A clear indication that an industry is doing well is the spike in employment opportunities. Such is the case with Australia’s booming online shopping industry, which now attracts a significant number of female warehouse workers. The Sydney Morning Herald workplace editor Anna Patty reports on this trend.
Since 2010, the Western Sydney Institute has trained more than 2000 people in warehousing, logistics and distribution.
In the past, women have not been attracted to warehouse jobs. But mechanisation of the industry has meant they are not required to do as much heavy lifting.
“We usually don’t lift anything more than 18 kilos. We just lift what we are capable of,” Ms [Sue] Tierney said.
Equipment solutions like forklifts and pallet trucks minimize the need for extensive manual labour when transferring goods from delivery trucks and organizing items for storage. All warehouse employees need to do is operate a forklift or pallet truck to load the goods onto the pallet racking systems.
Having said that, a warehouse storage work environment still involves certain safety risks. Managers and employees, therefore, would do well to keep the following tips in mind.
Observe the proper height for each shelving system.
One of the main benefits of using pallet racks is that they can be stacked one on top of another to create a multi-level storage system. Warehouse owners, however, should never abuse this flexibility by creating levels upon levels of shelves if they do not have the equipment to reach the topmost levels.
Set up shelving systems according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Pallet racks are versatile storage systems. To maximize their benefits, they need to be set up according to the manufacturer’s instructions. When in doubt, warehouse managers should seek advice from professionals who are well-versed in rack setup and design.
Know the shelving systems’ load limits.
While pallet racking in Sydney comes in a variety of highly durable materials, warehouse managers and their employees should still keep in mind that these storage systems do have certain load limits. Stacking them with goods beyond their maximum weight capacity can compromise their structural integrity as well as workers’ safety.
Aside from choosing the right tools and equipment, employees must also be guided on the proper and safe usage of these storage systems. Overall, warehouses can count on durable and flexible pallet racks from established providers like AGAME Universal for a smooth storage process.
(Source: Online shopping builds a secret army of warehouse workers, smh.com.au, August 12, 2014)