If you're a warehouse manager, you know the dangers that are inherent with elevated work. Whether accessing goods stored up high or operating an order picker on a mezzanine, the threat of a serious fall is ever-present. Falls from heights are not just one of the main causes of injuries in warehouses; they are among the most devastating, often resulting in downtime, high compensation costs, and, most importantly, permanent effects on people. Yet, with the right approaches and technology, these incidents are avoidable.

The Dangers of Elevated Work

Falls from high locations, such as elevated vehicles, elevated platforms, and mezzanines account for a significant share 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 seasoned workers can become complacent or hurried, leading to lapses in tethering or harness use. The outcome can be sobering: a single miscalculation at height can result in significant bodily harm or fatalities.

Warehouses are constantly changing workplaces. Workers frequently need to retrieve goods from high shelves, using equipment like lift trucks or turret trucks. These machines are crucial for today’s warehouses, but they also create special safety challenges. A momentary lapse, forgetting to connect a harness or not fastening a harness properly, can have tragic results.

Ordinary Fall Protection: Strengths and Shortcomings

In the past, warehouses have relied on a mix of safety barriers, safety nets, and personal fall arrest systems to protect employees performing their duties up high. Guardrails and barriers are useful for fixed elevated areas, but they do not ensure the safety of workers on moving vehicles. Personal fall arrest systems such as lanyards and harnesses are the go to solution for operators of order pickers and similar vehicles. However, these solutions depend on consistent human behavior. Even the best-trained worker can miss a step while distracted, especially during busy shifts or under demanding workloads.

Safety managers have long wrestled with the challenge of human error. Visual checks and routine audits help, but they cannot ensure everyone always follows the rules, especially in big warehouses or places with many shifts.

The Raymond iWarehouse Integrated Tether System: Reducing the Compliance Burden

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 uses advanced wireless systems to make certain that safety standards are enforced whenever an employee uses elevated equipment.

Here's what happens: The system requires the employee to secure a tether to their harness before the vehicle will function at regular speed or allow the forks to elevate. In the event that the worker isn't tethered correctly, the system instantly fires off a series of escalating alerts including audible alarms, on-screen messages, and, if ignored, automatic reduction of the vehicle’s speed to a crawl and disabling of lift functions. This layered safety method ensures that employees cannot bypass safety procedures, even unintentionally.

The Integrated Tether System is currently an option for Raymond’s Orderpicker models (5300, 5400, 5500, 5600) and Swing-Reach trucks (9600, 9700), making it a versatile choice for many facilities. In addition to real-time monitoring, the system supplies supervisors with compliance tracking and reporting, enabling specific safety education and forward-thinking risk management.

Take the Next Step Toward Fall Protection

Falls from heights are a top safety concern for modern warehouses, but they are also one of the most easily mitigated. By adding modern technology such as the Integrated Tether System to your safety program, you can go further than just meeting regulations, protecting your team, your productivity, and your sense of security.

If you’re ready to improve your fall prevention efforts, contact Raymond West. Our safety experts can help you assess your current risks, implement the latest technology, and create a more secure workplace—one where every worker at height comes down safely, every time.

Raymond West's Santa Clarita / Valencia facility serves the northern region of Los Angeles County and the San Fernando Valley, including Valencia, Santa Clarita, San Fernando, Sylmar, Sun Valley, Reseda, Canoga Park, Van Nuys, North Hollywood, Burbank, Glendale, Pasadena, Hollywood and all surrounding areas.

Raymond West | Santa Clarita / San Fernando Valley Material Handling Equipment Supplier

28303 Industry Dr
Valencia, CA 91355
(661) 206-0462