From time to time we provide various safety tips, such as:

Tip-1: Equipment

Before contacting your favourite materials handling supplier, gather as much information about the task for which the equipment is going to be used.
Here's a check list:

Type of product to be moved, raised, rotated, etc.
Heights to lift or lower.
Distances to be moved.
Weights and dimensions of product load.
Finished pallet weight and overall height.
Frequency of lifts and movements.
Power requirements: air / hydraulic / electric (single or 3 phase) / hand / foot / battery.
Special requirements: stainless / galvanized / powdercoated / epoxy painted / zinc plated
Working conditions: dry / dusty / wet / bad floor / ramps / door widths.

Tip-2: Safety Audit

If you are considering a Safety Audit, what to look for, and how to turn the findings into meaningful processes and equipment considerations.

A Safety Audit should be the first step in identifying how current processes work – or more importantly don’t work. It is also an opportunity to gather the thoughts of the operators - even more importantly to gather their true thoughts, which are better captured by an outside person, who promises to keep the individuals identity a secret.

An outsider can also see the ‘bigger picture’, whereas staff can get bogged down in the minutiae. An outsider also usually has a greater number of company visits to his or her name, and can easily identify where similar problems have occurred and how they have been overcome.

Tip-3: Product Ownership

If you are the person responsible for recommending or actually purchasing materials handling equipment, but you are not the person who is going to use it, then take this advice from a long time rep.

Talk with every person likely to use the new equipment. Explain in detail, just how the proposed equipment is going to work and how it will save effort, injuries, time, etc. Then, if at all possible, either arrange with the supplier for the person/s concerned to visit the supplier to test the equipment, or alternatively go to a site where it is already installed, or more preferably – where practicable – to get the equipment on site for a demo or trial.

To a Distributor who is only concerned with making a sale, there is no loss of conscience about your hard earned money, even though you have the equipment sitting in a corner for evermore.

Tip-4: Buying second hand products

When buying second hand products, remember the golden rule. If I am buying ‘as is’ or ‘as traded’, there is no guarantee that a) it will work properly and safely or b) continue to do so for any length of time after purchase. Buyer beware. A set of hydraulic seals for a pallet truck can easily set you back around $200, making a cheap purchase a dear one.

If you are buying as re-furbished, then you must find out what re-furbishments have been done to the equipment, then determine if any of the major parts which have not been re-furbished, are likely to fail, given the age and use of the machine (if it can be determined). Then weigh up the benefit of the cheaper price with no warranty and possible parts and labour repair costs, plus shipping both ways, against the new price with a warranty and an expectation of a service life without breakdowns.

Ensure you know the warranty details. Are you getting Parts and Labour or just labour? Will you have to ship the product back to the supplier at your expense (this is the usual case) or will you cop both shipment and return costs? If the warranty states ‘or replacement product’, is that product a similar product of similar age, or is it to be replaced with a new product within the allotted time?

Tip-5: Line marking for safety

A can of yellow line marking paint, could be the best investment you will ever make, when it comes to keeping personnel safe in a warehouse or manufacturing facility.

Guess who comes off worse when a truck or a fork lift comes in contact with a person? The more you can separate them, the safer your personnel will be.

Get a plan of your warehouse or manufacturing area, and see if you can devise a system where there is never any possibility of personnel meeting up with heavy moving vehicles, then you have achieved the ultimate goal. I have seen it done with great effect. On one side of the yellow line – fork lifts operate, on the other – operators only. Sometimes there has to be a buffer zone, where both can operate, but these zones are highly sign posted and visible.

A marked out walkway for pedestrians only. A pedestrian crossing with lights. Safety signage. All contribute to a safe working environment. Plan for safety! No lines or old worn out lines are no defence when a new operator says that he or she didn’t know they had to be within the pedestrian zone, when there was no marking to indicate that they were a walking accident waiting to happen.

Tip-6: Price of equipment

"You get what you pay for" is an adage which has become difficult to comprehend, as competition has increased exponentially. At one time, the choice between expensive and well made, and cheap and poor quality was more obvious. Today, our choices are endless.

Chinese products were mostly copies, and of dubious quality. Some of these products still exist, but currently much more is of serviceable to high quality. How is the end user to know?

For importers and re-sellers a dilemma exists. Buy cheap, sell cheap = price driven. Or: buy dear, sell dear = quality driven.
The client is looking for either serviceable quality at a reasonable price, or best quality at a premium price.

A materials handling supplier has to make a choice as to where they sit in the market. CWS has taken the view that better than average quality -- with a fair price tag -- is the key. Too expensive and most clients will baulk. Too cheap and product failures will cause a loss of confidence and business. We have seen companies sell shoddy products just to make a sale, only later to be shunned by their customers when a breakdown occurs and no responsibility is taken by the seller, citing, "You knew it was cheap, what do you expect?"

Trust is earned by repeated good advice and good product offerings. Our experience in the materials handling business has enabled us to cement many thousands of long term relationships with companies that we are proud to be associated with.

Safety Message

Workplace Safety. A Message from Work Safe

Below are some things to think about in your workplace:

What are the hazards in your workplace? Employer / employee consultation is essential.
Is the workplace neat and tidy, clear of obstructions and fire hazards?
What is being done to reduce the risks of slips, trips and falls. Are staff wearing suitable footwear? Are steps well lit?
Is appropriate protective clothing and equipment provided?
Have the risks of falls from height been controlled?
Are physical barriers and guards in use to separate people from operating equipment such as conveyors, compacters, saws, forklifts or other vehicles?
Are forklift drivers licensed?
Are trolleys and other mechanical aids available to prevent manual handling injuries?
Can your workplace be safely evacuated from all exits in the event of an emergency? Are fire suppression measures adequate?
Are chemicals appropriately used and stored?
Are storage racks suitable for the items held?
Is electrical equipment tagged and tested?
Are refreshment and toilet facilities adequate and clean?
Are you actively supporting any injured workers’ early and sustainable return to work?
Is an “If you are injured” poster displayed?

SNIPPETS:

It is the employers responsibility to ensure a safe working environment.
We should all be pre-emptive in identifying potential hazards, before they become the cause of accidents and or injuries. Fixing problems before they occur shows you care.
Workers are most likely to know the problems. Just take the time to ask!
The cost of an injury to the business is calculable. The cost to a family is beyond money.
The cost of safety is minuscule compared to the cost of an accident.
Do you have investments? Investing in safety will give the best return.