Warehouse & Shop Safety Product Guide

Worker safety is the #1 priority in a warehouse, packaging line, manufacturing facility or machine shop. We all know safety gear like gloves, hard hats, eye protection and ear protection is important—but what other products do you need to keep everyone safe? We’ve compiled some essential products for warehouse, shop and facility safety, from caution tape to ice melt.

General Warehouse & Shop Safety Product Checklist

Beyond personal protective equipment (PPE) like safety vests and hard hats, what belongs on your list for warehouse and shop safety? We recommend several safety essentials. Your list may vary depending on your facility characteristics, work activities, and climate. Here are some general warehouse safety products you may want to consider.

• Signage: Workplace safety signage is important for safety and, in some cases, a regulatory requirement for warehouse safety. Signs can be used to designate areas for authorized personnel only, to provide notice of specific safety hazards, or remind employees to wear safety gear.
• Caution tape or signs: The familiar yellow caution tape serves an important purpose in the warehouse or facility: to notify people that an area is off-limits or hazardous. Caution tape is great for quickly or temporarily marking a safety hazard or dangerous area. A caution wet floor stand-alone sign is also a must-have to mark areas that are wet and slippery, whether from cleaning or spills.
• Safety extension cords: Electrical safety is important, too! Make sure people are using heavy-duty extension cords to plug in equipment. Look for high-visibility colors and heavy insulation for warehouse and industrial use.
• Floor mats: Floor mats can reduce slip-and-fall hazards, reduce fatigue and increase comfort for standing jobs. Look for anti-fatigue mats for standing or absorbent mats for areas that get wet.
• Spill kits: Liquid and oil spills create slip-and-fall risks and other risks, especially if materials are toxic, caustic or acidic. A Universal Spill Kit makes cleanup of even large spills easy. For smaller, less hazardous spills, keep a sweeping compound on hand. (Read more: How to Safely Clean Up Spills in the Warehouse)
• Ice melt: If your facility is in a colder climate, you’ll want to have ice melt on hand for the winter months to keep parking lots, loading docks and other outdoor areas safe from slip-and-fall hazards.
• Eye wash station: Every warehouse, packaging line, manufacturing center or shop should have an eyewash station—even if the only chemicals you are using are cleaning chemicals. These first aid essentials can save someone’s vision if an accident occurs. (Read more: Eyewash Stations—What They Are and How to Use Them)
• First aid kit: Keep a fully-stocked first aid kit in a location everyone knows and can access. If your facility is large, have several located for easy access in each work area. Be sure to restock as items are used!
• Wheel chocks: If you use material handling equipment such as forklifts, scissor lifts, or warehouse trucks, wheel chocks can prevent a tragic accident. These heavy-duty wheel stops prevent vehicles from moving when they are not supposed to.

This list is not comprehensive but is a good start for general workplace safety. Other safety products may be needed for specific warehouse tasks like lifting, loading and material handling, such as fall protection gear or ergonomic material handling equipment. And, of course, make sure everyone is equipped with appropriate PPE for their jobs.

Looking for warehouse safety supplies?

Benchmark offers a full range of products for warehouse and facility safety, from signage and caution tapes, to PPE, to ergonomic material handling equipment. We can help you decide which products are needed to keep your facility and employees safe. Contact a Benchmark product expert today.