Issue written reprimands and warnings after one or two verbal warnings for the same safety issue. If your crew builds or breaks down pallet loads manually, you could be wasting time and risking serious back injuries. Just one back injury claim this year could cost your firm ten times more in direct and indirect costs than the purchase of modern equipment and safety training. Modern equipment can mean better productivity, fewer lost days, fewer long term injuries and lower insurance premiums. Products such as pallet pal level loaders, lift tables and high lift pallet jacks have been engineered to lift, move, maneuver, position, and transfer and reach - all without physical wear and tear on your employees.
Some employers have too much trust in the manufacturer or distributor of equipment they purchase.
I've had supervisors tell me that as long as you don't disable machine guards when the equipment came from the manufacturer or seller, you don't need to worry if you are in compliance with guarding regulations. This thinking is wrong for at least two reasons. First of all, machine guards, like all equipment, needs to be maintained properly. The modern warehouse has all sorts of equipment to elevate its workers. Aerial Work Platforms, Bucket Trucks, Man-Lifts and Order Pickers are but a few.