How to survive working in a warehouse
July 19, 2017 9:44 PM Subscribe
I have accepted a job working 10 hour shifts at a warehouse, standing or walking the whole time. Please help me prepare!
What kind of shoes should I get? What should I do to lessen thigh chafing and foot blisters? How do I avoid major stiffness the first few weeks?
Thank you!
What kind of shoes should I get? What should I do to lessen thigh chafing and foot blisters? How do I avoid major stiffness the first few weeks?
Thank you!
You might be required to use protective footwear (steel toed) depending on the contents of the warehouse and your duties.
Losing excessive weight would reduce foot and leg fatigue, and is generally a good thing to do.
posted by FallowKing at 10:25 PM on July 19, 2017
Losing excessive weight would reduce foot and leg fatigue, and is generally a good thing to do.
posted by FallowKing at 10:25 PM on July 19, 2017
I've heard rave reviews from doctors, who are on their feet all day, about compression socks.
posted by serelliya at 10:39 PM on July 19, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by serelliya at 10:39 PM on July 19, 2017 [4 favorites]
This isn't quite the same, but my friends who work on film sets (and are on their feet for twelve-hour days) swear by changing shoes midday.
Yeah, this approach was a lifesaver when I worked in retail and had 8-hour days on my feet. I had two pairs of super comfortable shoes -- one pair of Chaco sandals and one pair of Birkenstocks -- but my feet were so much less tired when I swapped halfway through at lunch, even if my feet weren't particularly hurting at that point.
As for chafing: you can find this anti-friction stick at many pharmacies and such. Swipe it on any areas (feet, thighs, etc) where you are concerned about chafing. Deodorant can work, too.
Good socks are important. If you bring an extra pair of shoes, you might consider swapping out socks as well.
Whatever shoes you do get, make sure to walk in them a lot before your first day of work, if at all possible. You really don't want to find out an hour that your feet are blistering. Carry mole skin.
posted by bluedaisy at 10:48 PM on July 19, 2017 [3 favorites]
Yeah, this approach was a lifesaver when I worked in retail and had 8-hour days on my feet. I had two pairs of super comfortable shoes -- one pair of Chaco sandals and one pair of Birkenstocks -- but my feet were so much less tired when I swapped halfway through at lunch, even if my feet weren't particularly hurting at that point.
As for chafing: you can find this anti-friction stick at many pharmacies and such. Swipe it on any areas (feet, thighs, etc) where you are concerned about chafing. Deodorant can work, too.
Good socks are important. If you bring an extra pair of shoes, you might consider swapping out socks as well.
Whatever shoes you do get, make sure to walk in them a lot before your first day of work, if at all possible. You really don't want to find out an hour that your feet are blistering. Carry mole skin.
posted by bluedaisy at 10:48 PM on July 19, 2017 [3 favorites]
As someone who has been there (albeit in the U.K.) I can't recommend good footwear enough (and two pairs of socks).
I personally swear by magnum boots as they're sturdy, light, breathable and inexpensive, though I'm not sure if they're available where you are, something similar is definitely worh looking into.
Another important thing is dressing in layers so you can regulate your temperature, and having trousers with plenty of pockets for pens, tools, papers and the endless bits of rubbish you find laying about in your travels.
Adjusting to the demands of the job can be tough, so look after your body, with stretching before and cooling down afterwards, also you'll likely be knackered at the end of your shift, so work in some definite relaxation or a nap after work if you can.
Heavy work also means you need to eat and drink to replace all the energy you're using, though the "cleaner" you can eat the better you'll feel.
The benefits of all that exercise can be fantastic though, after years of office jobs working my mind and body together was great fun, and dragging heavy cages around all day really improved my fitness, endurance, and got me a set of pretty impressive abs ;)
posted by Middlemarch at 11:59 PM on July 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
I personally swear by magnum boots as they're sturdy, light, breathable and inexpensive, though I'm not sure if they're available where you are, something similar is definitely worh looking into.
Another important thing is dressing in layers so you can regulate your temperature, and having trousers with plenty of pockets for pens, tools, papers and the endless bits of rubbish you find laying about in your travels.
Adjusting to the demands of the job can be tough, so look after your body, with stretching before and cooling down afterwards, also you'll likely be knackered at the end of your shift, so work in some definite relaxation or a nap after work if you can.
Heavy work also means you need to eat and drink to replace all the energy you're using, though the "cleaner" you can eat the better you'll feel.
The benefits of all that exercise can be fantastic though, after years of office jobs working my mind and body together was great fun, and dragging heavy cages around all day really improved my fitness, endurance, and got me a set of pretty impressive abs ;)
posted by Middlemarch at 11:59 PM on July 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
Before buying shoes check what you're allowed to wear - as others have said you may need to wear protective footwear.
When I worked in catering and sometimes pulled multiple consecutive shifts I was surprised to find that even though my whole body was aching after x hrs if I went and did a workout after work the aches and pains vanished by the time I finished exercising. Turns out it is all about balancing the way you use your body over an amount of time.
Learn how to walk, stand, lift and carry things without damaging your back. And start to strengthen your core now.
posted by koahiatamadl at 11:59 PM on July 19, 2017 [2 favorites]
When I worked in catering and sometimes pulled multiple consecutive shifts I was surprised to find that even though my whole body was aching after x hrs if I went and did a workout after work the aches and pains vanished by the time I finished exercising. Turns out it is all about balancing the way you use your body over an amount of time.
Learn how to walk, stand, lift and carry things without damaging your back. And start to strengthen your core now.
posted by koahiatamadl at 11:59 PM on July 19, 2017 [2 favorites]
You really don't want to find out an hour that your feet are blistering. Carry mole skin.
I've never successfully used moleskin (it always seems to come off, whether I stick it to my feet directly or to the interior of the shoe where it chafes), but I put duct tape on blisters religiously. It's perfect for this. It transfers all the friction onto the much larger area covered by duct tape. I've used it on my feet when I hike or walk long distances, and on my hipbones from backpack chafing during long distance hikes. The only downside, I suppose, is that it can leave gummy little black marks from its adhesive on your skin, around the edges of the tape. But it's a million times better than blisters, and cheap. I usually carry one of those little rolls with me whenever I travel, and you can DIY one yourself by re-wrapping duct tape around a golf pencil.
Also Birkenstocks apparently make steel toed clogs?!
posted by tapir-whorf at 1:12 AM on July 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
I've never successfully used moleskin (it always seems to come off, whether I stick it to my feet directly or to the interior of the shoe where it chafes), but I put duct tape on blisters religiously. It's perfect for this. It transfers all the friction onto the much larger area covered by duct tape. I've used it on my feet when I hike or walk long distances, and on my hipbones from backpack chafing during long distance hikes. The only downside, I suppose, is that it can leave gummy little black marks from its adhesive on your skin, around the edges of the tape. But it's a million times better than blisters, and cheap. I usually carry one of those little rolls with me whenever I travel, and you can DIY one yourself by re-wrapping duct tape around a golf pencil.
Also Birkenstocks apparently make steel toed clogs?!
posted by tapir-whorf at 1:12 AM on July 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
I have a fairly sedentary office job and had to get prepared for a daily hiking vacation in NZ.
Someone recommended double layer socks and they were a lifesaver (feetsaver?). The friction goes into the sock layers and not your skin. Not a single blister!
I bought Wrightsocks but there are others out there.
Whatever you do with your shoes I highly recommend double layer socks.
posted by pixlboi at 4:45 AM on July 20, 2017
Someone recommended double layer socks and they were a lifesaver (feetsaver?). The friction goes into the sock layers and not your skin. Not a single blister!
I bought Wrightsocks but there are others out there.
Whatever you do with your shoes I highly recommend double layer socks.
posted by pixlboi at 4:45 AM on July 20, 2017
Sorbothane insoles. Sorbothane is an industrial substance specifically developed to absorb shock and vibration. It's used in sheets and pads between vibrating equipment and what they're mounted to. My feet are very happy someone realized it would make great insoles. I've used the Classic Full Sole with hiking boots, off-road motorcycling boots and walking shoes. In every application, the before and after difference was substantial.
posted by Homer42 at 5:33 AM on July 20, 2017
posted by Homer42 at 5:33 AM on July 20, 2017
For over a year once, I worked three 12-hour shifts per week, which were actually 14's. It took my feet a LONG time to recover from that abuse. First, buy a good support shoe. Clarks, Merrills, and Borns are all good, but can be expensive. Now I exclusively wear Skechers GoWalks for the padding, but I'm retired and I can't speak to using those for long days. Next, buy gel insoles and use them every day. I think the idea of changing shoes half way through is probably a very good one, I would have done that if I had the information at the time. Next step is to plan some serious down time every day after shift and on weekends. This means sitting with your feet elevated for at least half an hour after you get home, so work out your space to do that. Recliners, ottomans, whatever you have, arrange a permanent space to get that done. And last, get a good foot massage or pedicure once a month. I never bought one of those home foot massage things, but I used one this year and it would have been useful, it seems to me.
posted by raisingsand at 6:26 AM on July 20, 2017
posted by raisingsand at 6:26 AM on July 20, 2017
If you are going to be in this job long term and are required to wear steel toes it can be worth it to get synthetic (IE: some sort of plastic) "steel" toes instead of cheaper steel toes. The synthetic version weigh significantly less. Also getting fitted at a work wear place can be helpful as not all boots are the same shape.
I've never changed shoes mid shift but changing socks if your feet sweat is something I do. Also if my boots are damp I use dryers over night to dry them out (or have more than one pair and rotate them).
If you'd had lead time working up to the 10 hours (and breaking in your footwear) by progressively increasing the number of hours you were standing on your feet would be the best way to avoid initial soreness but obviously not a solution if you are starting tomorrow. Ibuprofen is my go to for muscle soreness and swelling and it can be taken prophylactically before you start (IE: pop one in the morning before your shift).
posted by Mitheral at 8:40 PM on July 21, 2017
I've never changed shoes mid shift but changing socks if your feet sweat is something I do. Also if my boots are damp I use dryers over night to dry them out (or have more than one pair and rotate them).
If you'd had lead time working up to the 10 hours (and breaking in your footwear) by progressively increasing the number of hours you were standing on your feet would be the best way to avoid initial soreness but obviously not a solution if you are starting tomorrow. Ibuprofen is my go to for muscle soreness and swelling and it can be taken prophylactically before you start (IE: pop one in the morning before your shift).
posted by Mitheral at 8:40 PM on July 21, 2017
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posted by tapir-whorf at 9:57 PM on July 19, 2017 [3 favorites]