Most warehouse managers are aware of the risks that come with working at heights. Whether accessing goods stored up high or manuevering an order picker on a mezzanine, the threat of a catostrophic fall is ever-present. Falls from heights are not just a top reason for warehouse accidents; they are among the most severe, often resulting in downtime, costly claims, and, most importantly, permanent effects on people. Yet, with the right precautions and technology, these incidents are able to be prevented.

The Dangers of Elevated Work

Falls from high locations, such as elevated vehicles, raised work areas, and mezzanines account for a substantial number of warehouse injuries. OSHA mandates fall protection at elevations of four feet or more in general industry settings, but meeting regulations isn’t always enough. In practice, even veteran employees can become careless or hurried, leading to forgetting to use safety harnesses. The consequences are serious: a single miscalculation at height can result in life-altering injuries or fatalities.

Warehouses are busy settings. Workers are often required to access inventory stored several levels above the ground, using equipment like order pickers or turret trucks. These machines are crucial for today’s warehouses, but they also create special safety challenges. A momentary lapse, not attaching a lanyard or improperly securing a lanyard, can have tragic results.

Ordinary Fall Protection: Strengths and Shortcomings

In the past, warehouses have relied on a mix of guardrails, safety nets, and personal fall arrest systems to protect employees performing their duties up high. Barriers and guardrails are useful for fixed elevated areas, but they cannot ensure the safety of operators of order pickers. Personal fall arrest systems such as lanyards and harnesses are the most common strategy for employees on mobile lifts. However, these solutions rely on reliable use by staff. Even the best-trained worker can miss a step while distracted, particularly during high-pressure times or under production pressure.

Supervisors have long struggled with this human factor. Visual checks and periodic audits help, but they don't provide total assurance, especially in complex, round-the-clock facilities.

The Raymond iWarehouse Integrated Tether System: Compliance Made Easy

Raymond’s iWarehouse Integrated Tether System is a leap forward in fall protection for operations where elevated work is the norm. Unlike traditional systems that count on human compliance, the Integrated Tether System employs modern connectivity to make certain that safety standards are enforced whenever an employee uses elevated equipment.

Here’s how it works: The system requires the operator to connect a self-retracting lanyard to their harness before the vehicle will operate at normal speed or allow the forks to elevate. In the event that the worker isn't tethered correctly, the system immediately sends a series of escalating alerts including audible alarms, visual warnings on the iMONITOR display, and, if unaddressed, automatic reduction of the vehicle’s speed to a crawl and disabling of lift functions. This multi-layered approach ensures that operators cannot work around required protocols, even unintentionally.

The Integrated Tether System is now available for Raymond’s Orderpicker models (5300, 5400, 5500, 5600) and Swing-Reach trucks (9600, 9700), making it a useful option for diverse warehouse needs. In addition to instant enforcement, the system supplies managers with detailed data on tether compliance, enabling focused coaching and proactive safety management.

Take the Next Step Toward Fall Protection

Elevated falls remain as a top safety concern for modern warehouses, but they are also among the most preventable. By adopting new tools like the Integrated Tether System, you can go further than just meeting regulations, protecting your team, your operations, and your sense of security.

If you’re ready to make safety a priority, contact Raymond West. Our warehouse safety professionals can evaluate your warehouse hazards, install advanced safety systems, and create a more secure workplace—one where every worker at height comes down safely, every time.

Raymond West's Spokane branch services Spokane, Airway Heights, Spokane Valley, Liberty Lake, Post Falls, Hayden, Rathdrum, Coeur d'Alene, Medical Lake, Cheney, Pullman, Moscow, Moses Lake, Yakima, Wenatchee, Lewiston, Clarkston, Kennewick, Pasco, Richland, Walla Walla and all surrounding areas.

Raymond West | Spokane Material Handling Equipment Supplier

11002 E Montgomery Dr #100
Spokane, WA 99206
(509) 728-6000