Safety is paramount when working in dangerous environments and a factory floor is certainly that. From the heavy-duty machinery to the risk of tripping over objects, there are dangers around every corner for factory workers. Data collected by the Health and Safety Executive revealed that the manufacturing sector (which factory work sits in) was the industry with the joint third in the number of workplace deaths.
It’s your job as the factory floor manager or owner to prevent these serious and sometimes fatal injuries from occurring. Failure to do so could lead to lawsuits from employees, reduced staff numbers while they’re recovering from injury and a loss of productivity. All of these will inevitably impact the profits of your business, which may be pinned on your shortcomings.
So, if you want to avoid scrutiny and keep your staff members injury-free, we have all the tips you need to ensure your factory floor is safe for your employees. Continue reading our guide below to put safety at the heart of your operations.
Start with a health and safety inspection
A great place to start is to have a professional come in and assess your premises. They’ll be able to highlight any potential threats to your employees, so you know what changes need to be made to eradicate the danger.
Secure heavy equipment
Factories tend to be filled with countless large machines, which can easily cause severe damage to your staff members. Once they’re in place, take time to secure them in place by strapping them in with hoists or ropes and using shackles for extra protection. This should ensure they don’t move when they’re not supposed to, giving you and your staff more confidence that they’re safer to operate.
Train your employees
Every staff member must complete the essential training for manufacturing to ensure they understand how to operate machinery and conduct themselves on the factory floor. This should be part of the onboarding process for new workers but you should also provide refresher sessions frequently, so nobody forgets how to take on their responsibilities properly.
Add clear signage
Although you can do plenty to reduce risks, there’s still a chance that emergencies can occur, so you need to know how to get your staff out of the building quickly. Clear signage highlighting where the exits and assembly points outside of the buildings can help all staff get out to reduce the chance of injuries occurring.
