Two Ways to Prevent Accidents When Transporting Materials Around an Industrial Facility
There are several precautions that should be taken to prevent accidents from occurring when heavy or toxic materials need to be transported around an industrial facility. Continue reading to discover what these precautions are.
Check the condition of the timber skids on a regular basis
Lots of industrial manufacturers keep timber skids in their facilities, as these items make it much easier for employees to safely move large quantities of heavy materials.
However, if a timber skid sustains damage and employees continue to use it to transport goods around the facility, there is a risk that some of its panels could break during the transportation process. If this should happen, the materials stacked on top of the skid may end up tumbling off of it and striking those who are working nearby. If the goods in question are hazardous or if they weigh a great deal, being struck by them could leave these staff members with severe injuries.
Given this, it is important for the employees who routinely use timber skids to check the condition of these items on a regular basis. They should look out for things like termite damage (signs include holes and small bite marks) and wet rot (a fungus which causes wood to crumble and soften). If they notice any damage of this kind, they should inform their manager and avoid using the timber skid until the damaged panels have been replaced or repaired.
Create clear pathways for forklifts and pallet trucks
One simple way to minimise the risk of employees being hurt when goods are being transported around a facility on forklifts and pallet trucks is to ensure that there are clear pathways that the equipment operators can use to safely get from A to B.
Painting lines on the floors of the facilities to indicate which areas are to be used specifically for forklifts and pallet trucks will reduce the chances of the equipment operators accidentally veering too close to and then striking people standing on the floor nearby. It will also help those walking around the facility to avoid inadvertently wandering into the pathway of a speeding forklift and subsequently getting run over.
A bright-coloured, neon paint should be used to create these floor lines, as this will ensure that they are easy to spot even in parts of the facility that are poorly lit. Additionally, these lines should be periodically repainted to ensure that they do not fade to the point where they are no longer visible from a distance.