With the growing popularity of online shopping, warehousing workers are getting increasingly busy. And while overtime paychecks are welcome benefits, especially during these tough economic times, working for long hours also comes with its share drawbacks: employee exhaustion and vulnerability to injuries.
Like with any other workplace, warehouses have their share of occupational risks. From forklifts to conveyors and other moving objects, warehouse workers face a wide range of dangers. Here are some of the common warehouse injuries you need to be on the lookout for:
Slip and falls
Warehouse floors can get dangerously slippery if there is spillage or melting ice. This can pose serious danger to workers who are walking through as well as those who are operating forklifts and other machinery. The result, workers are likely to slip and fall resulting in serious injuries.
Poorly lit areas, loose cables and torn carpets can also pose serious slip and fall risks to warehouse workers.
Overexertion
According to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), overexertion is one of the leading causes of warehouse-related injuries. Overexertion occurs when a worker lifts, pushes, pulls or moves excessively heavy weights resulting in sprains, twists and back injuries among other potentially long-term effects.
Overexertion also happens when workers use improper equipment while performing their work. The result: Workers are likely to suffer from musculoskeletal disorders due to strains in the bones and joints.
Repetitive strain injuries
Most warehousing jobs require workers to perform a significant amount of repetitive tasks over a long period of time. Some of these tasks may put employees at risk of sustaining injuries due to repetitive stress. Injuries resulting from repetitive stress may include muscle strains, carpal tunnel as well as injuries to the joints.
Warehouse workers play an important role in supply chain management. However, just like any other occupation, warehouse workers are exposed to serious safety hazards. These are some of the injuries warehouse workers are likely to suffer on the job.