The economic supply chain relies on a few key components: raw processing, manufacturing, transport, and retail. While each has its safety risks, manufacturing is one of the most dangerous steps in the supply chain, given the intense temperatures, work environment, and heavy machinery involved. So here are some essential safety practices for manufacturing you should know to keep everyone safe and secure.
Communicate
Clear communication is one of the most important aspects of workplace safety in any industry, but especially in manufacturing. As employees communicate, they set clear expectations for each job. The prevalence of heavy machinery is another consideration. Manufacturing centers are notorious for using heavy machinery in the work site, which causes disruption and noise pollution. Always debrief employees at the start of the workday before using heavy machinery to ensure everyone receives the same communication and training protocols.
Tidy Up the Workspace
Another essential safety practice for manufacturing is to tidy up the workplace. Manufacturing plants feature some of the most confined work environments due to the many materials, tools, and supplies in them. Safe work practices ensure everyone can perform their daily responsibilities without the risk of an OSHA violation. For example, common debris, tools, and other miscellaneous items pose greater risks to employee safety than tidy areas. Make sure all employees put away gear at the end of their shift in their respective locations.
Clean Up Equipment
Preventative maintenance ensures heavy machinery performs as expected during all hours of operation. Compared to retroactive maintenance, in which you repair machines after they’ve broken down, preventative maintenance safely ensures no issues occur. It even allows for a thorough overview of any equipment troubleshooting. It’s also important to clean the equipment with the proper cleaning tools. For example, tube brushes have tough bristles and durable handles to ensure you reach every corner of the machinery without snapping or staining the brush head. The engineering of the tube brushes also allows you to reach each part of the machinery to remove trapped gunk, sludge, and dirt. This way, there’s no overheating or backlogging in your daily operations.
