Any supply chain business that maintains international business standards is undoubtedly well aware of the need to keep your warehouse clean and hygienic so that the customers get their products in top condition. Maintaining the cleanliness and hygiene of your warehouse is an ongoing process as products are brought in and out of the space all the time. In these challenging times, the need to keep your warehouse in exemplary condition cannot be overstated. Scientists have confirmed that Coronavirus can spread through surfaces like cardboard, making warehouse hygiene more important than ever.
If your warehouse maintains the highest hygiene standards then the virus won’t spread when products enter or leave the site. On that note, let’s review the best hygiene tips for warehouses in 2021.
Sanitize and Disinfect:
When you receive products into the warehouse, immediately disinfect all surfaces. All employees must wash their hands properly after handling boxes. Likewise, any equipment used for lifting the boxes or opening them must be disinfected using bleach solutions containing a minimum of 70% alcohol.
As multiple people handle boxes and other equipment inside the warehouse, you must be careful about maintaining social distance to avoid spreading the virus from person to person. Before packing the products for dispatch you must also use disinfectant to clean the container. Staff who handle the boxes must sanitize their hands thoroughly and regularly.
Maintain a cleaning schedule:
Never compromise on hygiene standards in your warehouse. If products are not in good condition, it can affect your company image. So, cleaning regular cleaning of warehouse must be your priority. You should set up a well-defined cleaning schedule for the warehouse including a clearly-defined nightly cleaning goal. Trash must be removed every day so that it doesn’t build up and attract germs or pests. Make sure that all your staff abide by these rules and complete the cleaning process within specified timeframes.
Additionally, all staff should have a clean-as-you-go mindset and every few months you should hire professional cleaners to thoroughly clean the warehouse from top to bottom.
Use the FIFO Mechanism:
You should apply the First In, First Out (FIFO) mechanism when arranging products in the warehouse. Many products have expiry dates, so the ones that enter the warehouse first will also expire first. If you don’t take them out on time, the condition of the products will start to deteriorate and you won’t be able to sell them.
These low-quality products will also affect the quality of the other products in the warehouse if left sitting in storage for a long time, potentially jeopardizing the health and hygiene of your warehouse. Make sure that the products that go in first go out first as well.
Label all Areas:
Busy warehouses with lots of stock and staff moving around present a great risk of accidents. Properly labeling all areas so that staff can move easily, efficiently, and safely can help to manage these risks. And of course, accidents and spillages can lead to hygiene issues, so labeling is important from a hygiene perspective too.
Eliminate Pests:
Pests like rats, wasps, bugs, and more can infest warehouses if you let them settle in. It is therefore important to take measures to deter pests and eliminate them as soon as they appear, to protect your products and promoting better warehouse hygiene. These kinds of pests can spread disease so it is important to stay on top of the issue.
Have necessary Tools:
It is essential to have all the necessary cleaning equipment, tools and products on hand, and to restock these before they run out. Tools should be available to make the cleaning process more convenient and more effective. Things like mops, paper towels, disinfectants, and various cleaning products must always be stored inside the warehouse.
Provide Training:
Your staff should be properly trained so that they know how to clean the warehouse and maintain proper hygiene onsite. During a OHS course online (Occupational Health and Safety) they will also learn about the safety rules and personal health care, as well as learning the proper use of cleaning equipment and products. Make sure that training is ongoing so that your staff is kept up to date with the latest cleaning and hygiene rules and regulations.
In summary, here are some of the essential things you should do to maintain proper workplace hygiene:
- Have routine procedures for cleaning the warehouse and keeping it virus-free.
- Monitor your workers’ health for any signs of illness and have employees go home if they are unwell.
- Make sure the warehouse has the right temperature to store any food.
- Make sure there is proper ventilation.
- Hold constant health and hygiene inspections and audits.
- Equipment, boxes, and other items in the warehouse must be checked regularly to see if they are in their best condition.
By keeping a dedicated cleaning schedule and doing regular audits it is possible to maintain proper hygiene in your warehouse.
