CASE STUDY – LADDER SAFETY – WAREHOUSE
Keywords: Ladder, Manual Materials Handling, Lifting, Carrying
1. Background
On occasion, employees are required to access items on a top shelf requiring a mobile
platform. These items are for special orders, and each box weighs approximately 26 kg. The
special orders are often one of the last things that are picked during a shift. An employee was
seen stretching to retrieve a box when they lost their balance and fell. Luckily they were not
seriously injured, but the employee immediately reported the incident to their supervisor.
2. Assessment
The company has a strong health and safety program and decided to undergo a review to
determine the root cause. It took the following steps:
Underwent a document review on policies and procedures.
Inspected the mobile platform.
Reviewed inspection records and incident reports.
Reviewed training records.
Observed employee behaviour.
Completed a risk assessment.
Spoke to the JHSC and several employees about the incident.
WSPS.CA
