All warehouses have the same basic function: to store goods and keep them accessible for sale or use. They are a crucial part of many business operations, allowing products to be picked, packed and shipped quickly and safely across the globe. And with the rise of internet shopping, many retailers use warehouse operations to fulfil a large amount of orders on a day-to-day basis.
As well as goods, they will also commonly be filled with machinery such as conveyor belts, vehicles (such as forklift trucks) and many high shelves packed with objects that could be in danger of falling. All of these factors make warehouses a high-risk place to work.
The many risks facing warehouse workers
A significant number of accidents in warehouses take place while the goods are being moved from one place to another.
Warehouse workers are also at risk of serious injury when goods are delivered or collected, as the hazards increase. For example, off-site delivery drivers may be unaware of accepted systems and processes, vehicles arriving on site may not meet certain safety standards and, whenever vehicles and pedestrians meet on a site, there is greater risk of an incident.
Other hazards faced by warehouse workers include:
- Manual handling - warehouse workers are particularly prone to bad backs, caused by lifting and moving goods by hand.
- Slips and trips – often because the floor is wet or is obstructed
- Working at height – including falls from vehicles
- Moving or falling objects – especially where goods are not stored safely
Your employer's duty of care
Different warehouses will have different purposes and processes, meaning the same safety information will not apply to all warehouses. For instance, a warehouse used to store hazardous substances clearly poses additional risks to its workers than one that doesn't. However, there are many health and safety measures that will apply to most large storage facilities, such as making sure all employees have received adequate training and ensuring all floors and traffic routes are free from tripping hazards, holes, and unnecessary slopes.
If you work in, visit or deliver to a warehouse, the site owner is legally obliged to implement these health and safety measures to make sure all users are protected from harm as much as possible.
However, if your employer does not take the appropriate action to help reduce the risk in the workplace and you are injured as a result, you may be entitled to claim compensation for your injuries.
Workplace accident solicitors you can trust
Thompsons' solicitors have decades' worth of experience helping employees who've been injured in workplace accidents make successful compensation claims. We know how difficult dealing with an injury can be and so approach each case with sensitivity and understanding.
To talk your case through with a solicitor specialising in workplace injuries today, call us on 0800 0891 331.
