An average employee in the manufacturing business works in constant danger of injury. This is why there is an entire branch of business dedicated to injury prevention on heavily mechanized workplaces such as factories and warehouses. In order to stay at the cutting-edge of this integral aspect of the industry, here’s what you need to pay attention to when it comes to improving the safety and security of a manufacturing facility.
The matter of statistical probability
As far as injuries go, statistics produce quite a sobering effect to anyone who makes even a parting glance. Overall, the cost of nonfatal workplace injuries amounts to $62 billion in compensation claims.
Fabricated metal product manufacturing has the largest number of non-fatal injuries – 66,100. On the other side of the scale is leather and allied product manufacturing which sees about 900 accidents with non-fatal results. Thankfully, the number of these injuries is diminishing over time due to the increasing quality of workplace protection.
The leading causes of injuries
Overexertion, slips, trips, falls, being struck by equipment, roadway incidents that involve motorized land vehicles, injuries due to repetitive movement, these are the leading causes of injuries in the manufacturing facility. Most of these injuries can be prevented with practical workplace safety tips.
Each worker should be equipped with a leaflet with safety tips and compelled to go to safety seminars organized by the company. After each of these seminars, workers should be obliged to do a test in which they can prove they have the necessary knowledge to keep themselves safe from the most common injuries in the workplace.
Overexertion and repetitive motion
Reducing awkward postures, sitting or squatting for long stretches of time has to be an integral part of each learning program for workers in manufacturing facilities. Facility management and CEOs have to go the extra mile and equip their facility with ergonomic well-designed equipment – a lot of injuries come from constantly lifting and handling awkwardly designed objects.
Slips, trips, and falls
Each workday should end with one hour dedicated to cleaning up the workplace – a lot of slips, trips and falls happen due to chaos and clutter at the workplace. Creating safe walking routes has to be counted into the design of the facility from its inception – this means employees will have the necessary elbow space to move around normally and avoid injuries.
Equipment and roadway accidents
Interacting with machinery opens a door to a whole new category of hazard. Safety practices cannot boil down to behavior – protective clothing, face goggles, ear muffs and appropriate gloves need to be made available to all employees. While handling forklifts and other vehicles, the communication between employees has to be discouraged – driving and handling the vehicle needs their undivided attention.
Wall and floor protection
Each manufacturing facility comes with a particular set of element-related dangers and most of them are tightly connected to fire. After all, the machinery works on electricity, and short circuit incidents can end up leading to a terrifying display of pyrotechnics.
This is why it is important to strip your walls of any flammable paint or wallpaper. Pure concrete walls and floors are your best option. If you have bought an old building that served different purposes altogether, check if the insulation is safe or fire-retardant.
Floors need to be stripped of wood and adding something that is made for manufacturing facilities, as industrial epoxy flooring solutions, is your safest bet. What’s more, these also protect against the corrosive effect of the environment and make heavy traffic areas more resistant.
The fear of injury puts a lot of pressure on workers who are already pressed for time, which can amount to an unbearable level of stress. The breakdown in efficiency becomes inevitable and it is up to you as an employer to create a safe working environment in which each worker can feel appreciated and secure. Always keep in mind things that can go wrong, especially those injuries which are statistical eyesore, and try to ameliorate these issues before anything goes out of hand.