Safety in Manufacturing – Top 7 Tips

Safety in Manufacturing – Top 7 Tips to Keep the Workplace Safe

In every workplace, safety is one of the top priorities. Working in manufacturing can potentially have more health and safety hazards than the typical office setting. Employees are at risk for injury, accidents, and health hazards due to consistent work with heavy machinery, industrial equipment, chemicals, and more. The working environment can quickly become dangerous if safety measures are not in place or are followed.

Ensuring workplace safety is especially important in the manufacturing industry, and there are regulatory authorities such as OSHA to help ensure your manufacturing company meets all regulations and is compliant. Your company can be hit with hefty fines if any inspections uncover any issues.

You can do your part to keep your team safe from injuries and illnesses, stay compliant and reduce costs associated with safety issues in the workplace. Here are the top tips to help you create a healthy, safe, and compliant workplace for your manufacturing employees.

1. Perform Regular Workplace Inspections and Audits – You need to be able to identify any issues and unsafe working conditions as soon as possible. While you can't be on the floor regularly and a quick overview during any walkthrough may not allow you to spot every issue. Schedule a routine inspection and audit on your facilities, people, processes, and more to ensure you maintain a safe workplace that is compliant with health and safety regulations.

2. Encourage Early Reporting – Hazards can occur at any time, and if there is a malfunction in the equipment or they notice something that could be off, encourage your employees to report any safety hazards they notice immediately. Even a small drip from a hose should be taken seriously. Train your employees on how to spot potential hazards and ensure they have the resources to be able to report issues easily and quickly.

3. Provide Safety Training For Your Employees – Training your employees on the proper procedures, policies, and how to handle machinery to ensure they can do their job efficiently while following the standard safety procedures. Every individual learns through different methods, so you want to be able to check for understanding. Your employees should regularly be provided materials and training to look over throughout their career to keep the details fresh in their minds and stay up to date on any safety procedures and regulations changes.

4. Hold Regular Safety Meetings – Safety meetings with your employees can help to reinforce and reiterate important topics covered during training in manufacturing. These meetings can be held monthly, weekly, or whenever you feel would be the most productive to enforce safety topics. You can discuss any observed safety hazards and obtain important feedback that can help engage your employees on safe workplace practices.

5. Ensure Employees Wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) – Staying safe on the job requires employees who operate manufacturing equipment or work in the same areas as heavy machinery to wear PPEs. This equipment can be safety goggles, hard hats, respirators, and more and is required in the workplace by federal standards as well as company standards.

6. Encourage a Safety Culture – You can cultivate a safety culture by encouraging all of your employees to take responsibility for behaving safely and work safely together with their team. Create open lines of communication about the importance of safety and provide incentives that prioritize workplace safety. Get everyone involved in building a safety culture where everyone involved can feel empowered and responsible for the safety processes, from hazard reporting to performing corrective actions.

7. Keep Work Areas Clean and Organized – An organized and clean workplace is a safe environment and is essential in the manufacturing industry. Staying organized helps ensure it's easier to navigate spaces and employees are able to find safety equipment quickly. Keeping the workplace clean can also boost productivity, reduce hazards, and helps protect your employee's health.

Safety is one of the most important concerns in the manufacturing industry. A focused safety program implemented in your organization can ensure your manufacturing floor is safe for your employees and reduce injuries, accidents, and health risks to ensure you remain compliant with state and federal regulations. Implementing these safety tips can help you stay proactive in reducing workplace accidents and creating a safety culture that makes your employees feel safe.

Want to learn more about the American manufacturing industry? Check out our podcast, The Industrial Movement. We discuss the American manufacturing industry and the people, processes, and equipment behind it.