How to keep your warehouse staff safe when they are working alone.

There are a number of risks associated with working in a warehouse and these become even more hazardous when lone working occurs in this workplace. Here we share the instances when lone working may happen in your warehouse, what the risks are and how to improve warehouse safety for your lone workers. 

When does lone working happen in your warehouse?

As with any working environment it is imperative that you prioritise the health & safety of your staff working alone in your warehouse. It is likely, due to the nature of tasks in a warehouse, that your staff won't always be alone, however it is important to identify the instances when they may be working on their own to ensuring they are adequately protected. 

Lone working may occur in your warehouse :

• During night shifts when fewer people are working
• When security guards are patrolling during non-business hours
• When conducting stock checks alone in a specific aisle or area
• When carrying out repairs or maintenance on machinery or equipment
• When picking orders in a certain area of the warehouse
• When driving a forklift to and from areas where no one else is working 

Recognising these scenarios, how often they occur and which workers are involved is the first step to ensuring your team are properly protected when they work alone. 

What are the risks of lone working in a warehouse?

Your warehouse operatives may face risk of injury from:

• Heavy lifting 
• Slips, trips or falls
• Operating or moving machinery 
• Falling objects
• Harmful substances

These hazards are even more dangerous for lone workers as there may not be anyone around to provide immediate assistance in the event of an emergency.

If an accident happens this is devastating for the lone worker involved, their colleagues and you, as their manager. Workplace accidents also have major cost implications for your business; you may have to cover sick leave, legal fees, fines or compensation. In addition to this, an accident which leads to an injury to one of your lone workers could severely damage your reputation and reduce workplace morale. 

How to improve warehouse safety for your lone workers

To improve warehouse safety for your lone workers you must:

• Conduct regular lone worker risk assessments
• Create a lone worker policy and update this regularly 
• Provide training for your lone workers 
• Ensure your warehouse has adequate lighting 
• Make sure all areas of your warehouse are organised, tidy and well maintained
• Provide personal protective equipment (PPE) where applicable 
• Implement a lone worker solution such as a lone worker device or lone worker app

It is vital that you prioritise the health & safety of those that work in your warehouse, especially when they are working alone. To do this you must recognise the instances when lone working occurs in your warehouse, conduct a thorough risk assessment, create or update your lone worker policy and implement the safety measures identified within these documents. Failure to do so could result in an injury to a member of staff, damaged reputation & reduced morale and significant financial costs to your organisation.