
Safety is a key part of running any industrial organisation or any company that works with machinery. There are thousands of people who get injured or killed every year due to industrial accidents. Those working in engineering need to pay extra care due to the tools and machinery used to carry out the role.
If you have an engineering business, it’s your duty to protect employees when they’re at work. With that in mind, here are some vital industrial safety tips you must implement into your operation today.
Improve Workplace Safety Culture
The first step toward industrial safety is devising a safety culture in your engineering firm. Employees need to be aware of the risks that come with their work, as well as learn how to lower the risk of getting injured. Make sure you have a set of written policies, procedures, and roles for your workplace. Also, you should conduct a COSHH risk assessment to establish what hazards are present in your work environment. HS Direct have a free COSHH risk assessment template you can download and use. They are experts when it comes to making sure your company meets health and safety and employment laws.
Wear Appropriate PPE
PPE (personal protective equipment) is any clothing, gear, or other item worn by an employee to protect themselves from injury and lessen their exposure to hazards. It’s vital your team are wearing the correct safety equipment at all times. Make sure that your team are dressed appropriately before they begin their shift, otherwise, should they get injured, you could be to blame.
Use the Correct Tools and Machinery
In engineering, there is a wide range of industrial tools and machines that are used. Should an employee incorrectly handle one, this can result in a workplace accident. The best way to make sure employees won’t make any errors is to follow the right procedures. Employees should have formal training sessions on how to properly use such tools and machines before working with them.
Encourage Breaks
Working for long periods without a rest is a recipe for disaster. Some individuals may struggle to take breaks because they’re too focused on their work. However, this isn’t a good thing! In fact, it will just lead to more stress and can harm their overall health and wellbeing. Your role as the owner is to encourage regular breaks for employees. When they have a moment to step aside and clear their head, they will return to using tools and machinery with better focus and concentration.
Conduct Regular Health and Safety Meetings
Make sure you are conducting weekly health and safety meetings with your engineering team. Use these sessions to iron out any problems, as well as to keep everyone up to date with the latest goings on in the organisation. If anyone has any questions or concerns, give them the opportunity to speak up and address the issue.
Working in an industrial environment carries its risks. However, there are procedures that can be put in place to lessen such risks and protect you and your employees within the engineering facility. Having all the above in place is essential for prioritising your team’s health and safety and minimising the risk of workplace accidents.