Sustainability is the new buzzword in industry and manufacturing. Worksites and warehouses worldwide are slowly adopting more eco-friendly practices and equipment. And this move towards sustainability is not only good for the environment. It’s food for worker safety, too.
Here are 5 reasons why sustainable solutions are transforming warehouse safety.
Reduced Risk of Toxic Spills and Contamination
The risk of toxic spills and resulting contamination of worksites has always plagued the industrial sector.
Hazardous chemicals and gases can find their way into the surrounding soil and bodies of water. Here, they can affect the quality and safety of groundwater and crops, as well as drinking water. These contaminants can also decrease the air quality for workers and people in nearby settlements.
However, the most immediate risk has always been the safety of workers on site. Chemical burns are fairly common in the workplace and typically require costly and often extensive medical treatment. Fortunately, sustainable materials and practices minimise the use of many hazardous substances.
This reduces the severity of workplace incidents, injury, and illness. As a result, it improves general warehouse safety, as well as the health and safety of surrounding communities.
Enhanced Equipment Safety Through Innovation
There have been numerous advancements in sustainable materials and technologies for warehouse equipment. The increased use of industrial automation also means that workers can operate certain types of heavy machinery remotely.
New equipment typically offers enhanced safety features that reduce the risks of workplace accidents and injuries. But even with the best equipment and safety measures in place, accidents can easily occur. And when they do, the right of workers to claim compensation remains.
The use of new sustainable technologies does not reduce their right to compensation.
That’s why there are legal professionals who are dedicated to assisting with claims for workplace injury. Should you or a loved one experience a worksite accident with a forklift, consulting a forklift accident lawyer ensures proper handling of legal and compensation matters.
Improved Air Quality with Eco-Friendly Practices
The industrial sector has been tasked with introducing sustainability and eco-friendly practices, worldwide. And although the exact rules may differ from one region to the next, everyone is now faced with new standards for air quality.
Sustainable solutions often support this need for improved air quality.
For example, electric forklifts reduce potentially harmful emissions. And renewable energy sources also reduce the need for diesel-driven generators on worksites. Indeed, there are several reasons why small-to-medium enterprises should explore renewable energy sources.
Sustainability makes legal compliance with air quality guidelines much easier. And even more importantly, the improved air quality improves the physical and mental well-being of everyone on site.
The impact of better air quality on industrial workforce health and overall safety cannot be denied. It leads to increased productivity, improved job satisfaction, and of course, fewer respiratory illnesses. And less sickness means lower absenteeism, which is always good news for any business.
Streamlined Safety Training with Modern Tools
Warehouse safety does not rely on equipment alone. Regular safety training is essential for a safer and healthier working environment. However, the success of these training programs hinges on their presentation. This is what determines the workers’ retention of this crucial safety information.
These training strategies have also undergone a major shift in recent years. Thanks to the integration of digital tools (like VR), safety training programs are sustainability-focused and offer enhanced training techniques.
Virtual reality simulators have even been approved by the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) for advanced operator training courses. This is highly significant because IPAF training is important for safety training in more dangerous occupations.
These sustainable and innovative tools make safety training more engaging. And the more engaged the workers are, the more they will retain what they have learned in these training sessions.
Cost Savings and Risk Mitigation Over Time
Sustainable solutions are often more economical long-term than traditional methods. But the cost savings are also due to these solutions’ inherent risk mitigation. By improving safety standards, there are fewer accidents and illnesses, which means less downtime and less legal risk.
Fewer accidents and illnesses, less downtime and legal costs, and improved health? It’s a win-win for businesses and the workforce. But is there a correlation between advanced equipment and technologies, and risk mitigation? Statistics appear to support it.
The latest available data (at the time of writing) from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for workplace injury and illness in private industry showed a significant drop in reported cases. Respiratory illnesses, in particular, decreased by 72.6 percent.
Could this be because of the increased adoption of sustainable solutions? Although several reasons may be behind the drop in work-related injury and illness, we think sustainable solutions with improved safety are a key factor.
