A warehouse is the sort of facility that can easily become confusing, inefficient, and even dangerous if it doesn’t have the proper signage. Mazes of similar-looking racks, busy forklifts, and tight schedules mean that everything in a warehouse, from the loading docks to aisles, needs to be labeled well in order for your employees to be able to do their jobs quickly, properly, and safely. While regulations like OSHA will guide the specifics of the signs that you are absolutely required to have, here is a basic overview of the types of signage that are important to include in a warehouse.
Safety Signs
Warehouses are full of moving machinery, heavy items, high places, and lots of people all absorbed in their work. The potential for serious accidents is very high in such a facility. Safety signs are an absolute must to alert your employees to potential hazards and direct them toward solutions if at all possible. Caution and warning signs need to be in place to comply with safety regulations, as well as signs indicating the location of things like fire extinguishers or first aid kits. If your warehouse stores any hazardous materials or chemicals, things like emergency showers or eye wash stations should be clearly identified as well. Additionally, signs that lay out the safety protocols that your employees must follow should be highly visible in a central area for everyone to see. All of these signs will help to ensure no one is seriously injured or endangered on the job.
Directional Signs
It’s pretty much an accepted fact that warehouses are very difficult places to navigate. They’re nearly always large and sprawling, and almost every part of them looks just the same as all of the other parts. That’s why directional signs are not to be overlooked when planning the signage for a facility like this. They will help your staff to be able to get around much more quickly, and will especially be helpful to new employees who are still getting the lay of the land.
Aisle and Row Signs
In a similar vein to directional signage, having the individual aisles, rows, or sections of your warehouse well-labeled is very important. Signs that are missing, difficult to read, or just generally confusing can potentially lead to stock being put in the wrong places and not being able to be found again, or to employees unknowingly looking in the wrong place for an item that is where it’s supposed to be. Having a clear and concise system for managing a warehouse is a necessity, but it won’t do you any good if your staff can’t navigate that system effectively throughout their day. With proper signage, this won’t become a problem!
Forklift Traffic Signs
Forklifts might be an essential part of warehouse operations, but they also have the potential to be an extremely dangerous piece of machinery. Forklift accidents can be very serious, and they are easily preventable with proper safety measures. With thorough training for forklift operators and plenty of clear signage, you can help to avoid most of these incidents. Signs to alert other staff members nearby to potential collisions, signs to remind forklift operators of safety protocols, and potentially even marking out forklift lanes on the ground will all help to reduce the risk involved in using these machines in your warehouse.
A warehouse with inadequate signage can never function at its full capacity and will be a safety hazard to everyone working there. However, with the proper attention paid to this part of warehouse management, you can very easily have a facility that is both efficient and safe. If you are planning a new warehouse project that will need signs, or you need to update the signs in your existing warehouse, the experienced signage professionals at Bartush Signs are ready to help you. Bartush Signs is the premier display signage company in Orwigsburg, PA. Contact us here to discuss your project!
