Common Hazards in the Manufacturing Industry To Avoid
Manufacturing facilities contain various dangers around nearly every corner. Although some of the dangers might sound daunting or scary, this guide is here to shed light on how easy these hazards are to avoid with the right preparation and consistent professionalism. Whether you’re an employee or an employer, this guide will help prevent major accidents in the workplace. Read the list below to learn three common hazards in the manufacturing industry to avoid regularly.
Heavy Machinery Accidents
From forklifts to conveyors and beyond, heavy machinery is commonplace in manufacturing facilities. Unfortunately, heavy machines with moving parts pose a risk to the health and safety of everyone nearby. Body parts can lodge between moving parts, resulting in significant injuries or death.
Thankfully, besides careful handling by operators, installing machine safeguards when necessary makes your machines much safer. As the name suggests, machine safeguards protect moving parts and other dangerous areas on the equipment where employees can hurt themselves. For this reason, machine guards are necessary tools for any workplace using heavy machinery with moving parts, which are common in various industries.
Toxic Chemical Exposure
Manufacturing facilities that handle toxic chemicals throughout the workday must use care. Unfortunately, chemicals are one of the most common hazards in the manufacturing industry to avoid because exposure through direct contact with skin or inhalation can cause significant injuries and illnesses, depending on the specific chemical.
Don’t worry; there are many procedures for protecting employees from harmful chemicals, no matter the specific materials you’re working with. When employers provide their teams with the necessary knowledge and tools, handling chemicals safely will be more common than the accidents they frequently cause.
Slipping, Tripping, and Falling
These are three commonly lumped together hazards because the causes and preventative measures are virtually the same. After some time and a lack of thorough management, manufacturing facilities can accrue all types of clutter: equipment sitting on the floor, old boxes sitting in doorways, trash lying next to workstations—the list goes on.
Unfortunately, clutter is common and dangerous—but it’s avoidable with the right preparation. By enforcing cleanliness and providing ample storage, garbage bins, and other methods of preventing clutter, employers can make a big, positive impact on workplace safety. Although empty boxes might look innocent, slipping, tripping, and falling in the workplace can have dire results.
