This is a story from Wayne Burgess, a self-employed Electrician.

"A maintenance man was working on a 480 volt roof top air conditioning unit at an industrial complex. The maintenance man decided that this job was more than he could handle. So, he called the company that I worked for and requested a technician. We sent an electrician with over 15 years of experience to the job site. The electrician after reaching the roof, realized he had left his tester in the truck.  Rather than go back to the truck to get the tester, he yelled to the maintenance man to ask if the breaker for the unit had been shut off. He replied "yea it's off, you're all set." The electrician put his hand behind the electrical attachment point to check connections, the 480 volts from the unit that was still on burnt his hand severely. He was taken to the hospital where he underwent surgery to try to repair his hand. The Electrical Company had a very strict safety policy in place, the electrician not only was injured that day, but he also lost his job!

 Remember this story the next time you don't want to take 20 minutes to walk down and get your tester.

Here is a classic example of why people need to use Lockout/ Tagout. This situation could have been avoided a few different ways. First, test it for power...wait, it was downstairs.  Second, check the breaker yourself. Then you would know for sure that the correct breaker had been turned off. Third, use the OSHA Lockout/ Tagout procedures. Create a safer working environment.

Thanks to Wayne for sharing this story with us. I think everyone can apply these same practices to many different situations. Remember, it's your life. Safety Matters. Take the time. It could save your life. 

No matter how neat and orderly your warehouse may appear, the trained safety eye can see that it is rife with opportunities for accidents and injuries.

 For example, stacking materials improperly or lack of forklift experience could lead to injuries and fines. You don't know what you don't know. Proper training is key in anywork place to prevent hazards.

A warehouse poses many different jobs and tasks that you need to be prepared for any potential accident or injury. Warehouse operations are governed by numerous OSHA standards including rules for walking and working surfaces, regulations governing the selection and use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and material handling and storage rules.

Here are some basic tips to safety:

--Make safety a priority in everything you do while working in the warehouse.
--Wear appropriate PPE, such as gloves, safety shoes, eye protection, and hard hats.
--Keep alert to hazards, and correct or report them when you see them.
--Pay attention to warning signs and signals-and obey them.
--Watch where you're going and focus on what you're doing.
--Pay attention to what others are doing as well. Especially keep an eye out for forklifts and other hazardous equipment.
--Stack and store materials properly so they're stable, secure, and don't create any kind of hazard-including a fire hazard.

I feel that one of the issues that indirectly affects safety in the warehouse environment is good housekeeping. Here is a list of good rules to follow:

--Don't leave items in aisles, on the floor, or perched insecurely on a surface.
--Clean up all spills immediately.
--Don't block sprinklers, fire exits, or fire extinguishers.
--Put items in their assigned places immediately rather than moving them from one stopping point to another.
--Don't leave box cutters or other sharp tools lying around. Retract their blades into the handles if the tool's design permits it.
--Keep cords and wires off the floor.
--Report loose or damaged flooring or other tripping hazards you can't fix.
--Dispose of all trash immediately in proper containers.

If you follow some of these simple guidelines you will create a safer workplace for everyone.