Top Risks in Food & Beverage Wholesale Distribution & Root Cause Analysis

To gain a deeper insight into the top health and safety concerns in Food & Beverage Wholesale Distribution, Workplace Safety & Prevention Services (WSPS) facilitated a risk assessment workshop and subsequent root cause analysis, engaging workers and supervisors in this high-risk industry. Employing Ministry of Labor, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD) risk assessment methodology, industry experts identified the leading risks in the sector and are working collaboratively with OHS facilitators and stakeholders to propose solutions to protect workers.

Top 10 Health & Safety Risks in Food & Beverage Wholesale Distribution

1. Musculoskeletal Disorders – manual material handling (including when consolidating trailers), focus of Root Cause Analysis
2. Employee behavior – low risk perception
3. Slips, Trips and Falls
4. Struck Against Racking – head impacts on racking
5. Pedestrian Safety (indoor) – struck by material handling equipment
6. Fatigue and Stress
7. Temporary Workers – 3rd party agency employees
8. Motor Vehicle Incidents – during transportation of goods
9. Moving Pallets in and out of racking
10. Powered Material Handling Equipment Collisions – with fixed structures/objects

Manage Risks in Food & Beverage Wholesale Distribution

Workplace Safety & Prevention Services (WSPS) and the Food & Beverage Wholesale Distribution industry are working hand in hand to develop solutions that address the top risks in this sector.

A Root Cause Analysis Workshop revealed the primary causes of MSDs from manual material handling and recommended controls to mitigate the risk.

Toolkit | Food and Beverage Wholesale Distribution Common Hazards and Solutions – Access current resources and best practices to mitigate the top risks in Food & Beverage Wholesale Distribution.

Toolkit | Food and Beverage Wholesale Distribution: Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) Manual Material Handling – Access current resources to address MSDs from manual material handling in the industry.