Describe a time when you noticed a safety hazard at work. What did you do?

While working at a warehouse distribution centre, I was walking past a storage area near the loading bay during my break. I noticed that a clearly marked fire exit had been partially blocked by a stack of pallets and boxes left there by a delivery team earlier that shift.

I needed to ensure the fire exit was cleared immediately and that the issue was properly reported, even though the storage area was not my direct responsibility.

I reported the obstruction to my shift supervisor straight away using the two-way radio, providing the exact location. I then returned to the area and, together with a colleague, carefully moved the pallets and boxes to a proper storage bay. I also completed a near-miss report form as required by our health and safety policy.

The fire exit was fully cleared within fifteen minutes. Two days later we had an unannounced fire drill, and the route was used without issue. My supervisor thanked me for acting quickly, and the delivery team were reminded of the clear-exit policy. The experience reinforced my belief that safety is everyone's responsibility.