E-commerce boom prompts increased demand for warehouse H&S assessments

The growth in e-commerce during the Covid-19 pandemic has also prompted increased demand for NLT Training Services’ Health and Safety Assessment service.

More businesses than ever ‘went digital’ during 2020, raising e-commerce’s share of global retail trade from 14% in 2019 to around 17% in 2020. This in turn has led to significantly increased stock on site for many traders, including home brew experts Love Brewing based in Chesterfield.

Love Brewing approached NLT to assist with Health & Safety risk assessments and method statements at its warehouses following the quadrupling of the business during the pandemic.

Darren Byrne, General Manager at Love Brewing, explained: “As Covid took hold, it became very apparent that people couldn’t go out to the pub or even to some shops due to the health scare. We saw a massive increase in business, going from approximately 100 orders per day to 400.”

Darren added: “By July 2020, three months after Covid had hit, we had managed to secure more stock, a new warehouse with approximately 12,000 sq ft of space and had doubled our staff numbers from 12 to 24. This growth however presented its own challenges as we needed to ensure everything was HSE compliant, as well as safe and secure for our employees.”

Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, as an employer, you’re required by law to protect your employees, and others, from harm.Busy with running the quickly expanding business, Darren contacted NLT Training Services for support and help to undertake Health and Safety risk assessments for each storage site.

Darren added: “NLT had previously delivered our ladder training, slips trips and falls along with manual handling and had always given us a professional service so it was my first port of call to help us with our new needs – they delivered exactly what we needed.”

The full site inspection, assessment and method statement project was completed in only a few days by NLT for Love Brewing, leaving Darren free to concentrate on running the business.

Sarah Temperton, Chief Executive of NLT Training Services commented: “Like Love Brewing, many small ecommerce businesses are experiencing significant growth right now and just managing the day-to-day business means they struggle to find time to carry legally-require health and safety and risk assessments. Health and Safety shouldn’t be overlooked or deprioritised.  Our work with Love Brewing shows there is a straightforward and simple solution to make sure the workplace is safe for everyone no matter how busy a business is. One phonecall to us is all it takes.”

For businesses who are looking to increase their storage facilities, here are some of the Darren’s tips:

• Fire Safety – There should be good access points to ensure easy escape in the event of a fire.
• Hazards – identify anything that may cause harm, like products falling off shelves or boxes that can be tripped over.
• Ventilation – design the storage around ventilation (e.g. windows, airbricks, etc) this before moving anything in to ensure it is not blocked and damp or overheating is caused.
• Test Days – Before becoming operational, conduct test days with staff to make sure everything is exactly how you want it and that it all works as it should.

If you would like any assistance in carrying out the Health and Safety risk assessments at your workplace, please contact us today to find out more about how we can help. Or, to browse our range of Health and Safety and Leadership and Management courses, please visit here. Or call us on 0333 880 3540.