3 ways to improve safety in the manufacturing industry
Working in the manufacturing industry can pose a greater risk to employee health when compared to other industries. Depending on the nature of the work, staff may be in close proximity to hazardous chemicals, sources of extreme heat or cold and may need to work at height. These are just a few of the risks that may be apparent when working in this sector of business, although a lot will depend on the nature of the products that are being made.
In manufacturing, as with any modern business, there’s a risk that staff members will seek legal redress if they’re injured while in the course of their duties. If the employer is found to be liable (i.e., if they haven’t taken reasonable steps to manage and protect their staff against risks to health in the workplace), they may be faced with significant financial penalties and payouts to staff.
In this article, there’s a focus on the manufacturing industry, with a discussion of three different ways that safety can be improved.
1. Forklift zones
Many different manufacturing plants will use forklift trucks on a daily basis. These are commonly used to load and unload heavy or bulky items and to safely store products and components. However, forklift trucks pose a direct risk to worker safety. They are relatively quiet in operation and can seriously injure pedestrian workers should a collision occur.
Thankfully, the workforce can be protected against these accidents by setting up ‘forklift-only zones’ in areas of the workplace, such as storage and unloading locations. In these areas, only forklift operating staff are allowed to be present. This effectively removes the risk of collisions between the vehicles and members of staff on foot.
2. Consider ergonomic safety
Many staff members in a manufacturing setting will need to work for extended periods at a workbench. This can be when they’re producing or finishing goods during the manufacturing process. However, if the ergonomics of their standing or sitting position aren’t considered, musculoskeletal injuries can develop.
An effective way to eradicate this risk is to invest in height adjustable workbenches. As the name suggests, these benches can be lowered or raised depending on the size of the worker who’s using the workstation. This will ensure that a correct posture is achieved by the workforce during these tasks and will reduce the chances of strains or other injuries developing over time.
3. A reporting culture
Finally, another key way to improve safety in the manufacturing sector is by creating a culture where the reporting of adverse incidents and near misses is welcomed. Staff should be encouraged to report these occurrences so they can be entered into a risk management software platform. The organisation will then be able to look for trends in the workplace that relate to risks or adverse incidents. This will allow them to take remedial actions to minimise or eradicate the risk, thus improving worker safety. A reporting culture also demonstrates to the workforce that the company values their ongoing health and safety in the workplace and is constantly looking to reduce risk and stop similar incidents reoccurring.
