According to the National Institute for Occupational Health (NIOSH), 8% of workplace fatalities occur within the manufacturing sector, where 13,455,000 workers are at risk of fatal and non-fatal injuries. Manufacturing companies need to be proactive when handling safety matters by ensuring workplace safety regulations are complied with. This improves safety and lowers manufacturing floor fatalities. Below are ways to enhance security on a manufacturing floor.
1. Safety gear and tools
Personal protective equipment is a preventive safety measure against any physical harm. Reading the OSHA publication will help you learn everything you need to know about personal protective equipment. Besides protecting employees, using safety gear helps employees avoid liability of being responsible for their accidents. The ideal PPE should be of the right size, height, and fit for each user. Additionally, tools such as push pull clamps ensure premature dropping of items is avoided to enhance employee safety.
2. Create a checklist for your safety procedures
Most manufacturing companies implement safety programs based on OSHA regulations. Before you come up with safety policies for your company, create a checklist that details everything that could be of safety concern to the OSHA guidelines to follow. In addition, a company needs to come up with custom-made safety procedures that suit their kind of operations.
3. Develop a culture of safety
When you see a company with excellent safety records, it’s because they have a safety culture in place. Developing a safety culture in your organization will enable your employees to care for and prioritize safety. Ensure that everyone from the top management to junior-level abides by the safety culture in place, allowing them to believe that safety is everybody’s responsibility.
4. Regular training and communication of safety guidelines
Since your employees are constantly exposed to safety hazards, training them to identify, prevent, and stay safe will enhance workplace safety. Let them learn about the potential risks that may occur, their consequences, and what may trigger them. Additionally, ensure that employees are trained on how to handle the machines they work with to promote safety.
You may also consider putting up notices on hazardous areas and equipment to keep your employees from any impending dangers. For example, you may have a sign like Danger! No Unauthorized Personnel Allowed.
5. A clean and organized workplace
A dirty, cluttered, and unorganized workplace increases the chances of employees falling, tripping, and severely getting hurt or dying. Make it a rule that workstations should be kept clean, decluttered, and organized at all times to ensure safety and boost productivity. An organized workstation ensures that all tools and equipment are stored correctly, depending on their role. This helps keep the floor clear of clutter, boosting safety.
6. Encourage leave and off-day rests
Fatigue causes workers to fall asleep while working. According to a report, sleep accounts for 13% of workplace injuries. Abolish a culture that encourages long working hours as sleep deprivation causes fatigue, resulting in accidents to enhance safety. Encourage your employees to take leave days and off-days so they come to work refreshed.
Endnote
Employee safety is the paramount responsibility of every employer. Use these tips to enhance safety in a manufacturing floor.
