When working on a manufacturing floor, safety is paramount. Accidents can happen at any time due to human carelessness or machine malfunction. You can always send out for equipment repairs if a machine breaks down, but repair services cannot help you if your workers are injured.
It’s very important that there is a clear safety protocol for equipment operators and that employees follow all outlined safety guidelines. Here are some safety tips workers should keep in mind to protect themselves and others on the factory floor.
1. Know Your Environment
As a supervisor, the first thing you should do with new workers is to completely familiarize them with the factory floor. They should know where all the hazardous areas are and any potential safety risks they may encounter every day. As a worker, it is your responsibility to make sure you know every potential hazard you may face in a given day so you can act accordingly.
2. Stay Alert
Especially when you are performing repetitive tasks, it’s easy to lose focus. That’s when accidents happen. Make sure you always attune yourself to what you are doing and what is going on around you, even if you are very familiar with the activity you are doing.
3. Take Breaks
Breaks are an important way to regain your focus. They are also a way to regather your energy. Many accidents happen at the workplace because workers are tired from too many hours of uninterrupted work activity.
4. Know Where All Emergency Exits and Shutoff Switches Are
Don’t wait until emergency hits to learn how to shut things down and get out. Make sure you already know the plan for an emergency.
5. Report Any Unsafe Conditions to Your Supervisor
If you suspect a machine is working incorrectly or there is a potential hazard that the workplace manager has not addressed, contact your supervisor immediately. A broken machine not only presents a danger to employees but also hurts productivity, so your supervisor will thank you for bringing such things to their attention.