June - Modern Materials Handling

WAREHOUSE / DCOSHA 1910.95 requires employersto provide hearing protection toworkers who are exposed to noisewith an 8-hour time weight averageof 85 decibels on an A scale (dbA).According to OSHA, if a given hazardcan’t be eliminated, it must be controlled.So, you’ll also need to be familiarwith OSHA’s Personal ProtectiveEquipment standard for those instanceswhere your company cannot eliminateor engineer out the hazards.This standard requires employersto determine what personal protectiveequipment (PPE) is necessary basedon workers’ specific activities. Todo this, you’ll need to conduct a riskassessment of each job.Luckily, plenty of personal protectiveequipment is available to meet any need.But that PPE can only protectemployees when it’s the rightgear for the particular task andit’s worn correctly at all times.PPE worn for situationsother than those intended bythe manufacturer can actuallycreate hazards whenworn inappropriately or caredfor improperly.Common hazards in distributioncenters include:• Cuts and abrasions• Strains and sprains• Falls from heights• Excessive noise• Electrical work• Extreme temperaturesCuts and abrasionsWorkers need appropriate gloves for suchcommon tasks as cutting boxes or othermaterials, pallet handling and pickingproduct. Glove materials must be sturdyenough to provide protection for the specifictask to gloves that are too small or toolarge can reduce w orkers’ dexterity andcontribute to fatigue. This leaves workersvulnerable to repetitive stress injuries,reduced productivity and seemingly unrelatedinjuries like dropping heavy objectson themselves or others.Strains and sprainsLow-back strains continue to be theleading cause of lost-time occupationalinjuries. There are no substitutes forteaching and enforcing proper liftingtechniques.If your company authorizes theuse of back belts, be aware that severallarge studies conducted by theNational Institute for OccupationalSafety and Health (NIOSH) haveshown they can cause back musclesto atrophy if worn tightly for prolongedperiods, making the wearer more proneto injury. They may also impart a false6 tips for selecting the right gear Know and follow the applicable standards. Analyze your hazards so you can choose the right gear for each specifictask. Enlist the help of qualified vendors, especially with highly technical areaslike fall protection and electrical safety. Have workers field-test gear during the selection process to increasecompliance. Revisit your personal protective equipment selections whenever workingconditions change. Consider best-practices gear like vests to make pedestrians visible, etc.When outfitting workers forrefrigerated or frozen-storage areas,you should focus on warmth whilelimiting bulk.sense of confidence. Always seek medicaladvice when considering the useof back belts.Falls from heightsWorking at height is a common distributionactivity for servicing equipment,clearing jams and operating order pickers.According to OSHA 1910 Subpart34 J UNE 2009 / MODERN MATERIALS HANDLING mmh.com