As safety experts, SynTech has spent time honing in on the most critical terminology for discussing warehouse safety.
While there is a practical need for brief dictionaries such as this for almost every aspect of warehouse operations, this guide focuses on terms that will help individuals guide and navigate meaningful safety conversations.
Warehouse Terms You Need to Know
Batch Picking
Batch picking is a strategy where warehouse workers pick up multiple orders in a single pass through the warehouse.
Cross-Docking
Cross-docking is the process of eliminating or significantly shortening the storage of products. Instead, the products go directly from the supplier or manufacturer to the retailer or customer with little to no handling or storage.
Drayage
Drayage is the transport of goods over a short distance, and it is most often used to describe the transport of large shipping freights from a ship to its next destination.
Handling Equipment
Warehouse workers use handling equipment to move goods and other components more comfortably. Handling equipment is the umbrella term for warehouse vehicles, tools, and storage equipment.
Insurance Premiums
Due to the dangerous nature of warehouse work and equipment, companies are required to have liability insurance. The premium refers to how much the company has to pay to hold the policy and ranges depending on the warehouse’s quality of safety procedures.
Loading Dock
A loading dock is part of the building where transport vehicles load or unload products and other materials. It is one of the areas in the warehouse that can lead to the most accidents.
Lone-Worker
Lone workers work in the warehouse but do not do work with or near any other warehouse employees. These workers can benefit from a safety tool to monitor their status and alert someone should they become injured while working.
Short for The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, OSHA is a U.S. Department of Labor department that visits workplaces to inspect and examine them for safe working conditions.
Replenishment
Replenishment refers to moving back stock or reserve stock to primary storage areas. Primary storage areas are where orders are picked and distributed for delivery.
RFID-Systems
RFID-Systems function using radio frequency identification. These systems use tags, labels, printers, and readers to help warehouses track goods.
While helpful in tracking goods, RFID-Systems fail to effectively read through walls, cargo containers, racks, and other obstructions when used on safety equipment.
Warehouse Mobile Equipment
Warehouse mobile equipment is a specific type of handling equipment. Warehouse workers use mobile to ease the transport of large quantities of goods. Portable equipment includes forklifts, lift trucks, and pallet stackers.
Warehouse Pedestrian
A warehouse pedestrian travels around the warehouse on foot rather than on a piece of mobile equipment. Warehouse safety procedures take pedestrian safety into account to reduce injury.
Zone Picking
Zone picking is a warehouse-picking strategy where the product is separated into zones. With zone picking, different workers in various zones pick separate parts of an order before being gathered together.
Knowledge is the First Step
Developing an understanding of the way a warehouse operates is the first step to crafting effective safety solutions. At SynTech, we know the warehouse industry like the back of our hands, which is why our safety programs work so well. Contact us today to learn more about designing a custom safety solution for your warehouse.