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Factories are places of risky and dangerous work which involves heavy machinery, maybe chemicals, hardware etc. It definitely has a higher risk of causing injuries and damage to human lives who are employed in these factories.
It is very essential that companies take care of their employees working in factories and make them safe places to work. There are several, small and big, ways through which companies can ensure the safety of their employees in factories.
Here are some of the effective ways in which factories can be made safer for employees.
1. Compulsory Safety Gear
Even though it is a legal requirement to wear proper safety gear and equipment before entering factories and getting down to work, many factory employees ignore this requirement. Factory workers and employees get into accidents that could’ve been avoided had they been wearing proper safety gear. PPE includes items such as helmets, safety glasses, respirators, gloves, and protective clothing is important for safety because it provides a physical barrier between the user and potential hazards in the environment. If the workplace has harmful substances, protecting your hands with disposable nitrile gloves is highly recommended due to their puncture and tear-resistant material.
Factory safety officers should conduct surprise safety checks and inspections to ensure that all factory workers wear proper safety gear and equipment.
2. Awareness, Education, and Training
This is probably the most important measure that needs to be taken to ensure the safety of factory workers and employees. Communicate safety regulations and guidelines to all the workers of the factory. Impress upon them the seriousness of not using safety equipment.
Also, educate them about the correct tools and operating machinery methods. All factory workers must receive regular training regarding the correct use of machinery and tools to keep them updated. This is especially important for new factory workers or new machinery because workers might not know how to operate this new machinery.
3. Proper Markings In Factories
With multiple activities going on in a factory simultaneously, it is important to have the different sections of a factory marked properly. Factory floor markings are a great way to ensure that workers know which areas of a factory are prohibited or which areas to expect moving machinery or vehicles in. Even little things like parking spaces for factory vehicles or machinery can go a long way in making factories a safe place to work.
Paint, tape, signs, shapes, etc. can be used to separate areas of work such as storage areas, hazardous areas, no-entry areas, supervisor-only areas, etc. This low-cost, long-term investment will help make factories safer in the long run.
4. Machine Maintenance
Maintenance of factory machinery is a must for the safety of factory workers. It is important that the machines are regularly oiled and serviced so that when the workers are using these machines, they do not face any difficulty with the machine or have an unexpected accident. Machines that do not receive regular maintenance have a higher risk of failing and causing avoidable accidents.
5. Factory Maintenance
The cleaning and maintenance of the factory are also important for the safety of factory workers. Factories should be cleaned on a regular basis, and hygienic and healthy standards of the factory workplace should be maintained. There should be enough lighting for the workers to easily work in the factories without having to strain their eyes and also to avoid any accidents that can be caused due to low lighting.
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Conclusion
Factory safety is very different from other workplaces because it involves much more heavy equipment and dangerous work. It is especially important for factories to have strict safety standards and rules in place. A lot of factory accidents that take place are avoidable. With the use of proper safety gear, and equipment, and honest following of the safety guidelines set for all employees, accidents can be reduced to a large extent.
rachel frampton says
I agree with you that factory owners must provide safety gear to their workers so accidents will be minimized. You’re also right about the importance of placing markings in the facility so the workers will be aware about which areas are prohibited. Well, if ever I’ll run my own factory someday, I’ll make sure to invest in an industrial cleaning service because this will keep the space free from any hazardous bacteria.