warehouse workers

5 Warehouse Safety Hazards That Often Lead to Work Injuries

August 9, 2019 By James Hoffmann Leave a Comment

Work injuries often take place in jobs that require physical activity, heavy lifting or involve heavy machinery and products.

Construction sites, warehouses, mines or harbors are such places where employees often suffer accidents or even lose their life when safety measures are not followed.

Warehouses are part of almost any business on the market since physical products and goods still dominate the trading world. Many people who work in warehouses don’t get to use proper safety equipment or even be covered by an insurance company in case something happens. It is obvious that such jobs require extra attention to safety. Moreover, employers should remind workers of the safety measures they should always keep in mind in a warehouse.

If you work in a warehouse, take notice of the safety measures your employer has implemented. If you see anything that doesn’t seem to fit regulations, talk to your manager or the syndicate. If you get injured, then it’s best to get in touch with a St. Louis workers’ compensation lawyer to ensure your legal rights are protected.

Forklift-Related Accidents

By far, the most common cause of injury for warehouse workers is a forklift accident. A wrong estimate in the weight the forklift can carry, plus negligence of the employee or the forklift operator can easily lead to serious injuries and even death if the forklift falls or overturns. Other accidents may involve falling heavy objects and boxes or being run over by the forklift. Proper training is absolutely necessary for anyone operating a forklift for the first time.

Docks

Loading docks are situated high from the ground and often don’t have a railing or proper safety barriers installed. Workers can fall from the docs or get hit by other falling object and even loading vehicles. Proper training, again, can save lives and avoid major injury. Efficient communication between employees and supervisors is also crucial for safety.

Hazardous Materials

Sometimes, injuries in warehouses are caused by the nature of the stored materials. Many warehouses are used to store hazardous materials, and improper handling can lead to poisoning, fires, chemical burns, asphyxiation, etc. Workers handling dangerous substances should always wear protective gear and follow protocols closely.

Falls and Slips

A broad category of injury causes not only in warehouses but in any work environment, are slips and falls. Wet floors, inadequate equipment, spilled liquids and improper cleaning at the workplace can result in serious slips. Falls can occur from high places, often resulting in fatalities, as warehouses are typically vast spaces with people operating on multiple levels above ground.

Long-Term Injury Due to Repetitive Movements

A more uncommon type of injury caused by working in a warehouse is long-term straining due to repetitive movements. Workers may suffer from back, neck and joint pain if the repetitive movements they do are not following rules of ergonomics. Employees should notify their supervisors in case they observe increasing pain over time.

If you work in a warehouse, be sure to follow the rulebook and ask for proper training. In case something happens, an employee is generally entitled to workers compensation. Get in touch with a St. Louis work injury lawyer as soon as possible. Give us a call 24/7 at (314) 361-4300 for a FREE case evaluation.

5 Dangers Faced By Warehouse Workers

October 28, 2018 By James Hoffmann Leave a Comment

Report a work injury immediately to your employer and document everything yourself about the injury.

One of the issues that have been in the news lately is the dangers faced by Amazon fulfillment center workers. What a St. Louis work injury lawyer will tell you, though, is that warehouse employees have been dealing with these risks for many years. If you are a warehouse worker, you may want to review some of the top dangers of your job so you can be safer going forward.

Strain From Lifting – The function of a warehouse is not just to store goods, but to take them out of storage when needed. Though workers use machinery to transport the heaviest items, they also do a lot of lifting themselves. Doing so results in 2 dangers. First, every lift can end in straining the back, neck, shoulder, or any other body part. Second, continuous physical activity leads to fatigue, which puts you in danger of every type of accident.
Equipment and Machinery – One method workers use to lessen strain from lifting is the use of equipment. Unfortunately, doing so comes with its fair share of risk too. Machines like forklifts are powerful enough to lift heavy objects, but they are also capable of causing damage to workers. Additionally, many warehouses have other pieces of machinery that sort cargo and carry out other functions. These tools often have moving parts and can catch a person’s extremities in them.
Slips, Trips, and Falls – Warehouse workers do a lot of moving around. Often, they’ll walk many miles in a work day from just carrying out daily tasks. The result is a significant risk of slips, trips, and falls. Making things even worse, warehouses tend to have many objects on the ground. Workers must stay alert and keep their eyes in front of them if they want to avoid taking a fall.
Falling Objects – Warehouses are characterized by various goods being stacked high above the ground. While this storage method almost always works out, accidents do happen. They usually come in the form of improperly stacked objects falling from above. The vast majority of the time they do not strike anybody, but a worker is occasionally hit. When that impact is on your head, the results can be serious.
Hazardous Materials – Some warehouse employees don’t have to worry about hazardous chemicals because their workplace doesn’t store them. Others work in facilities that specialize in harmful compounds. Additionally, any worker can be at risk of typical facility issues like gas leaks and asbestos. The best way to avoid these dangers is by following all safety protocols and staying alert throughout the day.

What if You are Injured at Work?

If you have been injured at work you are eligible to receive workers compensation in Missouri. You are entitled to receive prompt medical treatment and wage loss benefits if you are unable to work due to your injury.

It is important that you report a work injury immediately to your employer and document everything yourself about the injury – what, where, when and how it happened. Your employer or supervisor should arrange medical treatment and file the necessary reports with the Division of Workers Compensation.

Contact a St. Louis Work Injury Lawyer

Our legal team has a strong history of helping injured workers get the medical attention and financial compensation that they need. Contact our St. Louis work injury lawyer to ensure that your rights are protected. Please call (314) 361-4300 or fill out our online contact form.

St. Louis Worker Compensation Attorney – Workplace Injury in Warehouses

September 16, 2016 By James Hoffmann 3 Comments

Warehouse workers are exposed to many risks for work-related injuries.

Accidents in warehouses can occur anytime. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), more than 145,000 people work in 7,000 warehouses across the nation. Each year, around 20,000 workers are injured in forklift accidents and other types of accidents. Over the years, the fatality rate has decreased to 12 each day from an average of 43 each day. Steps are still needed to minimize the risks.

Truck Accidents

Many warehouses have contracts with trucking companies while other warehouses provide their own transportation services. Warehouse workers who operate the trucks are at risk of being involved in an accident while moving cargo from one place to another.

Slip and Fall Injuries

Fall injuries are among the most common injuries reported by warehouse workers. Wet and slippery floors are common in many warehouses. Some warehouses have uneven floors or different flooring surfaces, increasing the risk of a slip and fall accident. A worker can also trip due to accumulation of excess inventory, empty containers, debris, or pallets. Poor lighting can be a major issue and can make it difficult for workers to avoid obstacles. These factors may cause a worker to fall at the same level. However, workers are at risk from falling from heights such as off loading docks and ladders. (Read – Receiving Compensation for a Slip and Fall Injury)

Overexertion Injuries

Warehouse workers move huge and heavy goods from one place to another and they often end up carrying more weight than their body can handle. Overexertion or too much stress on the body is a leading cause of warehouse injuries. Overexertion can lead to shoulder and back injuries. It may also affect other parts of the body such as the neck, arms, and legs. These injuries develop over a period of time and are often diagnosed after they have become serious and require urgent medical attention.

Being Hit by Objects

When working in a warehouse, there is always a risk of getting hit by an object. A worker may get hit by a piece of equipment or falling object and suffer serious injuries and even get killed as result.

Loading Dock Injuries

One of the most hazardous places to work in a warehouse is the loading dock. A worker can get crushed while loading or unloading, fall off the dock, get hit by a vehicle or moving equipment, or get injured while moving materials from the dock to the truck.

Work Comp for Warehouse Injuries

If you have been injured in a warehouse accident, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. Speak to a St. Louis worker compensation attorney from The Law Office of James M. Hoffmann. Call us at (314) 361-4300 for a free consultation.