How Warehouses In Sudbury Can Remain Essential And Accountable During Coronavirus And Beyond

Press release from the Sudbury Chamber of Commerce:

September 10, 2020

If you have a warehouse-based business, you’re probably no stranger to health and safety regulations. In fact, logistics-based operations like warehouses are governed by some of the strictest and most stringent guidelines, even in the best of times. And as COVID-19 entered the picture, these guidelines have only increased, both in number and urgency.

It goes without saying that if you want to ensure your operations’ survival during the pandemic and its longevity long after, you need to run a warehouse that prioritizes health and safety more than ever — not just for the sake of satisfying regulations, but to also do your part in curtailing the spread of the coronavirus. Let’s take a closer look at the most important measures you can take.

Safety Is King

It definitely can’t be stressed enough that safety is of utmost importance in a warehouse (or anywhere, for that matter). For the most part, the regular ebb and flow of goods require proper handling to protect, in equal parts, their integrity and the very people that handle them. Large items, for instance, need to be approached in specific ways so as not to cause injury. And with COVID-19 running amok throughout the world, these measures now need to be reevaluated and likely reconfigured to also prevent contamination.

One of the most straightforward ways to do this is via the use of personal protective equipment (PPEs). Again, this is nothing new to warehouses whose personnel have always used injury-preventing gloves, vests, goggles, workboots, and the like. With the threat of a virus, however, there is now the need to expand these to include face masks, shields, and suits.

Of course, how people move around your warehouses also matters now more than ever. Social distancing has proven to be our most effective defense against COVID-19, and it’s crucial to properly implement it in your workplace, as well. This not only means ensuring that everyone stays at least six feet away from each other, but also staggering shifts, eliminating meetings, and the like. Regular temperature checks and other such protocols are now a must, as well.

Find Opportunities for Improvement

Yes, the changes to the way things are done demanded by this virus are tremendous and maybe even daunting to some. However, it’s undoubtedly a testament to your resiliency as a business when you see opportunities for continuous improvement even at this difficult time, as well. For one thing, there are some truly great ways in which you can improve your warehouse’s efficiency at this time and, by extension, reduce costs in the process.

Operationally, now is also a great time to update and upgrade your methods. As an example, look at your industrial control panels. In a nutshell, these pertain to the power and/or control circuits that essentially control your warehouse’s machinery. Depending on its application, industrial control panels are often mounted on a back or subpanel or even enclosed, and generally include neither the controlled equipment nor the main power.

Doubtless, industrial control panel design requires taking into account design specifications and other requirements, as well as preparing schematics. However, the design process can be very complex, which is why it’s a good idea to be properly guided from a design perspective as you make evaluations to ensure that safety requirements and regulatory standards are met.

Last but certainly not least, find ways to improve safety by using forklift nameplates that provide all the details and information your employees need. By using nameplates that spell everything out in plain English, you can ensure that the necessary info is being provided. A good nameplate will provide data such as weight and load information, parts and components information, and some basic information (serial number, model, brand, etc.).

Always Look to the Future

Finally, know that whatever improvements and changes you’re making because of COVID-19 will continue to serve your operations as lockdowns start to ease up and perhaps even as a deterrent in case a large-scale disruption such as this occurs in the future. For this reason, it’s essential to document the measures you’ve taken and even those you are yet to implement in your business continuity plan, and there’s no dearth of resources to guide you in doing so.

Indeed, there’s no doubt that logistics are essential at this difficult time and what’s coming after. But the fact is, your operations will only be as essential as the safety measures you take, as well. This is how we all move forward, so do your part.

Author: Bert Sims

About the Author:

Burt is a “safety guru”. As a former workplace safety consultant, it was his job to help manufacturing facilities prevent on-site accidents. For more information, you can visit his website at alertburt.com.

This press release was produced by the Sudbury Chamber of Commerce. The views expressed here are the author’s own.