• Home
  • Energy
  • Sustainability
  • Climate Change
    • Eco Editorial
  • Environment
    • Environmental Issues
      • Environmental Pollution
      • Global Warming
      • Population Explosion
      • Renewable Energy
      • Species Extinction
      • Sustainable Management of Resources
    • Animals
    • Pollution
    • Environmental Policy
  • Green Technology
    • Green Tips
  • Contact Us
  • Home
  • Energy
  • Sustainability
  • Climate Change
    • Eco Editorial
  • Environment
    • Environmental Issues
      • Environmental Pollution
      • Global Warming
      • Population Explosion
      • Renewable Energy
      • Species Extinction
      • Sustainable Management of Resources
    • Animals
    • Pollution
    • Environmental Policy
  • Green Technology
    • Green Tips
  • Contact Us
Here are 4 exposure concerns you need to be cautious of in large distribution centers
May 27, 2018

warehouse

Amazon. Target. Nike. These big-name brands all have significant name recognition and a massive audience of loyal customers. There’s another thing they have in common — they are retailers turned e-tailers that have been leaders in the transition from the traditional brick-and-mortar shopping experience to the custom, tailored world of online transactions.

Supporting this revolution has required these major companies, and others like them, to build huge distributions centers at key locations around the United States.

How huge is huge, exactly? Amazon and other big retailers regularly build warehouses topping one million square feet, a size that would have been unheard of less than a decade ago.

There’s no sign this trend is slowing down anytime soon — the Urban Land Institute’s Emerging Trends Report for 2018 listed fulfillment centers and warehouses as their top two picks for sectors with investment potential.

Online shopping isn’t going anywhere; in fact, it’s likely that major retailers will do even more in years to come to make the process faster, easier and even more convenient, and thus require ever-more storage and distribution near major metro areas.

But what do large distribution centers mean for employee safety and exposure concerns? With more than 145,000 people working in over 7,000 facilities, the fatal injury rate for the warehousing industry is higher than the national average for all industries.

With increased size comes a higher volume of opportunities for problems to happen — more chemicals and substances, more heavy machinery, greater potential for chaos. To help you understand these types of manufacturing liability, we’ve identified four exposure concerns you need to be aware of in large distribution centers.

  1. Improper chemical storage

Large warehouses use tens of thousands of chemicals every day. Unfortunately, they’re not always properly stored, handled or labeled. Workers suffer more than 190,000 illnesses and 50,000 deaths related to chemical exposures annually.

Workplace chemical exposures are known to cause cancers and other lung, kidney, skin, heart, stomach, brain, nerve and reproductive disease. On-site storage and usage of hazardous materials can result in soil or groundwater contamination if a warehouse improperly stores or disposes of them. Similarly, chemical burns are also possible if hazardous materials spill.

In order to educate employees on safe handling best practices, every large manufacturing center should maintain a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for each chemical and hold employees accountable for following the proper instructions. Managers should also train employees on proper storage techniques, how to clean up spills and how to properly dispose of used materials. 

  1. Forklift punctures According to OSHA, about 100 employees are killed and 95,000 injured every year due to forklift-related incidents.

Common dangers include speeding and slipping, crushing or hitting pedestrians, unstable, overloaded machines and operating in a poorly ventilated area.

Forklifts are certainly dangerous when misused, but they can also do severe damage if they accidentally puncture containers holding hazardous chemicals or other controlled substances.

While the first step in a spill response is to identify the spilled material, it’s not always as easy as reading a label. If a forklift damages a lower section of shelving, it could start a domino effect and cause higher sections to fall (resulting in even more damage and spillage).

How can distribution center managers minimize forklift puncture risks?

First, drivers should wear seatbelts and stay below 5 mph (or slower on slippery surfaces or congested areas). It’s also crucial that facilities maintain safe clearances in areas where forklifts operate — especially in taller warehouses.

It’s also incredibly important that all chemicals be adequately labeled so workers can identify spills to determine how to escape or clean an accident safely.

  1. Charging station fires Since large batteries power forklifts and other handling equipment, most warehouses use designated charging stations to efficiently swap depleted batteries for fully-charged ones. These batteries are powerful, though, and can vent gases, leak or even explode if mismanaged.

The electrolytes found in these batteries have large volumes of sulfuric acid, which can cause chemical burns on contact with skin. Additionally, during the charging process, batteries emit hydrogen gas that can cause flames or explosions if it is allowed to build to excessive levels. A battery can also short circuit if a worker improperly touches them — causing serious electrical burns and increasing risk of explosion.

That’s why it’s crucial that operators be trained in all battery changing procedures — such as positioning the forklift correctly and applying brakes. Facility managers should also make sure they’re providing proper personal protective equipment (like rubber gloves and eyewear) and locating a nearby fire extinguisher and eyewash station.

  1. Chemical transportation spills

Most manufacturing processes involve some sort of chemical transportation. Whether it’s a company bringing in raw materials or delivering their product, or a third party hired to dispose of waste, chemical transportation of any kind creates a wide range of exposures.

Hazardous materials traffic in the U.S. now exceeds 800,000 shipments per day and results in more than 3.1 billion tons of hazardous materials annually. In fact, crashes involving hazardous material shipments have a societal cost impact of slightly more than $1 billion a year.

A transportation situation that results in an environmental hazard is, for most businesses, uncommon. But every company needs to be prepared for such an event. A great way to minimize and prevent spills is to only use chemicals in experiments that you truly need for the desired results. The safety experts also recommend just transporting chemicals in and out that need to be used within a reasonable period of time and practicing great caution when transferring liquids from one container to another.

Know your exposure risks.

Whether you’re a manufacturing manager, line worker, custodian or anywhere in between, the best way to ensure your own safety and the safety of others is to follow clear safety guidelines. If you work for a distribution center or manufacturing facility that doesn’t have a clear set of exposure regulations, it’s time to start the conversation.

Share

Other Stories

Joanne Moss

Leave a reply


Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

  • Recent Posts

    • The Environmental Impact Of Biomedical Waste And How To Reduce It
    • What Are the Most Eco-Friendly Types of Water Filters?
    • The Top 7 Eco-Friendly Kitchen Cabinet Picks For 2023
    • How To Sustain A Carbon-Neutral Lifestyle
    • Sustainable Fishing Methods to Fish More Responsibly
  • Categories

    • Animals
    • Climate Change
    • Eco Editorial
    • Energy
    • Environment
    • Environmental Policy
    • Green Food
    • Green Technology
    • Green Tips
    • Green Travel
    • Infographics
    • Other Stories
    • Pollution
    • Recycle
    • Sustainability
    • Toxics
    • Uncategorized
  • Archives

    • March 2023
    • February 2023
    • January 2023
    • December 2022
    • November 2022
    • October 2022
    • September 2022
    • August 2022
    • July 2022
    • June 2022
    • May 2022
    • April 2022
    • March 2022
    • February 2022
    • January 2022
    • December 2021
    • November 2021
    • October 2021
    • September 2021
    • August 2021
    • July 2021
    • June 2021
    • May 2021
    • April 2021
    • March 2021
    • February 2021
    • January 2021
    • December 2020
    • November 2020
    • October 2020
    • September 2020
    • August 2020
    • July 2020
    • June 2020
    • May 2020
    • April 2020
    • March 2020
    • February 2020
    • January 2020
    • December 2019
    • November 2019
    • October 2019
    • September 2019
    • August 2019
    • July 2019
    • June 2019
    • May 2019
    • April 2019
    • March 2019
    • February 2019
    • January 2019
    • December 2018
    • November 2018
    • October 2018
    • September 2018
    • August 2018
    • July 2018
    • June 2018
    • May 2018
    • April 2018
    • March 2018
    • February 2018
    • January 2018
    • December 2017
    • November 2017
    • October 2017
    • September 2017
    • August 2017
    • July 2017
    • June 2017
    • May 2017
    • April 2017
    • March 2017
    • February 2017
    • January 2017
    • December 2016
    • November 2016
    • October 2016
    • September 2016
    • August 2016
    • July 2016
    • June 2016
    • May 2014
    • March 2014
    • February 2014
    • January 2014
    • December 2013
    • November 2013
    • October 2013
    • September 2013
    • August 2013
    • July 2013
    • June 2013
    • May 2011



Home | About | Advertise With Us | Bike The Netherlands | Current Environmental Issues | Eco Editorial | Contact