How to approach improving employee safety in the logistics industry
Where do you start with assessing and improving upon safety requirements?
When it comes to storage and distribution, the logistics industry is the glue that holds the whole supply chain together.
From warehousing to haulage and delivery, the use of heavy loads, trucks, and machinery does make for risky business though.
So, while business may be booming thanks to the rise of internet shopping and the demand for next-day delivery; it is vital that this does not come at the expense of strict adherence to health and safety regulations.
Transport companies are legally and morally responsible for keeping their employees safe under this greater pressure.
We know it can be hard knowing where to start with improving health and safety in the logistics industry. But worry not – we'll move you in the right direction.
The first step? Know the law. You must have a clear understanding of your legal duty as a transport boss, which includes regularly brushing up on all safety regulations governing the industry.
Reviewing your safety management system should be the next step. Assess whether your current health and safety measures comply with the law.
Ask yourself this important question: can I demonstrate compliance? Identify possible risks in your workplace and assign a suitable person to each issue. Health and safety audits are the best way to ensure compliance. However, they must be completed by a person or group with expertise and experience in this area.
5 ways to approach improving employee safety in the logistics industry
1. Increase visibility over potentially dangerous assets
Our intelligent key cabinets offer precise audit trails so you know exactly who has each vehicle and when. You are instantly alerted by email when employees log breakdowns in equipment or trucks, so you can recall them as soon as possible to prevent any accidents. You can also attach warning notifications to assets so that workers know they are off-limits until they're fixed.
2. Control access to heavy vehicles and equipment
Allowing people to use machinery and vehicles they are not trained for is an accident waiting to happen. Traka’s intelligent key cabinets and software help ensure the right people use the right equipment at the right time. Only authorized users – those with the correct training or credentials like a valid license – can access your assets via PIN code or biometrics. You can also block access to trucks during treacherous weather conditions.
3. Increase employee accountability
People are less likely to take risks if they know their actions are being monitored. As above, detailed reporting by our electronic cabinets can tell you who checked out an item and when. Employees are more likely to use assets carefully if they know they will be held accountable for any misuse of vehicles or equipment that led to an accident.
4. Implement more staff training
Perhaps it's been a while since your last batch of training. Or maybe you've had an influx of new recruits to help keep up with demand from customers.
Data gathered by our smart software can help you identify risky employee behavior like breaking curfew and driving or using equipment for too long, increasing the likelihood of accidents. This information can help you identify gaps in training or where refreshers are needed.
5. Improve loading bay safety
DockSafe is an intelligent control and safety management solution for loading bays. It stops vehicles from prematurely leaving the ‘Goods In/Out’ bays of a busy distribution center, before the loading bay door has been made safe. Investing in this tool could help prevent serious accidents.
Why should logistics employee safety be a priority for any business in the industry?
No business can afford to rest on its laurels when it comes to health and safety in logistics.
The industry is ever-growing thanks to the rise of online shopping and delivery which puts great pressure on businesses to meet demand while keeping workers safe. The chances of accidents happening can increase under this kind of pressure, so it is crucial safety procedures and protocols are continually improved.
Thousands of people suffer from work-related ill health like musculoskeletal disorders, stress, depression or anxiety. Not only is it devastating for them, long-term sickness chips away at an already pressurized workforce and makes it harder for businesses to compete.
Injuries like falls, improper lifting or being hit by moving objects can easily happen when companies take their eye off the ball; some accidents can even result in loss of limbs, disability or death, all of which can more often than not be avoided.
You also have to consider the cost of fines for health and safety negligence. These can be in the hundreds of thousands, which could spell the end for some organizations.
Assessing your employee safety requirements – How Traka products can help
Transport health and safety is not to be sniffed at.
Our range of products can put you on the road to better safety standards. The electronic key cabinets and TrakaWEB software can help increase visibility over potentially dangerous assets, and ensure only the people with the right credentials and training can access them.
Their reporting capabilities can encourage staff members to behave more responsibly and identify gaps in knowledge, meaning you know exactly who requires further training or refreshers. Our DockSafe solution also helps eliminate accidents in loading bays.
But Traka can do so much more for you as well. Our team of dedicated experts will work alongside your entire organization to help you plan out and evolve your safety protocols, including installation and testing.
And when we say we'll keep you on the right track every step of the way, we mean it, as we even offer tailored training to help you get the most out of your new safety tools and aftercare in the form of customer support and maintenance contracts.