Powered industrial truck accidents, such as forklift accidents in warehouses, can be prevented with proper care taken by employers and employees. These vehicles must be operated safely and correctly according to OSHA standards, with workers properly trained on related policies by employers. Lack of training and violated safety rules can cause industrial truck accidents.
Personal Protective Equipment
Broken personal protective equipment (PPE) standards mean that a company fails to provide workers with adequate protection from foreseeable health risks, such as exposure to hazardous substances. All warehouse workers must be familiar with the PPE available in the workplace, which may include eye and ear protection, skin protection, head protection, and hand and foot protection.
Machine Guarding
Warehouse jobs can involve various types of machinery and heavy equipment, including robots that are used to lift and move boxes, conveyor belts, lift trucks and platforms, packaging machines, and dock equipment. Inadequate machine guarding increases the risk of a worker getting caught, pulled, crushed or pinned by machines in warehouses. These accidents can result in serious and fatal injuries.
What Are the Rights of Injured Warehouse Workers?
If a worker is injured in a warehouse due to a safety violation, he or she may be eligible for compensation through a workers’ comp claim or a personal injury lawsuit, depending on the circumstances. Working with a Los Angeles personal injury attorney to take legal action may result in financial compensation for related medical costs, wages lost, disability, and more.
To discuss a specific warehouse accident or injury claim in California, contact the attorneys at Rose, Klein & Marias LLP for a free consultation.