Making your automated systems safer at your facility
Photo by cottonbro
It will always pay to make your automated systems safer. While you may not be able to afford bespoke components, you can enhance safety with some simple procedures.
The need to upgrade to newer machines
Upgrading your equipment is a no-brainer way to make your business more useful, increase productivity on the job site, decrease downtime, make sure workers are safe, and improve overall efficiency. When it comes to automated systems, on the other hand, upgrades will make you much safer. For instance, if you make soft consumables, you will need a modern gummy depositor like the Gummy Tech GT150. Models like this one from Newer models not only have advanced safety features, but they also make it possible to work in more stable conditions.
Why training is essential
Training is important because it gives your employees the chance to improve the skills they already have and learn new ones. This helps improve both individual and organisational performance. Training helps employees do their jobs better, makes them happier at work, and keeps them from leaving. But making sure all employees know how to use any equipment is also important for safety. Poor training is the cause of about one-third of workplace injuries in the UK alone. Depending on what happened, you could be held fully responsible.
Built-in systems to make automated systems safer
Even 20 years ago, automated systems were much less safe than they are now. But not all of them are made the same, and your facility might also need some upgrades to be ready for anything. You should think about installing the following extra safety features:
- All work areas should be able to quickly reach the big red emergency button.
- Put in touch-sensitive force modules to avoid breaking things and working too hard.
- Install light and sound systems to let people know when production is going on.
Most laws require a stop button in case of an emergency. But they are usually only put in one place. You can make a plant safer by adding more emergency buttons that are easy to reach and are connected to all automated systems, along with light and sound warning systems.
Establish clear boundaries on the shop floor
Professional boundaries are important because they show what people can and can’t do when they work together. When there are clear boundaries at work, organisations work more efficiently, which leads to a healthier work environment in the long run. From the point of view of automation, this helps make things safer. Many automated systems, like car-painting robots, don’t notice when people enter danger zones. To keep the worst from happening, we need hard boundaries, like guardrails, and soft boundaries, like painted zones.
Advanced tech for healthier employees
Most tasks have a lot of repetitions, which can change your posture and require a lot of force or muscle work, which can make you feel uncomfortable and tired. Any of these situations could happen in both automated and manual manufacturing assembly jobs and in the office. Wearable sensors can automatically track how the body moves, such as its posture, speed, and acceleration. This may increase the forces inside the body and make it more likely that someone will get hurt. But sensors can check the heart rate, blood oxygen, and energy levels.
Summary
You may need to make even the best automated systems safer at your production facilities. You can upgrade to newer models, install emergency stop buttons and assist employees with tech.
