Workers in the manufacturing industry are required to perform high-risk activities like soldering and welding and raw material assembling and heavy lifting, and/or rigging.
Magnetic fields, harmful radiations, and compressed gases can negatively impact worker’s health. You’d be surprised to know that nearly 150 people die each day from workplace hazards in the United States.
Occupational hazards can cause irreparable injury to workers and indirect damage to the environment. They also have a negative effect on productivity at work. So, it is essential to recognize potential occupational accidents and to take steps to reduce workplace accidents.
In general, accidents are often caused by a lack of safety equipment and guards, poor or inconsistent employee training, or a compromised safety.
This article will help you understand how to get around the various occupational hazards.
Make it Mandatory for Workers to Wear Safety Gear at all Times
To reduce the chance of getting hurt, manufacturing workers must always wear protective gear while on the floor. OSHA requires metalworkers to use personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves, safety glasses, shoes, respirators, hard hats, respirators, and full bodysuits.
If a worker is responsible for moving heavy metal sheets overhead, they must wear a hard hat. Electric arc welding is another common factory operation where electrocution is highly possible.
Ensure that the workers use rubber boots, gloves, and sturdy rubber toe boots to avoid mishaps. Protective goggles and welding masks are also recommended to protect workers from harmful infrared radiation and poisonous welding fumes.
Make Sure the facility is Well Taken Care of
Manufacturing areas can be messy and chaotic. Moreover, unorganized work areas with spilled greases or cylinder hoses spread here and there can lead to workplace accidents. So, it is essential to keep walkways and workstations clear of any equipment or objects that could cause falls, slips, or fires.
Place caution tape or a barricade around any areas that are wet or greasy. You can also place scrap metal shavings and other flammable materials in designated bins. Consider clearing the walkways of all racks, pallets, and power cords if you think the spillage is big. To reduce the chance of serious accidents, arrange all equipment and accessories in an organized manner.
Provide Training to the Employees
Whether the employee is an expert or an apprentice, they should be trained in safety protocols to reduce the chance of injuries and accidents on the job. Moreover, the safety guidelines for the manufacturing sector keep constantly changing, thus the need for updated training. This will also ensure that only qualified personnel operate the machinery.
A lack of knowledge or misuse of tools can also lead to severe injuries. Proper training is essential to ensure that workers can use the tools according to safety protocols.
For example, workers should not be allowed to lift heavy equipment manually. Instead, they should be encouraged to use heavy lifting machinery (provided they have the clearance to use them). Spreader bars and lifting beams are effective to curb back, shoulder, and other injuries in workers.
Besides educating workers on preventing common workplace accidents, the proper training can help them discard scrap safely, report defects in the equipment, and manage maintenance requirements, if any.
Make Sure the Guarding Equipment is in Place
Every manufacturing facility should be designed to provide safety for workers. Safety features and guards should be installed on equipment such as plasma cutting machines and plate- and sheet-forming machines to protect workers’ fingers.
The area surrounding the workstation should also be protected with guardrails or barriers. Make sure only qualified workers can enter this area. Poorly maintained guardrails could allow for accidental entry, leading to injury or death for workers not wearing the appropriate safety gear.
Final Word
Failure in securing these guarding mechanisms can lead to serious workplace injuries if they aren’t correctly installed. You can also use dewatering bags to filter oil from water from the machinery and take care of similar oil spills if you have an oil-water separator.
Before you start the manufacturing project, make sure to inspect malfunctioning tools as well as guarding mechanisms.
