Strengthening warehouse operations through Integrated Safety Management Practices bi

Mohamed Suhaimi Yusof (1)
(1) Universiti Utara Malaysia, Malaysia

Abstract

Warehouse operations increasingly involve complex interactions among employees, material handling equipment, storage systems, digital technologies, and demanding performance requirements. These conditions have increased the importance of integrating safety management directly into operational decision making. This article examines how integrated safety management practices can strengthen warehouse operations by connecting organisational safety policies with ergonomic work design, technology implementation, employee participation, and operational performance. The analysis identifies four major challenges involving fragmented safety management, persistent ergonomic risks, technology related safety concerns, and weaknesses in safety culture and employee involvement. The discussion further demonstrates that effective warehouse safety depends on consistent management commitment, alignment between safety and productivity objectives, preventive ergonomic design, appropriate technology integration, and stronger employee participation in risk identification and workplace improvement. The article proposes that warehouse organisations institutionalise safety management within operational planning, strengthen ergonomic risk control, evaluate safety implications during automation and technology adoption, and develop a participatory safety culture supported by continuous organisational learning. These measures can help reduce workplace hazards while improving operational reliability, employee engagement, and organisational effectiveness. Overall, integrated safety management provides a strategic foundation for creating warehouse environments that are safer, more efficient, and better prepared to respond to changing operational demands.

Full text article

Generated from XML file

References

Ahmad, R., Ching, C. L., Bandar, N. F. A., Hamidi, H., Shminan, A. S., & Siong, H. C. (2018). Relationship between safety climate factors and safety performance among the workers in cold storage industries. American Journal of Trade and Policy, 5(3), 85–92. https://doi.org/10.18034/ajtp.v5i3.439 DOI: https://doi.org/10.18034/ajtp.v5i3.439

Battini, D., Calzavara, M., Persona, A., & Sgarbossa, F. (2017). Additional effort estimation due to ergonomic conditions in order picking systems. International Journal of Production Research, 55(10), 2764–2774. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2016.1190879 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2016.1190879

Battini, D., Calzavara, M., Glock, C. H., Grosse, E. H., Persona, A., & Sgarbossa, F. (2017). Analysis of economic and ergonomic performance measures of different rack layouts in an order picking warehouse. Computers & Industrial Engineering, 111, 527–536. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cie.2016.07.001 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cie.2016.07.001

Beus, J. M., Payne, S. C., Bergman, M. E., & Arthur, W. (2010). Safety climate and injuries: An examination of theoretical and empirical relationships. Journal of Applied Psychology, 95(4), 713–727. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0019164 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/a0019164

Besombes, C., Castanier, C., & Vignais, N. (2020). On body sensors for ergonomic analysis: Influence of supports for order picking. Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering, 23(S1), S253–S254. https://doi.org/10.1080/10255842.2020.1714262 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10255842.2020.1714262

Boysen, N., de Koster, R., & Weidinger, F. (2019). Warehousing in the e commerce era: A survey. European Journal of Operational Research, 277(2), 396–411. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejor.2018.08.023 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejor.2018.08.023

Calzavara, M., Glock, C. H., Grosse, E. H., Persona, A., & Sgarbossa, F. (2020). Robot picker solution in order picking systems: An ergo zoning approach. IFAC PapersOnLine, 53(2), 10597–10602. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ifacol.2020.12.2813 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ifacol.2020.12.2813

Christian, M. S., Bradley, J. C., Wallace, J. C., & Burke, M. J. (2009). Workplace safety: A meta analysis of the roles of person and situation factors. Journal of Applied Psychology, 94(5), 1103–1127. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0016172 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/a0016172

Clarke, S. (2006). The relationship between safety climate and safety performance: A meta analytic review. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 11(4), 315–327. https://doi.org/10.1037/1076-8998.11.4.315 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/1076-8998.11.4.315

De Koster, R., Le Duc, T., & Roodbergen, K. J. (2007). Design and control of warehouse order picking: A literature review. European Journal of Operational Research, 182(2), 481–501. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejor.2006.07.009 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejor.2006.07.009

Fernández Muñiz, B., Montes Peón, J. M., & Vázquez Ordás, C. J. (2007). Safety management system: Development and validation of a multidimensional scale. Journal of Loss Prevention in the Process Industries, 20(1), 52–68. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jlp.2006.10.002 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jlp.2006.10.002

Glock, C. H., Grosse, E. H., Abedinnia, H., & Emde, S. (2019). An integrated model to improve ergonomic and economic performance in order picking by rotating pallets. European Journal of Operational Research, 273(2), 516–534. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejor.2018.08.015 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejor.2018.08.015

Griffin, M. A., & Neal, A. (2000). Perceptions of safety at work: A framework for linking safety climate to safety performance, knowledge, and motivation. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 5(3), 347–358. https://doi.org/10.1037/1076-8998.5.3.347 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/1076-8998.5.3.347

Grosse, E. H., Glock, C. H., Jaber, M. Y., & Neumann, W. P. (2015). Incorporating human factors in order picking planning models: Framework and research opportunities. International Journal of Production Research, 53(3), 695–717. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2014.919424 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2014.919424

Grosse, E. H., Glock, C. H., & Neumann, W. P. (2017). Human factors in order picking: A content analysis of the literature. International Journal of Production Research, 55(5), 1260–1276. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2016.1186296 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2016.1186296

Gu, J., Goetschalckx, M., & McGinnis, L. F. (2010). Research on warehouse design and performance evaluation: A comprehensive review. European Journal of Operational Research, 203(3), 539–549. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejor.2009.07.031 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejor.2009.07.031

Hara, T., Li, Y., Ota, J., & Arai, T. (2020). Automatic risk assessment integrated with activity segmentation in the order picking process to support health management. CIRP Annals, 69(1), 17–20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cirp.2020.04.011 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cirp.2020.04.011

Hofmann, D. A., Burke, M. J., & Zohar, D. (2017). 100 years of occupational safety research: From basic protections and work analysis to a multilevel view of workplace safety and risk. Journal of Applied Psychology, 102(3), 375–388. https://doi.org/10.1037/apl0000114 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/apl0000114

Jaghbeer, Y., Hanson, R., & Johansson, M. I. (2020). Automated order picking systems and the links between design and performance: A systematic literature review. International Journal of Production Research, 58(15), 4489–4505. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2020.1788734 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2020.1788734

Kines, P., Lappalainen, J., Mikkelsen, K. L., Olsen, E., Pousette, A., Tharaldsen, J., Tómasson, K., & Törner, M. (2011). Nordic Safety Climate Questionnaire (NOSACQ 50): A new tool for diagnosing occupational safety climate. International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics, 41(6), 634–646. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ergon.2011.08.004 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ergon.2011.08.004

Masae, M., Glock, C. H., & Grosse, E. H. (2020). Order picker routing in warehouses: A systematic literature review. International Journal of Production Economics, 224, 107564. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpe.2019.107564 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpe.2019.107564

Nahrgang, J. D., Morgeson, F. P., & Hofmann, D. A. (2011). Safety at work: A meta analytic investigation of the link between job demands, job resources, burnout, engagement, and safety outcomes. Journal of Applied Psychology, 96(1), 71–94. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0021484 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/a0021484

Neal, A., Griffin, M. A., & Hart, P. M. (2000). The impact of organizational climate on safety climate and individual behavior. Safety Science, 34(1–3), 99–109. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0925-7535(00)00008-4 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0925-7535(00)00008-4

Silva, A., Coelho, L. C., Darvish, M., & Renaud, J. (2020). Integrating storage location and order picking problems in warehouse planning. Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, 140, 102003. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tre.2020.102003 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tre.2020.102003

Vanheusden, S., van Gils, T., Caris, A., Ramaekers, K., & Braekers, K. (2020). Operational workload balancing in manual order picking. Computers & Industrial Engineering, 141, 106269. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cie.2020.106269 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cie.2020.106269

Vinodkumar, M. N., & Bhasi, M. (2010). Safety management practices and safety behaviour: Assessing the mediating role of safety knowledge and motivation. Accident Analysis & Prevention, 42(6), 2082–2093. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aap.2010.06.021 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aap.2010.06.021

Wachter, J. K., & Yorio, P. L. (2014). A system of safety management practices and worker engagement for reducing and preventing accidents: An empirical and theoretical investigation. Accident Analysis & Prevention, 68, 117–130. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aap.2013.07.029 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aap.2013.07.029

Yangok, A., & Choosong, T. (2018). Factors related to safety climate in production line workers of food manufacturing. International Journal of Engineering & Technology, 7(3.24), 107–111. https://doi.org/10.14419/ijet.v7i3.24.17293 DOI: https://doi.org/10.14419/ijet.v7i3.24.17293

Yoon, S. J., Lin, H. K., Chen, G., Yi, S., Choi, J., & Rui, Z. (2013). Effect of occupational health and safety management system on work related accident rate and differences of occupational health and safety management system awareness between managers in South Korea's construction industry. Safety and Health at Work, 4(4), 201–209. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.shaw.2013.10.002 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.shaw.2013.10.002

Yusof, M. S., Salleh, M. N., & Zahari, F. M. (2020). The Relationship between Information Technology Capability and New Product Development Success: A Conceptual Framework. International Journal of Business and Technology Management, 2(1), 98-112.

Yusof, M. S., Salleh, M. N., & Zahari, F. M. (2020). The Relationship between NPD Process and NPD Strategy toward NPD Success in Malaysian Automotive Industry. Asian Journal of Research in Business and Management, 2(1), 11-26.

Zakaria, J., Che Hassan, C. R., Hamid, M. D., & Sukadarin, E. H. (2020). Safety climate factors at selected chemical manufacturing plant in Malaysia. Process Safety Progress, 39(1), e12096. https://doi.org/10.1002/prs.12096 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/prs.12096

Zohar, D. (1980). Safety climate in industrial organizations: Theoretical and applied implications. Journal of Applied Psychology, 65(1), 96–102. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.65.1.96 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.65.1.96

Zohar, D., & Luria, G. (2005). A multilevel model of safety climate: Cross level relationships between organization and group level climates. Journal of Applied Psychology, 90(4), 616–628. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.90.4.616 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.90.4.616

Zwetsloot, G. I. J. M., van Middelaar, J., & van der Beek, D. (2020). Repeated assessment of process safety culture in major hazard industries in the Rotterdam region, Netherlands. Journal of Cleaner Production, 257, 120540. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.120540 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.120540

Authors

Mohamed Suhaimi Yusof
Yusof, M. S. (2022). Strengthening warehouse operations through Integrated Safety Management Practices: bi. The Asian Journal of Professional & Business Studies, 1(2), 56–72. https://doi.org/10.61688/ajpbs.v1i2.150

Article Details

Most read articles by the same author(s)

Similar Articles

<< < 1 2 3 

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.