RENO, NEV. (Nov. 25, 2024) – Transportation and deliveries increase during the holiday season. Behind the holiday hustle in the Silver State are the Nevadans working to fulfill orders, move goods and complete deliveries in time for consumers and their families to enjoy. Warehouse workers and delivery drivers in particular are impacted during the holiday rush as they see an increased workload.
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), postal workers, messengers and local delivery industries suffer higher nonfatal injury and illness rates. Additionally, workers in transportation and material moving roles experienced 1,620 fatalities in 2022 and represented the occupational group with the most fatalities according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The Nevada Safety Consultation and Training Section is offering worksite safety tips to ensure employees return home safe during the holidays and year-round.
Warehouse job safety
With many warehouses bringing extra hands on board during the holidays, this is a great time to revisit safety training. A few safety considerations to look out for in warehouse jobs include:
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Is the work environment as clean and organized today as it was a few months ago, or a year ago, or when beginning the job?
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Are proper work practices being followed by all individuals on the worksite?
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Does each employee’s personal protective equipment meet American National Standards Institute (ANSI) guidelines and is it used correctly?
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Are materials stacked properly?
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Are workers moving ergonomically?
Common hazards in a warehouse environment to watch for include:
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Do all machine guards cover “pinch” points? Properly installed machine guards prevent employees from being caught between moving objects.
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Are material handling techniques–both physical and machine-assisted–properly implemented?
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Are proper lockout/tagout practices being followed? If a machine is deenergized and it’s not clear why, employees should communicate with their supervisor.
For more information on warehouse safety issues, please visit osha.gov/warehousing/hazards-solutions.
Delivery job safety
Online shopping shows no signs of slowing down, meaning more manpower is required to deliver the goods. Increased staffing and workload can lead to an increased risk of more driver injuries. Additionally, with fewer daylight hours during winter, driving after dark also increases the likelihood of being in a wreck.
Delivery drivers can be mindful of the below to help stay safe on the job:
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Use their vehicle’s indicators and wear clothing that can be seen.
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Ensure they can see by keeping windows and mirrors clean.
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Follow the rules of the road. U-Turns, facing the wrong direction while stopped, stopping abruptly without signaling––these behaviors can cause confusion for other drivers and ultimately put delivery workers at risk.
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Use extra caution when collecting packages from a warehouse or packaging center. In addition to proper lifting and carrying techniques, make sure the environment is also safe. Being caught between a vehicle and materials can be dangerous and can be avoided.
Additional safety tips include:
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Wear a seat belt.
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Set the parking brake before exiting the vehicle.
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Never stand directly behind or in front of a vehicle.
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Understand the hazards in the pick-up locations and ask for help if unsure of what to do at a particular site.
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Slow down and look around the environment, not at a phone.
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Avoid wearing headphones as ambient sound offers clues as to where vehicles are.
Return home safe for the holidays
Together, employers, business owners and employees can work without additional risks by self-monitoring behaviors, identifying potential hazards and educating others about worksite safety.
The Nevada Safety Consultation and Training Section offers free safety resources for businesses across all industries year-round. For more information or to schedule free training courses, businesses can call 1-877-4SAFENV or visit 4safenv.state.nv.us.
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About Nevada SCATS
The Safety Consultation and Training Section (SCATS), part of Nevada’s Division of Industrial Relations, provides free and confidential consultation and safety services to assist businesses in Nevada to be in compliance with OSHA standards. SCATS helps Nevada businesses keep their employees safe and offers on-site consultation services designed to help employers recognize and control potential safety and health hazards at their workplaces, improve their safety and health programs, and assist in training employees. SCATS also offers Workplace Safety and Health Training classes in Northern and Southern Nevada. Bilingual services are also available. Visit 4safenv.state.nv.us.
Funding Statement:
The Nevada On-Site Consultation program (SCATS), at the time of initial publication of this document (10/2024), is funded by a cooperative agreement for $1,025,411 federal funds, which constitutes 25.7% percent of the program budget. 0% percent, or $ 0.00 of the program budget, is financed through non-governmental sources.
