The dangers of unsuitable warehouse storage

Low-quality and poorly suited warehouse storage not only makes your processes less efficient, but can also be a health and safety risk.

Here are some of the ways unsuitable warehouse storage can negatively impact your business.

1. It can lead to unproductivity

In 2014, it was revealed the average Amazon warehouse employee walks about 13 miles a day. When there’s a lot of action taking place on your warehouse floor, it’s important your team is as productive as possible.

Unsuitable warehouse storage means staff waste time accessing products, meaning a drop in productivity, accuracy, and efficiency. This can ultimately filter through to your customers when their orders are wrong or delivered late.

Four tips to improve the efficiency of your warehouse.

2. It can lead to court action

You have a duty of care to your employees under legislation including the Health and Safety at Work Act. If staff are injured in your warehouse as a result of unsuitable warehouse storage, you could be held liable.

In 2021, a company was fined £40,000 after an employee fell five metres off a ladder while trying to gather items stored on shelf racking. Storing products on pallet racking, so they were accessible by forklifts could have led to a safer warehouse environment.

Health and safety tips when working in a warehouse.

3. It can lead to a reduction in staff morale

As well as the risk of injury, unsuitable warehouse storage can lead to frustrated and miserable staff.

With 36% of UK workers unhappy in their jobs, the more you can do to create a productive and happy work environment, the better.

Easy to find and access products in your warehouse mean warehouse operatives aren’t putting themselves in dangerous situations, hurting themselves, or failing to meet targets.

How to boost productivity and team morale in the warehouse.

4. It can lead to theft

A badly organised warehouse can make it easier for staff, visitors, and members of the public to steal items before anyone has noticed they’re missing.

High-quality warehouse storage makes it harder for products to be taken.

Small parts storage makes it easier to keep an eye on small, high-value items.

Find out more about preventing theft in your warehouse.

Secure racking and shelving can help keep your warehouse safe, your staff happy, and your revenue high.

We’ve been working with businesses across Northern Ireland and the UK for nearly twenty years, helping them review their processes and how they can stay legally compliant.