In this blog, we are talking about overall Warehouse Management through Visual Management, Why Visual Management is needed, how is it effective, how your daily warehouse activities can be controlled and many more.
Imagine you are a visitor in your warehouse. You walk inside through the gate and look around. Can you identify the workflow within 60 seconds? Can you see where the safe place to walk is? Or which place is hazardous?
If your answer to any of these was ‘NO’ then Implementing Visual Management is the best solution.
When working in an environment with large machinery, pallets, racking, forklifts etc. warehouse safety becomes a priority. According to a survey conducted by HSE Experts, the estimated cost of injuries and ill health from current working conditions is more than 14.3 billion us dollars. OSHA statistics reveal that as many as 16 warehouse workers died while working at warehouses during the period 2015-2019.
Complying with safety norms, is a tough job that involves a high degree of attention and implementation. The bitter truth is that safety practices can be best implemented only once you know what safety challenges you are facing so you can resolve them. Trust me, it can be overwhelming. And, perhaps, you’ve experienced it already. In today’s world, litigation is a terrifying adversary for any business, thus every warehouse must exercise caution when it comes to health and safety.
What is Visual Management and what does warehouse visual management include?
Visual management is a type of communication that uses colour, images, and less words. If warehouse safety is prioritized, the above safety statistics can be regulated or reduced dramatically. One of the best ways to have control is implementing Visual Management.
Warehouse Visual Management includes employees/workers/visitors knowing the safety parameters, rules, regulations immediately. Warehouses are places of speed and efficiency, and anything that drags this down may seem counterproductive but visual management is dedicated to improve safety, quality and productivity of any warehouse. In any warehouse, minimizing risk and proper visibility contributes to safe working environment.
Visual management means taking proper precautions to establish a safe environment. In the end, all will agree that staying safe and healthy are key pillars in promoting or maintaining an enjoyable workplace.
What are the hazards in the Warehouse and how can Visual Management be useful?
The most common warehouse safety hazards are as follows
1] Heavy Equipment Accidents (Forklift & Pallets) – This heavy equipment’s can cause serious damage to nearby people and the property. OSHA’s most often cited danger in warehouse operations is the improper use of forklifts.
2] Docks – A worker crushed between forklift truck and loading dock can be the worst accident to ever happen in a warehouse.
3] Conveyors – They can cause serious injuries to workers by trapping them in machinery or causing them to be struck by falling objects.
4] Material Handling and Storage – Working in a warehouse with large goods puts a burden on your employees’ bodies, particularly their shoulders and backs. Also, improper storage can lead to further damage as people would fall or ignore aisle or even walk on forklift zone.
5] Work at Height – This is common in every warehouse. It should either be avoided or done with safer means.
6] Slips & Trips – These were the second biggest cause of fatal accidents at warehouse. Slips, stumbles, and falls account for the bulk of warehouse injuries. Slippery or uneven floors, as well as accumulations of garbage, residue, grease, or cords in walking areas, can all contribute to such events.
7] Chemical exposure – People have developed carcinogenic diseases as a result of improper equipment use and chemical storage. A number of warehouses store or employ hazardous substances in their operations. Accidental spills, however, cannot be avoided. The safety of warehouse workers may be endangered by chemical leaks and accidents.
8] Getting Hit by Falling Objects – Stacks of objects on shelves are always at risk of falling off at any time. Incompetent operations setup and human mistake are to blame for these types of injuries.
9] Fire Hazard – Ensuring the installation of emergency parameters can go a long way in making sure staff is safe.
10] Electrical Hazard – Electrical safety parameters is must for all workers to ensure theirs and others safety.
11] Improper use of PPE – This included workers wearing loose ppe or sometimes not wearing ppe at all.
12] First Aid Use – People lack knowledge in use of Basic first aid.
13] Emergency Preparedness – Warehouses lack emergency procedures. Consideration must be given to emergency procedures that should be established immediately.
All the above hazards can be effectively informed, instructed, trained by implementing visual management. The accurate and effective displays offer a mistake-proof atmosphere that encourages standard compliance with ease. It quantifies the path to targets for success. This project covers a wide range of visual resources, such as
Safety Signs and Safety Posters, Safety Informative Charts, Area Identification Boards, Informative Boards (KPI Boards, Performance White Boards etc.), Compliance Boards (Policies, Work Instructions, Standard Operating Procedure – SOP’S), Evacuation plans, Environment Safety Boards, Value Added Products like Floor Markings, Floor Tapes etc.
Visual Management is like a visual training that is instrumental in enabling employees/workers to be competent. A competent employee is equipped with all the relevant information and is fully aware of the hazards and the use of appropriate preventive measures. Through this a warehouse can measure its overall performance on safety, quality and productivity along with aligning your team towards same objectives.
Visual Management makes sure your employees/visitors don’t underestimate potential dangers and make mistake. Everyone wants to return home healthy and safe at the end of the day.