Where Warehouse Safety, Material Handling & Compliance Collide
Interview with Brad Barnett + Bryan Haberstroh of J&J Companies
Warehouse safety doesn’t fail because people don’t care—it fails when safety is treated as an afterthought instead of a design principle. In this episode of Caution: Wide Right, we kick off Season 4 with a deep, real-world conversation about how safety, material handling, and compliance actually collide inside warehouses, manufacturing facilities, and distribution centers.
Joining me are Brad Barnett, Senior Account Manager, and Bryan Haberstroh, Marketing and Business Development lead at J&J Companies—a family-founded, relationship-driven organization that has evolved into a true turnkey partner for material handling, facility services, and safety solutions.
This conversation goes beyond checklists and regulations. We dig into how safety gets built into large-scale material handling projects, what happens when there aren’t clear OSHA rules, how loading docks quietly become one of the most dangerous places in a facility, and why strong safety culture is driven just as much by trust and accountability as it is by equipment.
If you manage safety, operations, or compliance in warehousing, manufacturing, or distribution—this one’s for you.
“Who Is J&J?” — From Material Handling Distributor to Turnkey Partner
Luke:
To kick things off, can you give us a background on J&J Companies—how it started, where it’s grown, and how you work with clients today?
Brad:
J&J Material Handling was founded in 1985 and operated out of Lancaster County strictly as a distributor for about 25 years. We were buying and selling material handling equipment—racking, shelving, the basics.
Around 2010, we launched our service labor business. That’s when things really changed. We weren’t just selling systems anymore—we were installing them, managing projects, and owning the work from start to finish.
Since then, we’ve expanded product lines, services, and capabilities to where today we’re truly a full lifecycle partner.
“When we sell something, we don’t just move on—we own it from start to finish.” — Brad Barnett
Bryan:
Before the rebrand to J&J Companies, our divisions operated more independently. The idea behind bringing everything under one umbrella was simple: clients shouldn’t have to manage five contractors to solve one problem.
Now, whether it’s material handling, facility services, dock equipment, or safety solutions, clients can come to J&J and deal with one team that understands the entire facility.
“Why make a customer manage three or four contractors when we can manage it for them?” — Bryan Haberstroh
Luke:
Bryan, you’ve got a unique perspective working in both marketing and now sales. What does that look like day to day?
Bryan:
I handle marketing and business development, and more recently I’ve moved into material handling sales. It means wearing a lot of hats, but it also keeps me close to the real stories—what customers are dealing with, how our teams perform on-site, and what safety actually looks like in practice.
Seeing customer feedback come in—especially about how our installers and service techs communicate on-site—has been huge.
“It’s not just the executives driving safety culture—our installers and technicians are thought leaders too.”
Designing Safety Into the Space—Before Installation Begins
Luke:
When someone hears “material handling project,” they might think you sell racking and leave. What does a real project look like?
Brad:
We’re turnkey. That means permitting, drawings, engineering, logistics, labor, scheduling, and coordination—all of it.
We manage product movement, make sure the space is ready, ensure crews are trained, and that everyone is aligned. It’s not transactional—it’s project management from start to finish.
“Sales doesn’t end when the PO is signed. That’s when the real work starts.”
Luke:
How does safety factor into large-scale warehouse design and installation?
Brad:
Safety starts before a single beam goes up. We’re working with safety managers, operations teams, and logistics leaders to plan installs involving 40-foot-tall steel structures weighing thousands of pounds.
We’re moving millions of pounds of steel in some projects. That means safety protocols, communication, and planning have to be airtight.
“Those systems are built around people. That responsibility doesn’t go away once the install is finished.”
“No OSHA Reg?” — Navigating Safety Without a Rulebook?
Luke:
Are there clear OSHA regulations for pallet racking and material handling systems?
Brad:
Not really. There’s no single OSHA standard specifically for pallet racking. We operate under the General Duty Clause, which requires a workplace free from recognized hazards.
Because of that, we rely heavily on the RMI (Rack Manufacturers Institute) standards, engineering best practices, and real-world experience.
And it’s evolving—especially with new hazards like lithium-ion battery storage.
“If you think you know everything in this business, you’re in the wrong business.”
Luke:
What do safety committee meetings actually look like at J&J?
Brad:
They’re active, and everyone has a voice. Every employee submits a safety suggestion monthly. We talk about incidents, near-misses, corrective actions—and yes, sometimes we joke too.
But the key is participation. Safety isn’t top-down.
“Near-misses matter just as much as injuries—because next time, they might not be near.”
Luke:
Bryan, from your perspective, how does safety show up in decision-making?
Bryan:
We’ve walked away from jobs. If a customer wants us to use equipment that doesn’t meet our safety standards, we won’t do it.
We’re not putting our team at risk—period.
“No job is worth putting our people in an unsafe position.”
Brad:
Early in my career, I inspected a warehouse where 95% of the uprights were damaged. It was bad—really bad.
I told the customer the truth. They didn’t like it. We never worked together again.
But it wasn’t worth the risk to pretend everything was fine.
“If we’re the experts, we have to act like it—even when it costs us.”
Luke:
Let’s talk loading docks—truck traffic, forklifts, people everywhere. What does safety look like there?
Brad:
Dock levelers, truck restraints, seals—those are the basics. But the real key is preventive maintenance.
Too many facilities wait until something breaks. Then doors are down for weeks, and risk skyrockets.
“Being proactive costs less than downtime—and far less than an injury.”
Managing Safety on Massive Projects
Brad:
We’ve managed projects with 150 truckloads of racking, 12-person crews, 12-hour days.
The biggest risk? Complacency.
Repetition breeds shortcuts. That’s why site visits, follow-ups, and continuous safety reminders matter.
“Fast doesn’t automatically mean safe.”
Brad:
We want injuries reported. Period.
People sometimes try to work through pain—but that only makes things worse. Our supervisors are OSHA 30 trained, we document everything, and we focus on getting people healthy—not blaming them.
“Getting hurt isn’t a failure. Hiding it is.”
Luke:
What does safety look like long after installation?
Brad:
Inspections. Damage assessments. Capacity analysis. Engineering reviews.
What was safe in the 1980s might not be safe today. Loads change. Equipment changes. Standards change.
“Old systems don’t automatically mean safe systems.”
Advice for Safety Managers and Operations Leaders
Brad:
Be proactive. Set inspection schedules. Involve operators. Bring in professionals. Don’t wait for failure.
Bryan:
Ask questions. Build relationships. Trust matters more than any checklist.
“See something, say something—and ask the question.”
The Future: Automation, Density, and Smarter Design
Brad:
Automation is coming—AS/RS systems, high-density storage, even dark warehouses.
Space is a commodity. Facilities have to do more with less.
“The warehouse of the future is safer by design—or it won’t survive.”
You can find J&J Companies at:
- Website: jnjcompanies.com
- LinkedIn: J&J Companies
- Facebook: J&J Companies
They’re also active in IFMA, NextGen Lancaster, local chambers, and regional industry groups.
