Is Safety the Weak Link in Your Chain?

PPE recommendations for navigating the wild world of supply chain safety and productivity.

By: Nate Bohmbach, Contributor

Global supply chain chaos has those in warehousing, distribution and retail operations under intense pressure to deliver—and sometimes looking for shortcuts to do so. This often comes at the expense of worker safety.

The irony, of course, is that a safe worker is unequivocally a more productive one. To oversimplify a bit: time lost to injury is productivity lost to injury. Mind blowing, right? So why is safety often seen as a roadblock to productive, quality work instead of an inextricable component of it?

Much of it comes from how we think about and teach safety in the workplace.

Abby Ferri may have answered the question best on a recent episode of the Radio Free Tenacity podcast when the safety consultant and author said, “I think the reason that safety is looked at as something difficult […] is because they’re looking at it as something else that they have to do, when really, it’s just part of the job.”

“If you’re trying to get the job done right and be productive…safety is going to have to play some kind of role in that.”

PERSONAL PRODUCTIVITY EQUIPMENT

When it comes to the PPE component, a similar mindset is at play with many. Something that has to be worn. Something to get in the way. “I can be more productive without it.”

The reality is, properly selected, mindfully designed PPE is every bit a productivity consideration as it is a way to protect workers. Not only because it helps avoid lost time to injury, but because it actually enhances one’s ability to do the job.

To that end, consider these PPE recommendations for safer, more productive workers at every link in the supply chain––warehouse to doorstep.

Temperature Stress

Hot or cold. Indoors or out. Fulfillment center or delivery person. Controlling core body temps is crucial to productivity. Consider a Lawrence Berkeley National Lab study that found worker performance begins to drop off when temperatures rise above the mid-70s. Or a 2018 Harvard study that linked extreme heat and lowered cognitive function.

Cold environments come with their own challenges and hazards… from brittle clumsy hands to cold-related illnesses such as frostbite and hyperthermia.

PPE recommendation for the heat:

Phase change cooling. Because it doesn’t require airflow, it’s an optimal solution for reducing the risk of indoor heat stress or mitigating the heat in humid outdoor climates (where evaporative cooling options don’t perform as well). Commonly used in vests, this technology pulls heat from the body via cooling charge packs filled with non-toxic phase change liquids. Depending on what you have available (cooler, fridge or freezer), activation takes between 10-25 minutes and lasts up to four hours. Unlike ice or gel packs, phase change packs are not stiff or frosty—making them a more comfortable solution for long term wear.

PPE recommendation for the cold:

Base layers. Moisture is your enemy. Sweat and/or water on the surface of the skin will draw heat away from the body, cooling it rapidly. When the goal is to stay warm, productive and agile, a moisture-wicking, quick-drying layer is key. Venting underarms and a slightly loose, non-compression fit garment also create a breathable layer of air insulation.

Compression sleeves support joints, improve blood flow and reduce swelling. Image courtesy of Ergodyne.

Sprains and Strains

Repetition, repetition, repetition. Match it with poor form and you’re in for a world of hurt. In fact, sprains and strains continue to be the number one workplace injury in the U.S. year after year.

PPE recommendation for sprains and strains:

Knee and elbow sleeves. Everybody knows (or at least should know) about the role back supports play in reminding workers of proper lifting form to reduce back injuries. Maybe less known are the benefits of compression sleeves for supporting hard working joints. Popular with athletes, knee and elbow sleeves compress the joint to improve blood flow and reduce swelling. It also lends support for improved joint stability.

Hand Injuries

Consider 70% of all hand injuries occur because gloves weren’t being worn. The other 30%? Because the wrong glove was worn (Source: Labor of Bureau Statistics). Aside from cuts, punctures and other gruesome things you don’t ever want to Google image search, the right pair of gloves can help you get a stronger grip on the task at hand with less effort; helping reduce hand fatigue.

PPE recommendation for hand injuries:

Task-match your work gloves. Finding the right pair of gloves is a balancing act of considerations. Some of the biggies to examine are:

• Personal preference. Fit, comfort and compatibility with the task at hand is priority one. Don’t be afraid to lean on glove manufacturers to help run a trial to figure out what workers prefer.
• Hazard analysis. Cold environments, hot surfaces, sharp edges… take stock of all the dangers encountered during a day’s work and balance it with personal preference/ability to do the job.
• Devices/tech. Touchscreen-friendly fingers remove another reason to take work gloves off.

Indoor/outdoor traction devices are easier to use, and won’t damage vehicles and equipment. Image courtesy of Ergodyne.

Slips and Falls

Of 3.8 million disabling injuries each year, 15% are caused by slips, trips and falls (Source: National Safety Council). From loading docks to delivery, those frequently transitioning from outdoors to indoors are susceptible to slip ups, especially during wet, sloppy winter months.

PPE recommendation for slips and falls:

Indoor/outdoor traction devices. Worn over existing boots and shoes to allow easy and safe transition between indoor and outdoor environments while maintaining sure-footed grip on water, ice or snow. Though traditional cleats offer great traction on ice, they’re a pain for workers to take off and put back on as they go from outdoors to indoors and back again. Even more, they can cause damage to vehicles and equipment and actually can become a slip hazard themselves when stepping onto concrete or other hard surfaces.

Struck By

The obvious safety benefit to wearing high-visibility clothing is right in the name. But there’s a pure productivity play here, too. For instance, using specific colors for specific jobs is a quick and easy way for managers to decipher what’s what and who’s who on a bustling warehouse floor. Other vests have convenient considerations built right in to help workers maximize every moment.

PPE recommendation for slips and falls:

Surveyor style hi-vis vests. These vests work harder so crews can work smarter. Added pockets, pen holders and mic tabs give regular ol’ vests a shot of productivity by turning this tried-and-true safety staple into a mobile work station.

Scanner harnesses are favored by fulfillment center pickers, where the device sits comfortably at their side for a quick draw while remaining tethered to the harness. Image courtesy of Ergodyne.

Device Management

Barcode scanners and mobile computers have become omnipresent across the entire supply chain, from fulfillment centers to curbside delivery. Ranging anywhere from $800 to $2,000 a pop, handheld scanner devices don’t come cheap—a cost that’s compounded every time they’re dropped or left behind by workers.

PPE recommendation for device management:

Scanner harnesses, holsters and holders. The idea is simple. Keep these costly devices safe, secure and at-the-ready. Scanner harnesses are favored by folks on the fly like fulfillment center pickers, where the device sits comfortably at their side for a quick draw while remaining tethered to the harness (but still allowing for full range of motion). For more customer-facing folks (like delivery workers or in-store stockers), holsters might be preferred as they’re a bit less conspicuous and can be clipped onto a belt or piece of equipment (like a shopping cart). WMHS

Nate Bohmbach is Product Director of Ergodyne, whose top flight, battle-tested work gloves, safety glasses, knee pads, supports, head protection and hi-vis clothing Make The Workplace A Betterplace™. Ergodyne’s Tenacious Work Gear® is precision crafted to provide protection, promote prevention and manage the elements for workers on job sites the world over. www.ergodyne.com