The Importance of Industrial Safety

Industrial safety has come a long way since the inception of the safety movement in 1911 when the tragic events of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire led to the creation of the world’s first safety society. Eventually evolving into the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP), this body works to embed safe practices at a corporate and legislative level. The huge advancements in health and safety practices have massively reduced incident numbers in factories and warehouses, but these improvements have had to evolve alongside increasingly complex industrial processes.

With computer-controlled machinery, AI-driven safety equipment and robots entering the workplace, there is potential for both enhanced productivity and unforeseen accidents. This underscores the critical need for reliable industrial safety systems to protect against such incidents.

In this post, we will explore the concept of industrial safety, why it is of paramount importance and how harnessing advanced technology can be a game-changer in being proactive when it comes to industrial safety.

What is industrial safety?

Industrial safety encompasses safety management practices in the industrial sector that aim to protect industrial workers, machinery, facilities, structures and the environment. An industrial safety system involves the comprehensive management of all operations and procedures within an industry to safeguard its employees and assets by minimizing hazards, risks, accidents and near misses.

Types of incidents

Industrial incidents can take various forms, including:

• Near misses: These are incidents where there is no damage or injury, but a slight variation could have led to harm
• Minor incidents: Involving small-scale damage or injury
• Serious incidents: Causing significant damage and injury
• Fatal incidents: Resulting in the loss of life and potentially severe property damage

The causes of industrial incidents

Industrial incidents often stem from three primary causes: human factors, mechanical issues and environmental factors.

Human Causes: Underlying most of these incidents is a failure of the processes designed to keep employees safe. Perhaps certain workers have not received sufficient training or are working under stressful conditions. Employee negligence is rarer but could include failing to take necessary precautions or working at unsafe speeds. ?

Mechanical Causes: Typical mechanical causes involve the use of outdated or poorly maintained equipment, unguarded or inadequately guarded machinery or a lack of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).

Environmental Causes: These encompass factors like extreme temperatures, poor workplace design, inadequate lighting, improper ventilation and dirty or obstructed workspaces.

Importance of industrial safety

There are many reasons why industrial safety is of critical importance. Besides keeping your workers safe, it also saves your business a significant amount of money and improves productivity. Some of the key reasons why industrial safety is vital are listed below:

Accident avoidance

Industrial work, by its very nature, can have higher risk hazards than other forms of work. Any accidents hold the potential for serious harm to employees, property or the environment. Effective industrial safety procedures that give employees the right training, equipment and protection, have the right alerts, health and hygiene practices in place and embed a thorough understanding of safety protocols and their importance, will ultimately help prevent the kind of accidents that could be potentially disastrous.

Cost savings

When an incident occurs, management faces two different sets of costs. Though serious injury and fatality (SIF) events are rare, these tragic events do happen. If an employee loses their life, companies bear the costs, which often include paying compensation to their dependents. For incidents that aren’t as serious but will require medical treatment, the organization is obliged to cover any medical bills. Such costs will also include the repairing of any machinery or equipment that’s been damaged as a result of the incident. These costs are known as the direct costs.

The other costs, known as indirect costs, are the ones that creep up in the aftermath of an incident and gradually add up. These costs include a slowed down rate of production by other employees, loss of productivity due to downtime of the employee and the labor involved in cleaning up the accident. Frequently they can accumulate to three to five times the amount of the direct costs.

Increased productivity

Contrary to common misconceptions, prioritizing safety enhances productivity. A culture that values safety encourages employees to perform their tasks correctly, reducing incidents and preventing production disruptions. Happy workers are also more productive, as demonstrated by the University of Oxford study which found that levels of productivity in more content workers can increase by as much as 13%.

Legal compliance

Workers’ rights are protected under the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1970. The act gives workers the right to safe and healthy working conditions.

Along with this act, Congress created the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to ensure these objectives are met. OSHA sets and enforces protective workplace and health standards – and all employers must comply with all applicable OSHA standards. Any employers that breach these standards risk facing intense penalties.

To take an extreme example, after a Texas refinery exploded in 2005, killing 15 and injuring 180 workers, OSHA found that BP had more than 300 violations which attributed to the incident, leading OSHA to issue a penalty of $21,361,500. While this is at the most serious end of industrial disasters, it clearly demonstrates the potential for incidents if the right industrial safety protocols are not followed.

Solidifies reputation

Companies that prioritize employee health and safety build trust and have a better reputation. This can open doors to partnerships with suppliers and other businesses, while a poor safety record can deter potential collaborators.

Objectives of industrial safety

The objectives of industrial safety systems are clear:

• Prevent incidents: Minimize the likelihood of accidents and injuries, ensure the well-being of industrial employees and protect machinery, materials and property.
• Minimize disruptions: Avoid work stoppages and production losses caused by accidents.
• Reduce costs: Lower workers’ compensation, insurance rates and all accident-related expenses.
• Boost morale: Foster a positive workplace environment where workers feel respected and safe, enhancing employee morale.
• Enhance productivity: Increase productivity by ensuring a safe and positive workplace for employees who can perform their roles more efficiently and without fear of incident.
• Environmental impact: Decrease the environmental footprint by eliminating hazards and reducing accidents which could have the potential to cause serious environmental damage.

Industrial safety systems are designed to keep both the employees and the business safe. By effectively planning and implementing the right measures, a business can keep its workers safe while also ensuring the smooth running of its operations, ultimately resulting in client satisfaction.

How software can help

By leveraging EHS software, companies can usher in a new era of industrial safety, where data-driven insights, streamlined processes and proactive risk management become the norm. Ultimately, this ensures the safety of workers and the prosperity of businesses in today's dynamic industrial landscape.

Industrial safety is essential for employee well-being, cost savings and reputation. With the aid of advanced software, companies can streamline safety, ensure compliance and foster a culture of safety. This is pivotal as industries evolve, making safety not just a necessity but a strategic imperative for businesses in a dynamic world.

To learn more about how prioritizing safety can transform an industry for the better, check out our blog: Leveraging Safety as a Catalyst for Industry Change.