With warehouses preparing for a seasonal surge in seasonal and temporary workers, the pressure is on to maintain safety and efficiency without the luxury of extended onboarding or intensive training. With a shortage of skilled logistics labour and a tight hiring market, many businesses are turning to smarter equipment choices to ease the transition for new recruits.
For fast-paced warehouse environments, especially during busy periods like summer sales or back-to-school stock build-up, the ability to deploy new team members quickly can make all the difference. Here at Midland Pallet Trucks, we believe simple, intuitive manual handling tools are vital to keep operations running smoothly while reducing the risk of workplace accidents.
Back to Basics
While it is true that advanced automation can help bridge labour gaps, it often requires a large investment and training – not always feasible for small or medium firms, particularly when it comes to temporary workers. Low-tech solutions like hand pallet trucks, stacker trucks, and lift tables offer immediate usability with minimal training. As the sector continues to juggle labour challenges and rising demand, smart equipment choices may well be the key to keeping productivity high – and injury rates low.
Phil Chesworth, Managing Director at Midland Pallet Trucks, explains, “Not every warehouse has the capacity or time to train seasonal staff on complex machinery; the risk is that the staff will spend more time learning to operate the equipment than actually working with it! That’s where our range of manual handling tools comes in. They’re designed to be ergonomic, reliable, and easy to use, reducing the training burden on permanent staff and lowering the risk of strain or misuse.”
Quick, Simple, Safe
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has long warned about the risks of poor manual handling, particularly among inexperienced workers. With over a third of all workplace injuries linked to lifting and carrying, choosing the right equipment is both a legal and ethical responsibility.
Warehouses that invest in straightforward, dependable gear are not only protecting staff but also protecting themselves against costly downtime caused by injury or equipment failure. And with many businesses now facing budget constraints alongside recruitment challenges, affordable, low-maintenance tools are a smart, scalable solution.
Phil adds, “Training seasonal staff doesn’t have to be a drain. By putting intuitive equipment into their hands from day one, warehouses can operate at full capacity while keeping safety standards high. It’s a win for workers and employers alike.”