After a long, busy winter it’s likely that your distribution center may have been impacted by many seasonal elements. This means that as spring rolls around, it’s the perfect time to consider what areas may need to be cleaned, modified, or fixed. By conducting this routine check of your building, you’ll be prepared for the busy spring and summer months ahead, as well as be helping to save your company both time and money in the long run!
But as you plan this maintenance, a thorough review of your facility’s fall protection systems will also be necessary. According to OSHA, workers must be protected from falls both in and on your distribution center, and that pertains to maintenance crews assessing and fixing any wintertime damages.
In today's guide, we dig deep into what a fall protection review entails and why routine maintenance in the spring is the best approach for your facility.
A distribution center, like most warehouses, is prone to worker fall hazards. These fall hazards lead to injuries, attract OSHA penalties, and reduce productivity if left unchecked.
During the winter season, things are busy in distribution centers. Many goods are moving through, and the traffic is heavier than usual. That coupled with the pounding of winter weather all weaken fall protection mechanisms and other elements of your facility.
Therefore, safety managers in distribution centers will have to pay particular attention to certain areas during a spring fall protection review that may suffer from the wear and tear of the busy winter season.
Generally, OSHA stipulates that employers must provide fall protection systems to workers working on surfaces with unprotected edges or sides that are 4 feet or more. Depending on where work is being done, this regulation recommends employers use roof safety systems like guardrails, and/or personal fall protection systems to protect workers.
Below are specific areas to review for fall protection during springtime.
The rooftop of a distribution center is the area most likely to be affected by the weather associated with winter. Snow and debris build up, as well as other damages can occur, affecting not just any installed rooftop fall protection, but the roof’s elements and membrane themselves.
On a distribution center’s rooftop, the key areas of concern are:
1.) The Leading Edge
The leading edge of a rooftop is the most dangerous area when it comes to fall hazards, as it's typically the largest hazard in size, as well as represents the longest potential fall in height. Any maintenance crews on a distribution center’s rooftop should be protected from leading edge falls with the use of OSHA-compliant rooftop fall protection like guardrails or horizontal lifelines.
2.) Skylights
Another serious fall danger to rooftop maintenance crews are any obscured skylights on the roof. Skylights are a common feature on modern distribution center rooftops and can offer free illumination inside the building. But they can also be a fall risk to roof workers when not properly protected. Even more so, if they are not easy to recognize due to being covered with debris or other elements as a result of harsh winter weather. Rooftop fall protection devices like skylight screens should be installed that are capable of supporting a worker’s weight in the event they may step on top of one as they work.
3.) Roof Holes
Similar to skylights, roof holes are a leading cause of slips and trips on industrial rooftops. These holes can occur during the winter as the weather batters down on the roof, and any crews on the rooftop must be protected from falling into them before they begin performing their duties. Setting up roof safety systems like warning lines and guardrails around any holes in the roof will keep workers aware of their presence, and provide protection against falling into them.
While not as exposed to the elements as the rooftop of your distribution center, the areas inside may also have been subjected to a significant degree of wear and tear during the winter season due to increased holiday activity.
Inside a distribution center, here are the top areas of concern for falls:
Loading Docks
Loading docks can be some of the busiest places within a distribution center, and employers should have loading dock safety railings installed to ensure that employees working in these areas of the facility are protected from falls.
Wear and tear on safety equipment in this area of a distribution center is not unlikely- especially after the busy months of production over the winter season. Maintaining loading dock safety railings to stay up to OSHA standards is an easy way to save your company both time and money.
Mezzanines and Catwalks
Other critical areas that safety managers need to review are mezzanines and catwalks. These elevated platforms are typically 4 feet or higher above lower levels, meaning they must be protected from falls according to OHSA by the proper fall protection systems.
These also represent another set of areas that could be affected by debris build up and wear and tear. Routine cleaning is important to keep the environment as safe as possible for employees.
Stairways
Finally, a distribution center’s stairways can also be one of the most dangerous areas within the facility, if not properly maintained and protected with safety systems. Debris and water on stairs can increase the risk of falls, so these areas must be a focus of any indoor maintenance projects. But, even without the build up of winter associated elements, workers can accidentally fall into a stairway from an elevated area during the course of their duties.
To keep employees safe in these high risk areas, a combination of guardrails and safety gates should be installed. These fall protection systems protect against falls, but also allow access to the stairs when necessary.
There are many places in and around a distribution center that may need to be kept in mind come your springtime fall protection review and routine maintenance. Whether they’ve been affected by the harsh elements of the winter weather or by the busyness that the season also brings, maintaining your facility will greatly benefit your productivity in the long run.
With so many things to inspect, from outside to inside, like your roof safety systems or your loading dock safety railings, it's always a good idea to have experts with you along the way. Contact us today to get in touch with our fall protection experts. We are here to help you make sure your fall protection systems are working the way they should be so the most important part of your operations (your employees) are kept safe through every season!
