Promote occupational safety this week

Our editors provide some suggested reading for North American Occupational Safety and Health Week 2008.

By Staff -- Modern Materials Handling, 5/5/2008

Safety is good business. That’s the theme of 2008 North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week, which businesses and organizations across the country are celebrating this week, May 4-10.

According to the American Society of Safety Engineers, U.S. businesses spend $171 billion a year on costs associated with workplace injuries and illness. Eliminating those extra costs would certainly be good business. And, of course, preventing injury and illness is the right thing to do for your employees.

In recognition of NAOSH week, we’re highlighting some of the best safety-related articles published in Modern Materials Handling in recent years. We hope they’ll inspire you to promote and improve materials handling safety in your workplace.

• 4 ways to improve DC safety and increase productivity: Increasing pick rates and throughput is a great first step. But don’t underestimate the impact of a safe working environment on morale and productivity.
• Tips for ergonomic order picking: If highly engineered ergonomic equipment isn’t in the budget, companies can still minimize back and shoulder strain for their workers.
• MHIA promotes better ergonomics for materials handlers: Free booklet offers tips for easing carrying, lifting and other manual materials handling tasks.
• Proper rack safety: Proper rack safety begins with the original design and installation of the uprights and beams, but it shouldn’t end there.
• Better dock safety and ergonomics: It's all about finding the right balance with efficiency and throughput.
• Lift truck safety first: For managers, safety specialists, operators and suppliers, lift truck safety is a top priority.