How safe is your workplace? With over 5000 workplace deaths each year, every workplace should prioritize safety. And this is even more important for an industrial workplace. Heavy machinery can pose a real threat to your staff if you are not prepared. But it can be hard to know what to do to keep your workplace safe.
We are here to help. Read on for 5 useful industrial workplace safety tips.
1. Provide the Right PPE
Even with the best working practices in place, your employees need to be protected. That is why having the right Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is vital. The exact items they require will depend on your industry and the machinery they are using but includes hardhats, goggles, ear protection, and much more.
Remember, the right PPE can turn a serious accident into a nasty shock.
2. Provide the Right Training
No employee should ever use any machinery or tool unless they have been fully trained on its operation. An untrained or partially trained employee is a risk to themselves and others.
The best way to achieve this is to ensure that you keep a thorough record of all your employees training and competencies. If your employees work at heights and precautions are not taken, a person may fall, which could result in injury. Tech Safety Lines offers hands-on training and patented rescue equipment to meet all requirements for working at height.
Never ask an untrained employee to use a machine they should not, and try to foster a workplace culture where all employees respect the machinery they are using. And remember, refresher courses are vital. Over time it’s only natural for employees to forget safety tips or develop bad habits.
3. Say Tidy
The most common causes of workplace injuries are trips and falls. These are often caused by clutter and spills. Keeping your work areas organized and clean can have huge benefits to workplace safety.
A clear workspace has also been proven to reduce worker stress. A less stressed worker will be less likely to have an accident or make a mistake, so not only will accidents be less frequent, but productivity is also likely to go up.
4. Allow Regular Breaks
Tired employees make more mistakes. Even the best employee can become fatigued and endanger themselves and others. The longer an employee is repeating the same task, the faster they will fatigue and stop paying close attention. This is when an accident is most likely. By allowing your employees to take regular breaks you will let them refresh themselves and focus on staying safe.
Keeping employees working constantly is a false economy. The damage a tired employee can cause is far greater than the 10 minutes of extra productivity.
5. Prepare for the Worst
No matter how you do to make your workplaces safe, when working with dangerous equipment disaster can still strike. The important thing is how you deal with it.
Having emergency procedures in place can stop a problem from becoming a real disaster. Perform a risk assessment for your workplace, anticipate the potential issues and prepare to mitigate them. You don’t want to be dealing with fire without a safety fire blanket, or a chemical spill without the right equipment to safely clear it up.
Safety Tips for Every Industrial Workplace
So, there you have it. By following these simple safety tips, you can make sure your industrial workplace is a safe environment for your workers. Be sure to create a culture in your business where employees are trained properly and never asked to work beyond their ability.
If you found this article useful, be sure to check out our other blog posts.
Also read: 5 Crucial Project Management Tips for Small Business
