Places of work, as well as the type of work, can vary greatly, with some environments and types of jobs that pose greater risks than others. Irrespective of these differences, a workplace should be a safe environment in which all personnel can work comfortably and without fear of injury.
As an employer, it’s important to take all precautions and measures to create a safe and secure working environment for all employees, offer sufficient safety training, and promote safe working habits. This starts with the tools your employees use.
Workplace accidents and injuries can be prevented with the right ergonomic tools and safety training.
Safety Training is Essential
Whether in a manufacturing facility or not, any new worker will require training to complete their job as per company guidelines before they can get to work. Equally important is the need for sufficient safety training, instructional videos, and safety manuals.
The right training is the best way to instill proper operating and facility procedures within the workplace. Employees who are well trained are more confident and capable of completing their work safely and accurately. Be sure to provide all employees with safety training in all the equipment, material, safety procedures, and risks associated with the working facility. You can expect better and safer outcomes. Employee training should always be tracked and be kept up-to-date at all times to save employers, time and money in the long run.
Conduct Regular Maintenance of Tools and Equipment
It’s important to regularly evaluate all operations, including tools and equipment, for any safety or health hazards. Ensure that any tools which have become worn-out or are no longer functional should be repaired or replaced, respectively.
Schedule regular evaluations so that problems can be detected and resolved as early as possible. Consider where improvements can be made. Are operators equipped with appropriate protective equipment? Can assembly lines and operator efficiency be enhanced through the introduction of ergonomic tools?
Install Machine Guards
Manufacturing facilities are usually home to various large and small machinery, which can pose risks to those who operate them. Installing machine guards is a great way to help protect employees from any rotating or moving parts of machines or electrical sparks produced. Although precautions must still be taken, machine guards are a good way to allow machines’ safe operation.
Provide Personal Protection Equipment
Different tasks and types of machinery used within manufacturing facilities require their own set of protective equipment. Employers should provide and enforce their employees to wear the recommended personal protective equipment. These pieces of equipment can include hard hats, safety goggles, face shields, headphones, and gloves, to name a few.
Solve and Prevent the Strain of Repetitive Motions
In the manufacturing industry, many tasks require repetitive motions, which may be easy to complete if done once but can become strenuous when completed over and over again. In such cases, employees can suffer from varying levels of repetitive strain injury, which places strain on the muscles and joints of the specific area of the body. They can result in the breakdown of soft tissue over time. Manufacturing injuries caused by repetitive motions can cause significant discomfort and pain if left untreated. But, it can be prevented with the correct ergonomic equipment.
Implementing ergonomic tools, like a torque reaction arm, can help reduce the strain on operators, reduce the risk of injury while also increasing productivity. Torque reaction arms absorb and transfer the reaction force generated during use and the weight of the tool itself, allowing operators to maneuver the tool with ease.
Allow Rest
Human workers are not robots and can become tired if asked to work for extended periods. To maximize productivity and accuracy within manufacturing facilities, tired workers should be given time to rest when needed. Drowsy and overworked employees are inefficient and are prone to more injuries while on the job. A well-rested employee will be able to complete their work with greater accuracy and are less likely to make mistakes.
Do it Right or Don’t Do it at All
All workplaces, including manufacturing facilities, have specific ways of doing things, and all operations must be carried out according to a set of rules or guidelines. In some cases, these steps may seem lengthy and unnecessary; however, this should never be a reason to cut corners and take shortcuts.
Workers put themselves at risk when they cut corners and take shortcuts to rush and finish a greater amount of work. Workers should never feel rushed and pressured by their managers to work quickly; rather, they should be encouraged to follow all safety protocols and use tools correctly to keep themselves safe.
In the long run, employers will save a lot more money if they invest in the right ergonomic tools to help complete jobs properly and safely. Injured employees are far less productive and can sometimes never perform at full capacity again.
Ergonomic Tools
At Delta Regis Tools, we offer torque reaction arms, which can help reduce strain during the fastening process to help protect operators from injury and increase accuracy at the same time.
Worker safety should always be at the forefront of the manufacturing industry. We strive to create tools and equipment that are safe to use and cause minimal strain to operators. Let Delta Regis Tools help you create a safe and easy working environment with our quality selection of tools and accessories.
To learn more about how to prevent injury and promote employee safety in your workplace, call Delta Regis Tools at 1(888) 500-6862 or contact us here.
