Getting your warehouse ready for summer

Warmer weather – things to think about

As temperatures rise, operations in your warehouse can become more difficult with increased risk of your people and equipment overheating. Increased heat and dry spells of weather also often means less water is available and local authorities may impose water use restrictions which could impact some of your essential processes.

Also consider that surfaces such as glass windows or metal panels reflect sunlight, intensifying heat buildup within the warehouse – and even worse – potentially sparking fires.

And it’s not just inside the warehouse where risk of fire increases. Dry conditions coupled with high temperatures increase the likelihood of wildfires, posing a significant threat to warehouse property and yard storage.

Preventative measure you can take to combat increased heat:

• Regularly inspect and maintain ventilation and air conditioning systems to ensure they are functioning optimally.
• Encourage team members to stay hydrated and take regular breaks in shaded areas.
• Provide personal protective equipment adapted to work at high temperatures.
• Other basic measures to control temperature and humidity:
  • Implement insulation.
  • Open doors during the cooler hours of the day to ventilate the warehouse.
  • Try to keep doors closed during the hottest hours whenever they are not in use and regulate the opening and closing speed of automatic doors.
  • Consider installing backup generators to prevent disruptions in case of power outages.

Quieter operations and absences from the warehouse – what to think about

With most people taking holidays in the summer, you’re likely to have fewer employees around. Your warehouse could even be empty for extended periods if you close down operations over the summer. This means that minor issues can escalate into major disruptions because they have not been spotted and addressed. For example, equipment malfunctions or utility failures, particularly if non-essential systems are left running without proper monitoring.

Vacant warehouses are also more susceptible to criminal activities such as vandalism, arson, or theft, especially during periods of reduced supervision.
Lastly if you use temporary or seasonal employees, they may not have had the same training on operational and safety procedures – increasing the risk of accidents and injuries within the warehouse.

Preventive measures to avoid issues when the warehouse is quieter:

• Assign a qualified individual to conduct regular inspections of the property during periods of absence to identify and address any issues promptly.
• Secure the premises by locking gates, conducting regular patrols, and investing in adequate perimeter fencing and security services to deter unauthorised access.
• Ensure you have adequate insurance for contents and equipment.
• Around fires specifically, there are other basic measures to take:
  • Ensure hydrant system is working well.
  • Strictly control the buildup of combustible debris. Do not store dumpsters, bins, or other combustible rubbish against buildings or under canopies.
  • Wherever possible, limit yard storage and keep it at least 10 meters away from the main buildings / important equipment.

Summer and maintenance on your property

The summer season also offers a prime opportunity for maintenance on your warehouse. With dryer weather, potentially quieter periods and fewer people, it’s an ideal time to do routine upkeep in preparation for the wet season later in the year. Let’s explore some key areas for maintenance during the summer months.

• Roof maintenance
  • Ensure drains are not blocked. Remove debris blocking or restricting roof drains and gutters. Check for missing debris covers over interior roof drains.
  • Ensure screws are in good working condition. Check for flashing that has loose or missing fasteners. Missing joint covers, holes or corrosion and cracked or weathered sealants. Also loose, open or deteriorated stripping material sealing the roof to the flashing.
  • For metal roof systems, check for missing or loose fasteners, fasteners with missing or deteriorated flexible gaskets, panels that have holes, cracks, severe deformation or severe corrosion, panel clips with severe corrosion or damage to seams that can leak water.
  • For tile roofs, check for missing, cracked or loose tiles, missing or corroded fasteners, spalling, flaking, erosion or other deterioration of the tiles.
  • Spray polyurethane foam roofs for deterioration.
  • Consider reflective shades/covers
• Consider resealing openings and repainting indoor space.
• Consider a thorough cleaning of the warehouse.