![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.bahrns.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/coronavirus-virus-which-causes-sars-and-mers-picture-id628925106.jpg\")
<\/a>(Courtesy: istockphoto.com)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Managers are realizing that storage areas don\u2019t generate profit. Instead, production generates it. So there is a need to determine what products generate profit and what don\u2019t and then tweak things so that the items that attract profit get the priority when it comes to space.<\/p>\n
In Europe, warehouse managers are relying on warehouse consultancy services that are now using virtual site inspections to decide how best to utilize their space and inventory. Managers are configuring storage and warehouse spaces within existing footprints.<\/p>\n
Some alternatives that have been tried are to expand production areas or to customize workflow. They have found that they can reduce storage areas to gain workspace or they can use automation to reduce physical contacts.<\/p>\n
Bis Henderson Space, a warehouse space strategy firm, has even created a white paper offering suggestions on the issue. The paper is titled Warehouse Space: A New Strategy For A New Reality. The paper notes that there is a lack of vision by some warehouse managers when it comes to space needs.<\/p>\n
Work Place Safety Guidance<\/h2>\n
The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy for the United Kingdom recently published guidelines to assist warehouses cope with the new reality due to COVID-19. Although the guidelines are specific to the UK, it can offer suggestions to warehouse managers in the U.S. on how to cope with issues that arise due to COVID-19.<\/p>\n
One central portion of the guidelines is how warehouse managers can manage risks that arise due to the Coronavirus.<\/p>\n
The guidelines point out that warehouse employers have the responsibility to reduce workplace risk. Calling on the use of preventative measures can assist in achieving this. For the work place, the guidelines suggest a number of things to do to assure safety. They include:<\/p>\n
\u2022 Encouraging hand washing and surface cleaning.
\n\u2022 Permit working at home for appropriate employees.
\n\u2022 Comply with social distancing rules to assure the health of employees who work in a facility.
\n\u2022 If a particular activity cannot be performed due to social distancing, warehouse managers should consider stopping the activity so that the business as a whole can continue to operate.
\n\u2022 Limit how long an activity takes place.
\n\u2022 Use screens or barriers to separate workers from one another.
\n\u2022 Configure workers back-to-back or side-to-side instead of face-to-face.
\n\u2022 Create teams or partnerships that encourage a small number of people working together to limit contact between individuals.
\n\u2022 If the activity cannot be performed with workers face-to-face, then consider stopping the activity.<\/p>\n
Extremely vulnerable workers should be encouraged to work at home. They should not be present in the warehouse facility. Warehouse managers are also encouraged to offer mental health support to workers who need it.<\/p>\n
Coming To And Leaving Work<\/h2>\n
The guidelines have suggestions on how to deal with employees coming to and leaving work. They suggest:<\/p>\n
\u2022 Staggering arrival and departures to reduce crowding.
\n\u2022 Limit the number of workers in corporate vehicles including minibuses. Allow for space between occupants by leaving seats empty.
\n\u2022 Have more entry points to reduce congestion.
\n\u2022 Encourage one-way flow at entry and exit points.
\n\u2022 Offer hand washing facilities or hand sanitizer at entry and exit.
\n\u2022 Use process alternatives for entry and exit points that encourage social distancing.<\/p>\n
Moving Around The Worksite<\/h2>\n
It is essential to assure social distancing when on the warehouse floor. This can be achieved by:<\/p>\n
\u2022 Reducing non-essential trips including restricting access to some areas. It is essential to ensure social distancing at workstations. This can be achieved by:<\/p>\n \u2022 Reconsider workstation layout and line configuration to assure social distancing. Of course it is advised that you limit the number of people who participate in meetings to minimize if not prevent the spread of the Coronavirus. This can be achieved by:<\/p>\n \u2022 Using remote ways of contact rather than in-person meetings. It is suggested that workers maintain social distancing when gathering in common areas. This can be achieved by:<\/p>\n \u2022 Staggering break times Of course, it is essential to protect your work force from visitors to the warehouse who may be carriers of the virus. To assure safety in these circumstances it is advised that you:<\/p>\n \u2022 Suggest visitors contact employees via remote connections. Visitors who have a need to work at the facility can be allowed to do so in remote working areas. Although these guidelines are specific to the UK, there are many if not most ideas that US warehouse managers can apply.<\/p>\n It is also suggested that you contact the Center for Disease Control And Prevention (CDC) as well as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for guidance.<\/p>\n (Sources: forkliftaction.com<\/a> and gov.uk<\/a>)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Coronavirus Pandemic has affected all aspects of society from the social to the business work environment. As businesses begin to open worldwide, the work environment has to be modified to ensure safety for workers. For example, warehouse managers are discovering that there is need for more space on the floor to accommodate social distancing. … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":26,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1067],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9812","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-warehouse-management"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bahrns.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9812","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bahrns.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bahrns.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bahrns.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/26"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bahrns.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9812"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.bahrns.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9812\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11858,"href":"https:\/\/www.bahrns.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9812\/revisions\/11858"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bahrns.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9812"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bahrns.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9812"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bahrns.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9812"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n\u2022 Encourage the use of radios or telephones and make certain that they are cleaned between uses.
\n\u2022 Reducing job and equipment rotation.
\n\u2022 Provide hand sanitizers for drivers of forklifts<\/a>.
\n\u2022 Regulating use of high traffic areas including corridors, lifts, turnstiles and walkways to ensure social distancing.<\/p>\nWorkplaces And Workstations<\/h2>\n
\n\u2022 Using floor tape to mark areas that denote the proper social distancing of 6-feet.<\/p>\nMeetings<\/h2>\n
\n\u2022 When meetings can\u2019t be avoided, assure that participants practice social distancing.
\n\u2022 Provide hand sanitizers in meeting rooms.
\n\u2022 Holding meetings outdoors or in well-ventilated rooms.
\n\u2022 Wearing a mask.<\/p>\nCongregating In Common Areas<\/h2>\n
\n\u2022 Using outdoor areas for breaks.
\n\u2022 Using protective screening for staff in reception areas.
\n\u2022 Offering packaged meals instead of opening a staffed restaurant or canteen.
\n\u2022 Urging workers to remain on-site during working hours.<\/p>\nManaging Contacts<\/h2>\n
\n\u2022 Limit the number of visitors to the facility.
\n\u2022 Allowing contract service personnel to perform their jobs overnight when employees are not present.
\n\u2022 Maintain a record of all visitors.<\/p>\n