Best Practices
We follow procedures as recommended by OSHA. Here’s how Google describes OSHA: “OSHA stands for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, a federal agency within the U.S. Department of Labor. Its primary mission is to ensure safe and healthy working conditions for employees by setting and enforcing standards, providing training, and offering assistance. OSHA’s regulations cover a wide range of workplaces, including most private sector employers and some public sector employers.”
Our Safety Training
We fully train every new employee, and we also do monthly safety walks for current employees. Our training is in both English and Spanish. The focus of our training begins with pointing out potential hazards. Spills or wet floors are the cause of slips and falls, and accidents. Clutter in the aisles can cause falls and accidents as well. All employees are trained on what to do when coming across what are potential hazards. How do you handle the spill, what about debris in the aisle or workstation, how do you dispose of debris properly and promptly. Our first level of training will cover these things.
Of course employees are trained in the safety aspects of their specific jobs, whether it’s housekeeping, driving forklift, assembly and so forth. We train our employees in the correct ergonomic practices in order to avoid injury, whether it is repetitive movement or lifting a heavy object. Proper ergonomic positioning can prevent strain injuries.
We make sure all employees understand how to store materials safely… for example, don’t stack materials too high and create a potential hazard. Another essential training is in safe handling of chemicals, including proper labeling, storage, and disposal.
There are many things we cover in safety training, including emergency procedures. We have emergency plans for how to respond to a fire, how to safely evacuate and other procedures, and every employee is trained in these things.
Making the Environment Safe
How do people get hurt while working in a warehouse? #1 they could improperly lift a heavy item and experience a strain injury. #2 they could be walking from one area to another and slip and fall because of a spill of liquid on the floor. #3 they could be in a hurry and trip over some debris left in the aisle. #4 they could come into contact with a dangerous chemical that wasn’t properly labeled. #5 they could get hurt by falling materials that were stacked too high. #6 they could get injured by moving equipment. #7 they could get injured by broken equipment that wasn’t properly removed or labeled.
Training is important and all training should lead to a safe environment, with clean floors, uncluttered aisles, adequate lighting, and working equipment. Inspection and maintenance of equipment is absolutely necessary. Properly maintaining forklifts and conveyors can prevent accidents. Employees who need PPE, such as safety shoes, hard hats, vests and gloves are provided these items by AMS. Every warehouse must have fire extinguishers and first-aid kits in good working order with employees trained in their use.
Communication
There must be a clear communication channel in every warehouse for notification of emergencies. Evacuation procedures must be written and practiced in fire drills and evacuation drills.
Successful warehouse safety means that the company has a comprehensive approach to minimizing hazards and creating a safe work environment. This includes proper training of every employee, maintaining clear aisles, practicing safe lifting techniques and ergonomics, and correctly using equipment.
National Safety Month
Both the National Safety Council [LINK] and the Occupational Health and Safety organization [LINK] offer resources for the public at their websites.
“Join the National Safety Council in June for National Safety Month – the annual observance to help keep each other safe from the workplace to anyplace. Since 1996, NSM has provided free safety resources to highlight leading causes of preventable injury and death. Let’s make people safer this June and all year long!”
Do accidents happen at AMS? We are not magical, and yes, they do… but… due to our safety training efforts they are infrequent. In 2024 AMS’ lost-time injury rate was 23% lower than the industry average. This year injuries have been equally infrequent.
We are proud of our employees, and the care they show in preventing accidents of any sort. Hat’s Off to them for our excellent safety record, and of course the safety focus and training will continue, year-round.
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AMS Fulfillment is a Certified B Corporation, dedicated to the people and planet before Profit. We work to B The Change we wish to see in the world.
