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34 THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK Robert Footlik Robert B. Footlik is a licensed professional engineer. A graduate of Illinois Institute of Technology, he has worked extensively in the fields of material handling, plant layout, packaging and management systems. The firm of Footlik and Associates serves as staff warehousing and materials consultants to six trade associations. Footlik writes for 12 trade and professional journals. Footlik and Associates is located at 2521 Gross Point Road, Evanston, Illinois 60601; phone 847-328-5644. HAVE YOU CONSIDERED... If you already have insomnia the last thing you need is more on your mind. But if you want to avoid sleepless nights in the future there are many aspects of your business that may need attention right now. A little forethought and planning can save a lot of anguish, under high pressure later. While it would be nice if the warehouse was an insulated sanctuary unaffected by the outside world the reality is that local, national and global events and trends can and will intrude on your operations at a most inopportune time. Unfortunately what you read about in the headlines may be on your doorstep tomorrow. Consider Legal Marijuana And Drugs In The Workplace Logic and common sense dictate that individuals performing work in a fast moving environment should be alert and actively recognize potentially dangerous situations. Fork lift operators, truck drivers and all those who work around them need to be aware of their environment. While research suggests that the hallucinogenic properties of medical marijuana are minimal every individual reacts differently. Anecdotal accounts of mind altering experiences may be imagined or real, but CONTRIBUTOR ARTICLE either way the individual’s behavior patterns may be altered in ways that compromise safety. And then there are the side effects of even over the counter cold remedies. Given the rapidly changing regulations and laws your liability and the welfare of your staff are at risk. Is there a policy in place now, or should you develop policies and procedures before the need arises? Consider Weapons In The Your Facility We have all seen the circle sticker with a diagonal line across a gun indicating that carrying open or concealed is prohibited. But there are circumstances where having armed and ready individual on premises can save lives. The current “knife intifada” in Israel is an excellent example of how armed civilians can stop an attack before it gets worse. No one expects their warehouse will become a battle ground where seconds count, yet such situations have been increasingly reported by the media. Should you ban weapons completely, authorize specific qualified and willing individuals to carry guns at work, or should your policy be somewhere in between? Policies depend on many external factors such as the neighborhood, customer base and context. Explore this issue now before something bad happens. CONTINUED ON PAGE 144

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