Fueled by a manufacturing economy that continues to recover from the impact of COVID-19 and the increase in online shopping, Mordor Intelligence expects the logistics industry in Canada to grow by a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of more than 2.5% from 2019 through 2024.
The first thing that usually comes to mind when citing safety statistics for commercial transportation is vehicular accidents on the highway. Such mishaps are unfortunate and can be tragic, but they are not the only part of the business where safety is a concern. The interior of warehouses and vehicle maintenance facilities also require attention and safety solutions in the logistics industry, notably for fall protection and impact protection.
Fast, efficient loading, unloading, and the processing of goods almost always involve a forklift. Driver safety training is critical; however, a facility equipped with compliant safety equipment is also essential.
Guardrails, bollards, traffic shield, rack shield, and safety railing systems protect people, products, and the facility against forklift accidents by placing a barrier between the forklift and person, place, or thing.
They offer versatility as bollards, modular guardrails, and safety railings can be placed almost anywhere and easily installed. Where people are concerned, guardrails and railings also have the advantage of providing collective fall protection. They protect several workers at once (collectively) without the need for personnel training or inspection of safety equipment before and after every use.
Safety railings provide interior fall protection for stairways, ramps, mezzanines, and virtually any other elevated surface. They also establish boundaries between people and hazards, such as machinery and restricted vehicle maintenance and repair areas.
Modular railings install quickly and easily without welding or drilling and are enhanced when powder coated in “safety yellow” or another bright, noticeable color.
An overhead rigid rail fall protection system is an asset for loading, unloading, and safe vehicle maintenance and repair. Mounted from the ceiling, a rigid rail system enables workers to access vehicles from above with ample range to maximize work zones. In the event of a slip or fall, a rigid rail is a fall arrest system that keeps the fall arrest distance short.
Stacking shelves, reaching materials, and accessing a truck’s engine are safer and easier tasks when using a work or maintenance platform. Whether a permanent or temporary work platform, modular platforms should have a robust structural base (e.g., fitted steel or aluminum tubes), anti-slip steps and flooring, and stair and platform safety railings.
“Bespoke” or customized platforms can be designed to reach complex areas or tight spaces with ease. They can be static or mobile platforms depending on the facility’s needs.
Rightfully so, most fall protection systems focus on working at heights. There is also a danger of falling into a pit that maintenance and repair workers use to access the underside of vehicles. A vehicle inspection pit should have a cover strong enough for a person to stand on and easy enough for that person to open and close.
Safety in the transportation industry does not just mean “on the road.” Many hazards inside warehouses and vehicle maintenance and repair shops need to be addressed.
Protection against collisions from forklift accidents. Protection against falls from above vehicles and other heights such as mezzanines, racks, and shelving. Protection from open voids, especially vehicle inspection pits. They are part of a comprehensive safety culture protecting logistics and transportation support workers.
As workplace safety experts we perform critical analysis inside your facility to identify the hazards where your workers are exposed to the greatest risk. This analysis ensures that the most dangerous areas are protected immediately with proven solutions that meet recognized standards and regulations.