Warehouses are dangerous by nature, as they often depend on huge machinery and house heavy, flammable, or toxic products. What’s more, accidents are more likely to occur, as objects could fall from a height, a forklift truck could strike an employee, or someone could experience a slip.

However, it’s not only heavy machinery, products, and unfortunate accidents that can happen in a warehouse, as its cleanliness could cause serious health issues or accidents on-site. Learn about the dangers of a dirty warehouse.

Respiratory Issues

A build-up of dust and dirt can play havoc with employee health. If a warehouse isn’t successfully cleaned each day, a thick layer of dust will build up on surfaces and float in the air, which can irritate staff members’ eyes, throats, and noses. As a result, they might have trouble breathing, and prolonged exposure will increase their risk of developing a chronic lung disease, such as bronchitis or asthma. For this reason, warehouses must be designed to minimize dust as much as possible. Also, they must introduce equipment to reduce dust, dirt, and other airborne particles, such as dry sweepers and rotating brooms and rollers.

Chemical Burns and Fumes

Many warehouse employees will have a greater risk of chemical burns or fumes. As the sites often store or use chemicals, an employee might sustain a painful burn, experience skin irritation, or breathe in harmful fumes following exposure. For this reason, warehouses must start using the right warehouse cleaning equipment to successfully clean surfaces, such as wet and dry vacuum cleaners, high-pressure cleaners, and maintenance cleaners, to name a few options. Also, a warehouse must have designated areas for storing chemicals to minimize burns, fumes, and exposure.

Fires and Explosions

Chemical exposure cannot only cause burns and fume inhalation, but it can increase the risk of a fire or explosion in a warehouse. For instance, the use of a forklift or other heavy machinery near a chemical accident could spark a fire. As warehouses tend to house and use chemicals each day, it is imperative to keep a warehouse clean and organized to protect its employees.

Slip, Trips, and Falls

Slips, trips, and falls are the most common warehousing accidents due to their busy, arduous nature. For example, an employee might trip over an item in a cluttered aisle or slip on wet flooring, which could even cause them to fall from a height. For this reason, every employeeis responsible for maintaining a clean, clutter-free environment. A business must convey the importance of regular cleaning and organization to prevent minor, serious, and fatal on-site accidents.

Accidents can happen in any warehouse, and it only takes a small mistake to start a fire, cause a chemical burn, or increase the risk of a slip, trip, or fall. For this reason, it is up to the warehouse owners to identify the best cleaning options and services available to maintain a clean, organized, and safe environment for every employee. Also, they must educate their team on the dangers of a dirty or cluttered warehouse to prevent on-site accidents or illnesses.