Safety tips that every plant should implement
Be it in your personal life or career, safety is an important aspect of life.
Regardless of the industry you work in, you need to feel safe.
Obviously, some working environments are more dangerous than others, which means that there are a lot more safety precautions that need to be put in place.
Knowing this, it’s important for employees who work in hazardous environments to follow these guidelines:
Wear a uniform when operating equipment
Being educated about the equipment you’re using is the first step to understanding the safety precautions behind how to operate it, or what to do when something happens. It’s important to realise that the equipment and machinery you operate can not only affect you but also others around you. When you are operating these heavy units, all workers should wear the correct safety gear while on premises. They should also follow strict instructions after they’ve used something to keep it clean and well-maintained to avoid future failure, accidents or costly repairs. Avoid wearing any loose clothing or jewellery on the job, as these items could interfere with your working conditions. For people with long hair, keep your hair tied back when working with any moving machinery as that could be dangerous if it gets in the way.
Risk assessment is not optional
Anything that involves working with heavy-equipment to be able to do your job is considered to be a hazardous working environment. This is why it’s important for companies to implement training and safety procedures, or risk assessments before employees can make use of this equipment. These training courses will teach you more about the environment, how to protect yourself and those around you, how to identify concerns and more importantly, how to prevent a dangerous situation from occurring.
Make sure there is efficient safety training
Health and safety training is essential when working in a plant or on a construction site. Employees must always be aware of the procedures and should keep promoting these safety tips throughout the organisation. Companies should implement regular training to keep employees up to date and aware of each new challenge that new equipment or technology may bring.
Implement regular emergency evacuation drills
Whenever there is an emergency, people usually evacuate in a state of panic. This is exactly why it’s important for companies to have regular drills where they help people understand the best, safest conduct in which they can evacuate a building. These drills will also help employees identify where all the emergency exits are, and they will also be aware of where the extinguishers are kept. In these moments, senior employees or managers will need to shut down equipment quickly before evacuating.
Be careful when operating heavy machinery
For companies that rely on heavy, construction equipment to get the job done, they need to have continuous maintenance checks to ensure that there is nothing that could become a safety hazard to the employees or prolong production in its entirety. Plant shutdowns are a regular occurrence for big companies in the engineering space, but when you do regular checks, it will help you avoid unplanned shutdowns due to repairs that could have been prevented. Anytime there is a malfunction, review the instruction manual or consult with your supplier. If you are not trained properly, refrain from using the machinery or equipment altogether and when work is done, shut down the machine properly.
Make sure the environment is clean
Accidents can happen when your workspace is dirty. In order to prevent accidents from happening, make sure that you keep your area clean, which will not only be safer but it will decrease your stress levels when things look and feel more organised. Other factors for companies to consider as a whole are the ventilation available to employees, the lighting and the ability to access all tools and equipment easily without having to fall over things to get there. Pay attention to the layout and design of your workspace, and if need be, adjust it accordingly to ensure maximum performance.
Employees must be focused and aware of their actions
Last but not least, maintain a clear head at all times. Workers need to be focused at all times, therefore alcohol and drugs should be forbidden on the premises. If you feel ill or cannot concentrate, notify your supervisors and stop working immediately. Any of these side effects could impact your working ability, causing you to be a safety hazard to yourself and those around you.
In conclusion
Companies should implement these rules and procedures with strict consequences if not followed. Nobody should feel unsafe at work, which is why companies should really invest time in implementing these procedures, for the benefit of their business and their employees.