About Warehouse Jobs

Warehouse jobs are performed in a variety of industries spanning the employment market. Warehouse jobs include some physical and non-physical positions. Managers work together with a group of employees in warehouse positions to ensure that goods and services are stored in a safe manner. Federal regulations also help to ensure that employees are kept safe in warehouse jobs, as well as providing measures to minimize other risks such as fire hazards. While warehouse jobs pay well, there are many working conditions to take into consideration before embarking on a career in warehousing.

Function

A warehouse is a large building used for the storage of goods specifically for commercial purposes. There are many distinct warehouse jobs that must be performed in order for the importing and exporting of goods and products to run efficiently. A warehouse can come with loading docks where the goods are loaded and unloaded, and a primary warehouse worker's job is to move these products safely and efficiently. Almost everything that ends up in a retail store sees some time in a warehouse. this includes durable goods, appliance, electronics and even grocery items. Some warehouses are refrigerated or have other special climate controls to accommodate a wider variety of materials.

History

Warehouse jobs have evolved over the years from having no regulation to being highly regulated in order to safeguard the safety of the warehouse workers as well as the products themselves. Warehouse jobs have become more and more automated, with the use of electric cranes and conveyor belts to help move products to their selected destinations more efficiently. In addition, modern radio frequency identification methods (RFID) have helped with the organization of the modern warehouse. With the advance of technology, there have been some warehouse jobs that have been replaced by mechanization, while jobs such as the repair and maintenance of the machines have increased.

Types

Job responsibilities vary in a warehouse and the goods can be handled by different departments. For example, a forklift operator can be removing products that have been stacked on flat pallets from the delivery trucks and into dry storage areas. A different job as a forklift operator can be to take those same pallets and stack them into pallet racks. Pallet racks allow warehouse workers to maximize the available space in the warehouse. Another warehouse job responsibility can be pulling orders that are to ship out from the pallet racks. Other personnel may also be involved in packaging the material using plastic or metal banding straps with either manual or electronic equipment. There are people assigned to ensure products are placed in regulation heights off the floor as well as people in place to monitor the temperature of cold storage units to insure they remain at federally regulated standards. Most importantly, a warehouse manager will be in charge of the safe and efficient operation of a warehouse, the team of employees and virtually every aspect of the warehouse itself.

Benefits

Compared to the early years of warehousing, the modernized warehouse is designed to better ensure the safety of both the people who work there and the consumers who use the goods that move through it. Another benefit of warehouse jobs is the above average pay. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, warehouse jobs pay many times the minimum wage, with managers making a salary above the national average wage earner.

Considerations

Before going to apply for a warehouse job, there are several things to consider. Warehouse workers perform a variety of tasks, which can lead to physical stress from standing all day or operating a forklift all day. Additionally, packers working in a warehouse may be required to lift items continuously throughout the day. It is not uncommon for warehouse workers to be required to be able to lift 50 to 100 lbs. or more without a problem. While some warehouses in the food industry are climate-controlled, many warehouses with durable goods are not. During summer months, this can create uncomfortable working conditions in some areas with a significantly warm environment. These are all issues to consider when looking at the possibility of a warehouse job.

Resources

• Grocery Warehousing Ergonomics
• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Warehouse and Storage Industry