Stores / Warehouse

Risk of:

• Burns.
• Dermatitis.
• Fire.
• Explosion.

Possible causes:

• Contact with fuel or battery acids.
• Inadequate ventilation in battery charging area leading to hydrogen gas build up.
• Failure to wear PPE.

Risk of:

• Burns.
• Electric shock.
• Death.
• Fire.

Possible causes:

• Faulty equipment.
• No or poor maintenance of equipment.
• Improper use of equipment.
• Unprotected fuse-boards.
• Contact of lift truck with electrical sockets or fuse boards.

Risk of:

• Crush.
• Amputation.
• Death.

Possible causes:

• Over-ridden interlocks e.g. on waste compacters.

Risk of:

• Pain in neck, back or arms.
• Musculoskeletal disorders such as carpel tunnel syndrome.

Possible causes:

• Awkward postures.
• Poor workstation / computer set up.

Risk of:

• Minor injuries such as cuts and bruises to serious injury even death.

Possible causes:

• Lack of space resulting in goods falling from shelf.
• Poorly loaded material falling from vehicle.
• Damaged pallets.
• Unsafe system of stacking.
• Incorrect type of pallet for racking system.

Risk of:

• Smoke inhalation.
• Burns.
• Death.

Possible causes:

• Overloaded sockets or extension leads.
• Faulty equipment.
• No or poor maintenance of equipment.
• Blocked or obstructed fire exits.
• Accumulation of rubbish.
• Escape routes not clearly marked.
• Goods stored too close to lights.

Risk of:

• Serious injury such as broken limbs, crush injuries and even death.

Possible causes:

• Fall from loading / unloading area due to lack of edge protection.
• Being hit by falling objects due to improperly loaded vehicles.
• Being hit by a vehicle.
• Unsafe method of retrieving goods.
• Premature vehicle departure resulting in forklift or person falling off edge.

Risk of:

• Serious injuries such as crush injuries, broken bones or death.

Possible causes:

• Goods falling off lift truck.
• People, property or equipment being struck or run over by truck.
• Over turn of truck due to uneven surfaces.
• No key control.
• Lack of driver training.
• Poor maintenance of equipment.

Risk of:

• Back injury, sprains and strains.

Possible causes:

• Lack of mechanical handling equipment.
• Improper lifting technique or overexertion.

Risk of:

• Hearing loss or damage.
• Physiological effects.
• Work related stress.
• Increased risk of accidents.

Possible causes:

• Exposure to noisy equipment such as lift trucks, compactors or compressors.

Risk of:

• Serious injury due to being hit by falling objects.
• Damage to goods.

Possible causes:

• No system for inspection and removal of damaged pallets.
• Goods not securely packaged and arranged on the pallet.

Risk of:

• Serious physical injury.
• Death.
• Property and goods damage.

Possible causes:

• Racking collapse due to overloading or collision of vehicle with racking.
• Falling objects.
• Unsafe method of stacking, storing and retrieving goods.
• No racking protection in place.
• Safe Working Load (SWL) for racking not known and displayed.

Risk of:

• Bruises, trapped hands or feet.
• Musculoskeletal disorders.
• Serious injuries even death.

Possible causes:

• Overloading or overbalancing of cages.
• Not loading and unloading on level ground.
• No brakes or handles on cage.
• No system for removal or reporting of faulty cages.
• Repetitive loading and unloading of cages.
• Pushing or pulling heavy cages.
• Roll cage falling off lorry.
• Trapping hand between wall and cage.

Risk of:

• Minor injuries such as cuts to major injuries such as broken bones, concussion and even death.

Possible causes:

• Uneven floors.
• Obstructed floors, surfaces or aisles.
• Trailing leads or cables.
• Poor housekeeping.
• Wet or contaminated floors due to spilt goods, stretch wrapping or leaks.
• Trips due to discarded packaging, strapping or pallets.
• Poor lighting.
• Inappropriate footwear.

Risk of:

• Serious physical injury even death.
• Property damage.

Possible causes:

• Person, vehicle or property being hit by delivery vehicle or forklift truck.
• No traffic management system.
• Lack of driver training.
• Poor workplace set up.
• Reversing vehicles.
• Inadequate separation of people and vehicles.
• Unauthorised drivers.
• No designated pedestrian routes.
• No restricted access to area.
• Loss of vehicle control e.g. due to uneven surfaces.

Risk of:

• Minor injuries such as bruises and cuts to major injuries such as concussion, broken limbs and death.

Possible causes:

• Lack of proper access equipment to goods stored at height.
• Working on mezzanine floors with no edge protection.
• Improper use of equipment such as standing on the forks of a lift truck in order to access goods.
• Incorrect or unsuitable equipment used for the job.
• Climbing racking to access goods.

For further information on related controls click here.