At the core of most well developed countries is a strong manufacturing sector. Manufacturing is very important to any country. It’s what allows for the production of the goods, tools and machines that make modern life convenient, safe and comfortable.
However, manufacturing isn’t easy by any stretch. The biggest concern in any factory should always be the safety of the workers. With that in mind, below are four things that you should consider to help maintain safety at your plant.
Employee Training
Human error is at the root of many accidents that occur in the workplace that result in serious injuries. The risk is certainly increased in a manufacturing setting. If employees are not properly trained on how to maintain safety in the workplace and safely use equipment, the danger is certainly increased by several fold. Be sure to teach employees to read electrical labels and understand warning signs. You need a very rigorous training program in place for all positions within your factory.
Equipment Maintenance
Not all accidents that happen in the work place are due to human error. More often than employers would like to admit, equipment failure is to blame. You need to perform routine maintenance on all equipment and machines on schedule. You should also use data analytics software to record information regarding the performance of and wear and tear on different pieces of equipment so they can be replaced before they cause problems. If your basket strainers are near their expiration date, the software should tell you to get basket strainers today.
OSHA Rules and Standards
One way to make sure you are following the appropriate safety standards is to enforce the laws, rules and standards put in place by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, also known as OSHA for short. OSHA has set all kinds of rules for how a workplace should be set up and maintained to prevent accidents from occurring on the clock. OSHA also has resources on its website relevant to specific industries.
Safety Equipment
To fully protect workers in a manufacturing setting, safety equipment is often required. Determine what the risks are at your workplace that may require certain pieces of safety equipment and demand that your workers always use said equipment while on the job. This may include hardhats, safety goggles, boots and more. It really depends on your own needs.
Manufacturers perform an important service for society. However, manufacturing processes are not without certain risks and dangers. If you don’t take all the necessary precautions, your employees will likely get hurt. Do what you need to ensure that isn’t the case.
Lizzie Weakley is a freelance writer from Columbus, Ohio. In her free time, she enjoys the outdoors and walks in the park with her three-year-old husky, Snowball.