How to Improve the Safety of Logistics in Business

There is no doubt that the world of logistics can be a dangerous one. For instance, truck crashes across the USA result in thousands of fatalities every year.

Warehousing also presents many dangers and there are many different accidents that can occur as a result of this activity. It's not possible to remove all of the risks from logistics, but it is possible to pay attention to safety and reduce the level of risk. Doing so helps to protect people who are involved in logistics work, saves on loss of time and reduces the amount of lost productivity.

Here are four things that need to be done in order to make this happen.

Establish a culture of safety

Safety is something that should be ingrained in the culture of any logistics business. This culture has to come from the top of the business structure and be spread throughout. This means executives need to communicate the message that safety is paramount. They should also display a positive attitude towards safety by recognizing when safety targets are achieved.

Use safety audits as an opportunity

Safety audits play an important role in ensuring the safety of logistics. The problem is there can be a tendency to treat these audits as something to be dreaded and to be confrontational about. This attitude needs to be changed, in order to promote the positivity of safety.

To achieve this change of attitude, safety audits should be seen as an opportunity to improve, rather than a chance to apportion blame.

Train on the safety aspects of logistics

It's not possible to improve safety within the world of logistics without providing appropriate training to those who work within it. If there is a lack of training people can be tempted to act in a risky manner. For instance, they may rush around and put themselves at greater risk of trips and falls. Providing training makes people more likely to be conscious of the dangers around them and to act accordingly.

Training that may be appropriate in the world of logistics includes:

• Safe operation of forklift trucks
• Effective hazard communication
• Design of electrical systems
• Protection around gaps and holes in flooring
• Use of portable fire extinguishers
• Effective manual handling.

The training that is provided should be tailored to meet the needs of the business and the employees.

Promote accountability 

It's difficult to improve safety in the logistics environment without having personal accountability in place. People need to be aware that everyone who is involved in operations is accountable for making sure the environment is safe.

Of course, this does not mean management can sidestep their responsibilities. They also have accountability when it comes to maintaining high standards of safety. One way management can help to do this is by investing in machinery that is up-to-date and safe to use.

At the end of the day, everyone who works in a logistics environment has some responsibility for improving safety levels as much as possible. Improvement in this area is only possible when everyone comes together to make any necessary changes.