Peak season, not peak risk

Protecting warehouse staff during the busiest period of the year, it’s more important than ever that warehouse managers take good care of their teams.

Safer teams are happier and more productive – just what you need to help your business get through busy periods and out of the other side.

Peak season, not peak risk

Black Friday. Cyber Monday. Christmas. The January Sales. If mention of these four calendar events makes your heart beat a little faster, you’re not alone.

The busiest time of the year for retail sales is also much busier than usual for 3PLs and fulfilment centres, who not only have more orders to process but may also subsequently have higher volumes of returns to deal with.

Peak season doesn’t necessary bring new workplace hazards, but it does increase existing ones, and companies should be aware that their usual safety approaches may not be enough to protect their business from disaster.

But the good news is that, by paying close attention to a few areas in advance, businesses will have laid the groundwork for safer operations well into the new year.

Why do safety risks increase during peak?

When warehouse teams are busy and stressed, it’s easier than ever for accidents to happen. Manual handling injuries, over-exertions, slips, trips and falls are all more likely during peak season.

Tired, overwhelmed people make mistakes. They can also misjudge risks, increasing their likelihood of sustaining an injury or causing one to someone else. And running through all that, there’s also the very real risk of burnout, where team members become completely exhausted and have to step back from their work altogether to recover.

Protecting your warehouse staff from these and other workplace hazards is not only a legal and moral responsibility, but also important for business efficiency. Happy teams are productive teams, and you need everyone operating at their best if your business is going to make it through peak unscathed, with its reputation among customers and suppliers intact.

Peak in the warehouse: Protecting your team

Here are our top tips for protecting your warehouse team during peak season:

#1 Plan ahead

In logistics, you can never be too prepared for peak season.

Being prepared means planning ahead. Carve out some time in the weeks or even months prior and try to anticipate as far as is possible what your business is going to need to get through.

It might be extra stock or more hands on deck in the form of temporary staff to help with the additional workload. Whatever it is, make sure you’ve identified that need and put a plan in place to meet it well in advance.

Workwear and PPE

As part of your planning, consider your workwear, PPE and site equipment supply. Do you have enough of everything your team will need to make it through the next few months? Have you got spares in stock just in case? And what about kitting out those temporary workers we mentioned earlier? Ensure you speak to your workwear and PPE supplier as early as possible so they can help you get ready in time.

Our tip: When purchasing workwear and PPE, wearer comfort should be a high priority. It’s a known fact that employees that feel comfortable in their workwear and PPE work harder and smarter, and you’ll want everyone working at their best when the pressure is on.

Revisit your procedures

When it comes to employee safety and wellbeing, prevention is cheaper and more effective than any reactive fix.

With this in mind, the run-up to peak season is the ideal time to revisit your risk assessments, safety procedures and emergency plans to ensure they cater for any increase in workload and staff numbers.

Remember that efficient, well-run operations are easier to scale up. Examine current processes and operations for potential difficulties that could be exposed when volume and activity levels increase.

Look again at your induction processes. Ensure they are clear and easy to follow, so any temporary staff you bring on board can get up and running as quickly and safely as possible.

The run-up to peak season is an ideal time to conduct a refresh of any safety training, reminding your teams of the importance of safe manual handling techniques and equipment use, how crucial it is to report hazards promptly, and the importance of looking after their wellbeing at work.

It’s also a good time to review your shift patterns to ensure they allow your teams sufficient time to recover between shifts that are likely to be busier than usual.

#2 Communicate with your team

Operating efficiently and safely through peak will require the support and cooperation of your entire team, so make sure to include your employees in planning for what’s to come.

Tell your staff when you’re expecting increased levels of activity, so they can be prepared. Brief them on how you propose to cope with the extra workload, including any planned changes to staffing, ways of working or customer requirements. As part of this, ensure your permanent employees understand which tasks are able to be carried out by agency workers, and which they must lead themselves.

Our tip: Why not implement a daily briefing for your employees? It needn’t be long; a quick catch-up before or during a shift will open lines of communication, encouraging feedback and offering the opportunity to reinforce safety messaging.

#3 Manage fatigue and wellbeing

While operating during peak season, monitor your staff for signs of fatigue that could impair their judgement and/or physical capabilities. Encourage managers to check in with their teams, emphasising the importance of managing mental wellbeing and stress during busy times.

Ensure shift lengths are manageable and that your employees have enough time to recover in between. Every worker should take regular, scheduled breaks, as well as have ready access to water and a rest area while in active work if they need a moment’s pause for any reason.

Safety as a peak season priority

To get through peak season and out the other side, businesses need healthy, happy and productive staff that are ready, willing and able to take on their share of the increased workload.

By following these tips, you’ll ensure your organisation is operating at peak fitness, ready to face what’s to come.

If you need help getting your business in shape for peak, give us a call on 0121 749 4433, or you can email us and we’ll be happy to help.