We live in a global world where distances are getting shorter and shorter thanks to the logistics industry. The sector is constantly growing and advancing technologically.
Logistics is split into two main areas - transport/ distribution and warehousing. Working in the logistics industry often includes activities like handling stock and materials, packaging, palletising, order picking, loading and unloading, supply chain management and distribution.
Warehouse health and safety risks
Did you know that one of the most common health problems in the logistics industry is musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs)? They are mainly caused by manual handling, repetitive movements or the use of forklift trucks.
The risks in the industry depend on the specific environment and type of materials stored. The most common types of non-fatal accidents are caused by lifting/ carrying, sharp materials and tools, falling loads or being hit by an object, getting caught in machinery or between objects, collisions or being crushed by forklifts and other vehicles, slips, trips and falls at the same level and falls from a height, among others.
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Ergonomic risks
As mentioned above, the most common health risk is MSDs, which typically occurs in the back, elbows, forearms, shoulders and shoulder blades. In addition, workers in logistics centres and warehouses may also be exposed to risks from extreme temperatures, either hot or cold, as well as exposure to high decibel noise.
In most cases, these risks result in minor injuries. Serious accidents are less frequent and are usually related to heavy machinery or loading docks. According to data from the HSE, over the last three years 26,000 workers sustained non-fatal injuries in the transport and storage sector on average annually.
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Hazards due to chemical agents or harmful substances
Contact with chemical agents and harmful substances can be dangerous to health, this could be through direct contact from splashes such as from corrosive liquids or by inhalation of dust or particles. Damage can occur both externally (any surface area of the skin or eyes) and internally (respiratory tract), among others.
Physical risks
The most common injuries are strikes against something fixed or stationary, being struck by a moving or falling object or vehicle, cuts, fractures and sprains or being crushed or trapped by equipment or vehicles.
Falls at the same level or from a height caused by slips, trips and falls or a lack of visibility from loading docks, vehicles, ladders or platforms should also be mentioned. There are other types of occupational health and safety risks that can lead to much more serious personal injuries, fatalities and structural damage, although these types of serious accidents are not as frequent.
- Working with machinery and moving vehicles such as forklifts, overhead cranes, and other heavy tools can lead to risks such as being pinned between forklifts, loading docks and vehicles, being hit by them, run over or crushed if they overturn.
- Hazards related to electricity can also have a significant effect on health.
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