Categories: Maintaining a Business

How Proper Safety Measures Can Reduce Workplace Injuries

Employees who work in a manufacturing setting are exposed to many potential hazards. Hand tools, power tools and machinery can all be dangerous if handled incorrectly or if proper safety precautions aren’t followed. It’s your responsibility as an employer or supervisor to maintain a safe work environment and protect your employees from injury.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration estimates that employers spend approximately $4 billion a month for workers’ compensation costs, but these costs are nothing compared to the human cost of injuries or deaths that could have been prevented, if only the correct safety measures had been taken.

Hand tool safety

Because they don’t run on electricity, hand tools are rarely considered a hazard, but improper use or poor maintenance of hand tools can lead to injury.

Instruct employees on the proper use of hand tools – for example using a screwdriver as a chisel could cause the tool to break and possibly send bits of debris flying.

Include hand tools in regular maintenance checks. Tools with loose or damaged handles should be replaced or repaired immediately. Tools that are supposed to be sharp, such as a saw, should be properly sharpened. Sharp blades are less hazardous than dull ones. You should also:

Provide employees with appropriate protective equipment such as gloves and safety goggles.
Use only spark-resistant tools in your workplace, if flammable substances are present.
Keep floors clean and dry, and use slip-resistant mats in areas where workers use tools, to prevent falls.

Power tool safety

Whether they’re electric, hydraulic or pneumatic, power tools can cause injury if used improperly. Most employees are aware of the hazards of power tools, but regular training is an important part of workplace safety. As with hand tools, proper use, regular maintenance and the right protective equipment can prevent or reduce accidents on the job.

Machinery safety

Just as with hand and power tools, machinery must be properly maintained in order to run safely and efficiently. Servicing machinery often requires workers to place their hands, head or limbs near or into parts of a machine, and if that machine starts up unexpectedly, serious or fatal injuries can occur.

Lockout devices prevent machines from starting up unexpectedly or the spontaneous release of stored energy in a machine. When lockout devices are used, workers must manually bypass or remove the guard in order to restart equipment. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health recommends the use of lockout/tagout devices to reduce the risk of injury.

The failure to follow lockout procedures was the most common safety violation from 2006-2007 according to OSHA, and in more than 50 percent of accident investigations between 1984 and 1997, proper lockout procedures were not followed – or even attempted.

Take responsibility

Each employee is responsible for following safety guidelines, but ultimately it’s your job as the owner or manager to make certain the workplace and all equipment is maintained properly and that proper protective gear is provided and used. Failing to supply workers with the right training and the right equipment could cost your company millions, but more importantly, it could cost a life.

Felicia Baratz is a freelance writer, graphic designer and social media addict living in Indianapolis, IN. As a contributor to ProfessionalIntern.com, Felicia discusses new, innovative technology and it’s relation to the business world and social media marketing.

Deborah Sweeney

Deborah Sweeney is an advocate for protecting personal and business assets for business owners and entrepreneurs. With extensive experience in the field of corporate and intellectual property law, Deborah provides insightful commentary on the benefits of incorporation and trademark registration. Education: Deborah received her Juris Doctor and Master of Business Administration degrees from Pepperdine University, and has served as an adjunct professor at the University of West Los Angeles and San Fernando School of Law in corporate and intellectual property law. Experience: After becoming a partner at LA-based law firm, Michel & Robinson, she became an in-house attorney for MyCorporation, formerly a division in Intuit. She took the company private in 2009 and after 10 years of entrepreneurship sold the company to Deluxe Corporation. Deborah is also well-recognized for her written work online as a contributing writer with some of the top business and entrepreneurial blogging sites including Forbes, Business Insider, SCORE, and Fox Business, among others. Fun facts/Other pursuits: Originally from Southern California, Deborah enjoys spending time with her husband and two sons, Benjamin and Christopher, and practicing Pilates. Deborah believes in the importance of family and credits the entrepreneurial business model for giving her the flexibility to enjoy both a career and motherhood. Deborah, and MyCorporation, have previously been honored by the San Fernando Valley Business Journal’s List of the Valley’s Largest Women-Owned Businesses in 2012. MyCorporation received the Stevie Award for Best Women-Owned Business in 2011.

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View Comments

Alan Murfee says:

12 years ago at 10:46 PM

Incidents occur all any time, affecting staff, business, or even the surrounding community with potentially devastating results. Proper emergency management planning will reduce the risk of such incidents occurring and give you more effective control of the outcomes.