At Beta Distribution Center, a worker was injured when she tried to remove items from a shelf and knocked a heavy box onto her foot. A week later, some posters stored in tubes rolled off another shelf and into an aisle. A second worker tripped over a tube and fell. Which of the following measures would best prevent this type of safety problem at Beta?


A.
Give workers protective equipment to use when handling spills.

B.
Train workers to lift with the legs and avoid twisting.

C.
Teach procedures for stacking items in straight, even loads.

D.
Mark dock edges with warnings.

B. Train workers to lift with the legs and avoid twisting.

The best measure to prevent this type of safety problem at Beta Distribution Center would be Option C: Teach procedures for stacking items in straight, even loads.

Explanation:

A. Giving workers protective equipment to use when handling spills would not directly address the issue of items falling off shelves or workers tripping over them. It may be more relevant in situations involving spills or accidents related to liquids.

B. Training workers to lift with the legs and avoid twisting is more relevant for preventing injuries related to lifting heavy objects. It may not directly address the issue of items falling off shelves or workers tripping over them.

C. Teaching procedures for stacking items in straight, even loads would help prevent items from falling off shelves. Properly stacked loads are less likely to become unbalanced or unstable, reducing the risk of accidents or injuries. This measure addresses the root cause of the problem.

D. Marking dock edges with warnings may be beneficial in preventing accidents related to falls from docks, but it does not specifically address the issue of items falling off shelves or workers tripping over them.

Therefore, the most appropriate measure in this case would be to teach procedures for stacking items in straight, even loads (Option C).

To determine the best measure to prevent this type of safety problem at Beta Distribution Center, we can evaluate each option:

A. Give workers protective equipment to use when handling spills.
This option is not directly related to the specific safety problems described in the scenario. While protective equipment can be important in certain situations, it wouldn't directly address the issue of boxes falling onto workers' feet or posters rolling into aisles.

B. Train workers to lift with the legs and avoid twisting.
This option is relevant to preventing injuries caused by lifting heavy boxes. By teaching workers proper lifting techniques (lifting with the legs instead of the back and avoiding twisting motions), the risk of injury can be significantly reduced. However, this measure doesn't address the issue of posters rolling off shelves and causing tripping hazards.

C. Teach procedures for stacking items in straight, even loads.
This option directly addresses both situations described in the scenario. By teaching workers proper procedures for stacking items in straight, even loads, the likelihood of boxes falling off shelves will be reduced. Additionally, if posters are stored in a secure and organized manner, the risk of them rolling into aisles and causing tripping hazards will also be minimized. Therefore, this measure is highly relevant to preventing these safety problems.

D. Mark dock edges with warnings.
While marking dock edges with warnings can be beneficial for preventing accidents and promoting safety, it doesn't directly address the specific incidents mentioned in the scenario. This measure would be more relevant if there were concerns about workers falling off the docks or if there were other specific hazards related to dock edges.

Therefore, the measure that would best prevent the safety problems described at Beta Distribution Center would be:
C. Teach procedures for stacking items in straight, even loads.