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Warehouses are busy places and at all times there are opportunities for accidents to happen. It’s important that any warehouse has robust safety policy in place, especially when operating forklifts. In this blog we’ll outline the most common accidents and injuries in the warehouse – and how to avoid them!

Watch out for pedestrians! Safety measures can only go so far if pedestrians or forklift operators are distracted; Designated warehouse routes, hands free equipment and warning lights and sounds can all help to avoid any collisions.

Is your pathway clear? A warehouse must be kept tidy at all times; with operatives carrying goods here there and everywhere falls and trips over discarded materials can be a huge risk. The easiest way to avoid these injuries to make sure everyone tidies up after themselves!

Crushing can also be a risk. Heavy machinery such as forklifts can become unbalanced and crushing can result if forklifts tip over. Drivers should brace themselves for impact if in a forklift that is tipping over, rather than jump out of the falling vehicle.

Watch your back! Lifting and carrying can be a big part of warehouse work, and it’s vital that operatives lift heavy goods in a way that is safe, to avoid long term back problems. The trick is to bend your knees!

For more information about our latest warehouse opportunities, please contact Flexistaff on 0844 556 2916 or [email protected].

Warehouses are predominantly busy places, and operating a forklift presents a number of safety precautions to consider. To ensure you’re safe when operating a forklift, take a look at our top tips below.

Who’s about? Pedestrians can present a number of difficulties when operating a forklift. Employees should ensure they all wear high visibility clothing. When driving a forklift, you should maintain a safe distance from pedestrians. All employees should be alert and aware of forklifts.

Are you driving safely? Ensure your forklift isn’t overloaded and ensure you drive to the correct speed limit to avoid any accidents.

What about the workplace? Forklifts should have designated areas for driving in, which should always be well lit and clear of any stored items. Drivers should be cautious when approaching corners or narrow areas.

Is it well maintained? Forklift operators should ensure their equipment is well maintained at all times – Read our earlier blog for advice on keeping your forklift in top shape!

For more information about our latest Forklift vacancies, or to find out how Flexistaff can support your business, contact us on 08445562916 or [email protected].

If you’ve been job searching for a while, securing an interview is a massive win in itself. But sometimes, things just don’t go to plan – And whilst we would always recommend you do everything in your power to get to an interview, there are some good reasons why, even if it’s awkward, you should cancel an interview.

You’re feeling unwell. If you’re too ill to go to the interview, and possibly contagious, it’s entirely acceptable to make a call and reschedule the interview for when you’re feeling better. An interviewer will not be impressed if you pass on something unpleasant…

Emergencies are unavoidable. Interviewers will understand if you can’t make the interview due to an emergency – make the call, apologies and explain as far as you can before asking for another date.

You’re stuck! Transport can be unpredictable – if you can’t get there in time, make sure you call, and offer to reschedule if needed.

Got a job? Changed your mind? Interviewers will appreciate you for not wasting their time – If you find another role before your interview, or just simply realise the role isn’t right for you, call to cancel the interview professionally, leaving all doors open for future applications.

Cancelling an interview in some cases is acceptable – just make sure you call your interviewer to let them know, and make sure to be apologetic and professional – who knows, you may interview with them again one day!

For more information about our latest vacancies, contact Flexistaff on 0844 556 2916 or [email protected].

With demand so high these days for an excellent supply chain, chances are your competitors are doing everything they can to make their warehouse as efficient as possible. Just a few simple changes can make all the difference to your efficiency – So how can you make sure your warehouse is performing at its best?

Start at the very beginning. Your receiving and labelling process needs to be watertight, to ensure when goods arrive they make it eventually to the right destination.

Stop with all the walking! Plan the layout of your warehouse to ensure that walking between destinations is kept to an absolute minimum.

Do you measure up? You should keep a continuous record of your KPIs, costings and productivity to ensure that the performance of your warehouse is always improving.

It’s all about the feedback. Make sure your warehouse is open and transparent, giving employees the opportunity to give feedback on how things can be improved.

For more information about our latest warehouse or industrial vacancies, or to find out how Flexistaff can support your warehouse recruitment needs, contact us on 0844 556 2916 or [email protected].

Amid the coronavirus outbreak, more and more of us are heading back to our normal place of work. From time to time it’s normal for people to experience stress at work in one way or another, but given the unique circumstances this year has brought us it’s important more than ever to reduce the risk of stress at work as much as possible.

A lot of stress at work can result from sleep deprivation. Again many of us are struggling with our sleep during this crisis, and it can be dangerous, especially if you’re working in a warehouse or production environment.

Stress can also result in distraction or a loss in concentration. Whilst we can’t all be expected to be on it all day without a break, distraction behind the wheel of a HGV or forklift can be very dangerous to the driver and surrounding workers.

As such, it’s vital that everyone in the workplace is committed to tackling stress. A culture of openness, where people can express their concerns, is very important. Taking regular breaks, eating healthily and trying to maintain a routine despite shift work can all be helpful tactics when tackling workplace stress.

For more information about our latest vacancies, or to find out how Flexistaff can support your business, contact us on 0844 556 2916 or [email protected].

Whilst warehouse operation can be a complex matter, many of the dangers and difficulties associated with warehousing can be tackled with proper lighting. So why should you invest in your warehouse lighting?

Reduce your losses. Proper lighting prevents accidental damage to products, as warehouse operatives have more self awareness, which can make a huge difference to productivity and profitability.

Are people making mistakes? In inadequate lighting, mistakes can be made regularly. Modern lighting leads to a more pleasant working environment, which in turn means employees are fully engaged and more comfortable, and less mistakes are made.

Up goes efficiency! With employees engaged and safe, with less product damage and fewer mistakes being made, your efficiency as a warehouse will without question increase. All just because of lighting!

So what’s stopping you in investing in your warehouse lighting?

For more information about our latest warehouse vacancies, or to find out how Flexistaff can support your business, contact us on 0844 556 2916 or [email protected].

Interviews are tough, and group interviews can often be even more nerve wracking, with your possible competition right there in the room with you! Here’s our top tips for how to handle the group interview stage to come out on top.

Start as you mean to go on and arrive early. Make a good impression and make sure you’re one of the first people to arrive. Prepare questions in advance of the interview, as well as a short introduction of yourself for the benefit of the rest of the group, to prepare for the inevitable ice breaker…

Treat other interviewees with respect. Aim to be inclusive and collaborative as appropriate – talking over people or getting lost in the group won’t earn you any points. Show respect but don’t become too informal with other interviewees – remain professional at all times!

Be aware of yourself. Remind yourself to pay attention to your body language – sit up straight, make eye contact and remain alert at all times. Losing concentration in a group interview can be dangerous – take notes and stay engaged at all times.

For more information about our latest vacancies, or to find out how Flexistaff can support your business, contact us on 0844 556 2916 or [email protected].

According to a recent news reports, a shortage of drivers and other skilled workers is still the biggest challenge faced by the logistics sector. How is this still a problem faced by the industry and how can things change?

It’s clear that it’s a competitive market for skilled workers and political and economic uncertainty due to Brexit and Covid-19 has left workers seeking security elsewhere. This, coupled with increased and changing customer demands for a seamless service has left finding skilled workers and drivers challenging to some organisations.

Organisations are tackling this shortage by investing in new technology, streamlining their processes as much as possible. The government are also stepping in to review current legislation as well as increasing capacity for HGV driving tests and training. Flexistaff are leading the way in alleviating staff shortage woes for our clients, providing an extensive network and providing CPC driver training, making sure drivers are well trained and fully equipped for the task.

For those considering a career change, driving provides a number of benefits, including flexible hours, full training and a competitive salary. Why not give Flexistaff a call to find out more?

For more information about our latest driving vacancies or to find out how Flexistaff can support your business, contact us on 0844 556 2916 or [email protected].

If you work in a fast paced, busy warehouse environment, you’ll be used to working with forklifts. But are you clued up when it comes to inspection guidelines as per the Occupational Safety and Health Administration? Here’s what you need to remember.

Why do I need to inspect my forklift? It’s important that forklifts are inspected regularly to ensure everyone is safe when working in the warehouse environment. If operated without inspection, workers and the company are put a risk.

When does the vehicle need to be inspected? At least daily checks are required, or at the end of each working shift if the equipment is being used 24/7. Checks must be conducted by a certified forklift operator.

What does the inspection involve? Start with a visual check, check fluid levels and tyre pressure before taking a look for any leaks or damage. Check the brakes, horn and safety equipment is all in good working order. A daily checklist for staff to fill in will work wonders!

For more information about our latest forklift opportunities, or to find out how Flexistaff can support your business, contact Flexistaff on 0844 556 2916 or [email protected].

There are countless reasons as to why there might be a gap in your employment on your CV, but it’s important you address a gap head on with any potential employer. Here’s how.

Always be honest. Depending on the situation depends on how much information you need to provide, but honesty is always the best policy, if you have to declare a gap in your employment.

Tailor your CV. Was the gap in your employment more than 10 years ago? Typically only your last 10 years of experience are relevant when job searching, so if the gap in your employment was many years ago, it may no longer be relevant to include on your CV.

Positivity is key. Make gaps in your CV a positive thing – If you find yourself out of work for a short period, use the time to take courses or assess your career path. Using the time wisely will be beneficial to you in the long run.

Be ready for questions. If you secure an interview, be prepared to answer questions about a gap in your CV, and find a positive way to address it.

For more information about our latest opportunities, or to find out how Flexistaff can support your business, contact Flexistaff on 0844 556 2916 or [email protected].