Safety

All W.A. Wilson warehouse employees and drivers are proud members of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, District Council 57, Carnegie PA. We are fully committed to the safety and health of our employees and will not compromise on what is necessary to do each job safely and in a healthful manner. We believe all accidents are preventable.  In pursuit of that belief, we intend to maintain a safe and healthy work environment and expect all employees to cooperate fully in the measures taken for their safety and health.  While we are implementing many safety and health programs today, programs alone will not get the job done.  Improved safety and health performance requires the total commitment of each of our employees, our vendors, and our customers on a day-to-day basis.

Loading and Off Loading Materials

  • Chock both rear wheels of the trailer or truck.
  • If the trailer is disengaged, two jacks must be placed under the forward ends of the trailer.
  • Properly brace or secure products behind or in front of the items being moved.
  • All materials must be secured or tied off on any transporting device.
  • Unopened cases can be moved with slings or by lifting with a fork truck from underneath the case.  Steel racks are not designed to be lifted with slings.
  • Materials must be moved evenly to prevent the load from shifting.
  • Do not exceed the posted weight limitations of the overhead crane or lifting device.  If the height of the crate exceeds the depth, the height has a high center of balance and can tip if not handled according to the instructions.
  • Allow for an escape route in case of package or lifting device failure.
  • Provide ladders or other approved access devices to avoid climbing or jumping down from loads.
  • Inspect trailer floor for strength before entering it with a tow  motor.
  • Cases with a high center of balance should always be stored leaning against a wall at a minimum 5 degree angle, or in a storage rack that is firmly anchored to the floor.
  • Steel racks are designed to be free standing.  They can be placed on a flat and level surface without blocks or wedges.
  • Never move a case with a high center of balance with case dollies.
  • Racks for storing stock lengths must have a device such as fingers or chains to prevent materials from falling or rolling out.

Opening Cases and Racks

  • Steel racks are constructed giving a slight lean to the glass. They can be opened without additional leaning or blocking provided they are placed on a flat and level surface.
  • Prior to opening a wooden case, note the label indicated ‘open this side’.  Glass inside the case is oriented vertically.  All cases must first be placed into a storage rack or leaned against a wall and blocked to prevent the case from falling forward when opened.
  • Stand at the edge of the case when cutting steel supporting bands.  Because the glass can shift when the bands are cut, you should never stand in an area where the case could fall if the lean was inadequate.
  • Cases and racks should never be moved once the steel bands have been removed.
  • To protect our employees from injury, W.A. Wilson requires the use of various safety items that have been approved as personal protective equipment by our industry.  Depending on the employee’s job responsibilities, these include, but are not limited to, safety glasses, safety steel toed boots, coated gloves, glass handling sleeves, and hard hats.