How Material Handling Machinery and Equipment Improve Workplace Safety
The National Safety Council tracks workplace accidents, and the numbers are discouraging. Since 1992, preventable workplace deaths have increased from 86,777 annually to 227,039—a 162% increase over the past 30 years. Despite focusing on safety, nearly 60 million people required medical attention for a preventable injury in the most recent reporting year.
Working around material handling machinery and equipment creates safety challenges. Human–machine interactions with forklifts, automated systems, storage racks, and conveyors can create safety issues if not addressed. This problem is often aggravated by the high rate of turnover in industrial and warehouse operations, where new workers are constantly in the mix.
However, the right material handling equipment can reduce these risks and help keep your workforce safe.
Reducing Manual Handling Risks
Manual material handling is notorious for causing workplace injuries, especially back strains, repetitive stress injuries, and musculoskeletal disorders. Lifting heavy loads by hand exposes workers to a high risk of injury. Manual lifting also increases the likelihood of accidents, such as dropped materials, which can lead to serious harm or even death.
Machines such as forklifts, pallet jacks, and cranes are designed to carry heavy loads with minimal human intervention. By using this equipment, employees are no longer required to lift, move, or balance objects manually. For example, storage systems like pallet racks and shelving units allow for efficient vertical storage, reducing the need for workers to bend or stretch awkwardly when retrieving items.
Additionally, material handling equipment such as automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and conveyor systems can move materials along predetermined paths, eliminating the need for employees to manually push or pull heavy carts. This significantly reduces the risk of strain and injury caused by repetitive movements.
Increasing Efficiency and Reduced Human Error
Material handling machinery and equipment enhances safety and improves efficiency by reducing human error.
Human error is one of the most common causes of accidents in workplaces that require material movement. Whether it’s misjudging the weight of an item or failing to secure a load properly, mistakes can lead to dangerous situations.
Automated systems such as conveyors, robotic arms, and AGVs can be equipped with sensors and programmed to follow specific workflows, which dramatically reduces the chance of errors. These systems ensure goods are moved to the right place at the right time, without the need for constant human supervision.
Machine handling equipment, like conveyors, is commonly used in warehouses to transport goods smoothly across long distances without manual intervention. These systems eliminate the risk of workers tripping or falling while carrying loads. Similarly, automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS) use intelligent software to organize and retrieve items automatically, reducing the risk of workplace accidents due to poorly stored or misplaced items.
Smart technology has made these systems more intuitive. Sensors on conveyors, forklifts, and machines can detect obstacles or hazards, automatically stopping to prevent collisions or damage.
Emerging Technology in Material Handling Machinery and Equipment
Emerging technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning are transforming material handling machinery and equipment into even more intelligent and safer systems. For example:
- IoT-enabled machines can communicate with each other and with central systems to provide real-time data on everything from load weight to equipment performance.
- AI-driven analytics can predict maintenance needs before breakdowns occur, ensuring that machinery stays in optimal working condition.
- Smart sensors can monitor the health of workers, alerting them to any physical strain or dangerous posture before it leads to injury.
- Automated systems can be designed with voice or gesture control, minimizing physical contact with the equipment.
- Cameras and laser scanning can give operators better awareness of their surroundings.
- Integrated leak detection and containment technologies can monitor and prevent exposure to hazardous chemicals or substances.
- Predictive maintenance can significantly reduce equipment failures that cause injuries or workplace hazards.
Get Safe, Efficient Material Handling Equipment
As technology continues to evolve, the integration of smart features in material handling machinery will make workplaces even safer. Investing in advanced material handling systems is an important part of safeguarding your workforce and ensuring long-term success.
Conesco Storage Systems is an industry leader in new and used material handling equipment sales for warehouses, manufacturing, eCommerce, food and beverage, cold storage, 3PLs, and more. With a global network of industry partners and leading manufacturers, the Conesco team can help you optimize your material handling machinery and equipment for safety and efficiency.
Conesco Storage Systems is a full-service supplier. We can help you with the planning, designing, engineering, permitting, budgeting, and installation of all of your material handling needs.
Call Conesco Storage Systems at (303) 690-9591 or request a consultation online.
