As one of the top engineering recruitment firms in Chicago, Premium Staffing, Inc. knows just how dangerous a manufacturing environment can be. This is why it’s so important to have safety protocols in place, and make following them mandatory.
If your current manufacturing workplace isn’t as safe as you’d like it to be, it’s time to take action. Here’s a few ways to tighten things up and ensure employees leave work in the same physical condition in which they arrived.
Five Tips to Create a Safe Manufacturing Work Environment
Properly Train Employees
If employees don’t know how to use the equipment associated with their jobs, accidents will happen. Create a rigorous training process all new hires must go through before they’re free to work independently. It’s also important to provide thorough training to everyone when new machinery is introduced. Finally, requiring all employees to attend periodic refresher trainings will keep their skills sharp, decreasing the chances of an accident.
Require Everyone to Wear PPE
Personal protective equipment (PPE) is a must for employees working in potentially hazardous environments. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration advises that PPE, including gloves, safety glasses and shoes, earplugs or muffs, hard hats, respirators, or coveralls, vests and full body suits can minimize exposure to chemical, radiological, physical, electrical, mechanical and other workplace hazards.
Keep Aisles Clear
Your workplace is a busy one. Employees are constantly bustling around, doing a variety of different jobs. Therefore, if walkways are cluttered, it can be hard for people to have room to properly do their work. If people are forced to shift their work areas or improvise and do their jobs improperly, this can lead to accidents.
Blocked aisles can also be an issue in the event of an emergency. If emergency exits are obstructed, people might have trouble escaping an urgent situation in a timely manner.
Safeguard Against Slips and Trips
In 2018, falls were the leading cause — 338 out of 1,008 total deaths — of private sector worker deaths in the construction industry, according to OSHA. Minimize the risk of slips and trips at your workplace by ensuring spills are cleaned up immediately, replacing damaged flooring, and investing in anti-slip flooring for areas that can’t be quickly and easily cleaned.
Make Sure Employees Take Breaks
Pushing employees to work straight through their shift is illegal in some states, but even if you aren’t required to give breaks, you should do so. Allowing people time to get something to eat and relax their minds allows them to return to work feeling refreshed. This can improve their focus and help eliminate mistakes that can lead to injuries.
Need help finding manufacturing professionals who truly value safety? Premium Staffing, Inc. wants to connect you with responsible workers who will be a strong asset to your team. Contact us today to learn more!