Industrial Workplace Safety Tips for 2023 and Beyond

Adhering to industrial workplace safety tips is imperative for all global enterprises across sectors, in order to avoid accidents and injuries on the job. Be it manufacturing, construction or any other industrial field, prioritizing employee safety is an absolute must! Moreover, with workplace accidents increasing over time, now is the best time to become more knowledgeable about safety for industrial workers. That said, this blog delves into various best practices for maintaining a safe and healthy workplace.

To begin with, let’s understand why is workplace safety important –
Workplace safety has risen as a crucial issue as the American workforce continues to witness declining numbers every year. With more cases of retirement than employment, stagnant pay scales and burdening stress, the scarcity of properly qualified employees has reached an all-time high.

Besides, employees nowadays hold much higher standards for on-the-job safety and expect employers to follow all recent safety guidelines. Reports claim there were 2.7 million non-fatal workplace safety accidents (falls, trips, illnesses, minor injuries) and 4,764 fatalities in 2020.

Injuries and accidents on the job can have serious physical, emotional, and financial consequences, and can have long-lasting effects on the health and well-being of employees and their families. Besides, a safe and healthy work environment can help reduce stress and prevent burnout, creating a positive impact on employee morale and productivity. Additionally, taking necessary steps for safety also reduces liability risks and legal issues. Therefore, companies need to prioritize workplace safety and take the necessary action to foster a safe, stress-free work environment.

Industrial Workplace Safety Tips to Look Out For

Employers should prioritize on-the-job safety and take precautions to avoid unprecedented accidents and work-related injuries. That said, here’s a list of some of the top industrial workplace safety tips to follow in 2023 –

• Report Unsafe Conditions Immediately:
  When speaking of industrial workplace safety tips, the first and simplest rule is to remain conscious and ready to respond to any dangerous situation. Maintaining a secure and healthy workplace requires you to be aware of your surroundings and keep an eye out for potential dangers at all times. If you notice any hazards or unsafe conditions, immediately report them to your supervisor.

  Prevention is better than cure. Thus, you must address potential hazards before they cause a serious accident or injury. Also, be sure to follow all safety guidelines and procedures – from using personal protective equipment (PPE) to adhering to the right handling techniques for hazardous materials, etc.

• Train The Workforce:
  There isn’t any easy way out, especially when it is about maintaining safety at the workplace. Most organizations deal with heavy, complex tools and machines daily and cannot afford to encourage their workers to use them when they aren’t well-trained for the same. Hence, while using the right tools is important, it’s equally imperative to ensure that every employee is well-qualified to use the machinery to reduce the chances of injuries, or even worse, fatalities.

  With worker death cases decreasing substantially over the years, it’s evident how employers are taking necessary steps to keep their workers safe and secure on the job. For instance, hosting routine employee training programs to teach how to use tools and machines the right way saves companies a lot of trouble.

• Encourage Regular Breaks:
  On-the-job stress has always been a major challenge to maintaining workplace safety, with only 6% of workers admitting to not being stressed at work. That said, taking regular breaks enables employees to relax and rejuvenate, thereby reducing fatigue and burnout. Employees are more likely to make prudent decisions and prevent accidents on the job when they are well-rested and alert.

  Besides, employees can stretch, move around, and perform activities that can ease stress and physical strain between breaks. These movements amidst work help avoid musculoskeletal problems and other injuries triggered by repetitive motions or extended periods of sitting or standing.

  Workers may also use breaks to ask for assistance or discuss safety issues with their managers or safety committees to reduce the likelihood of incidents and accidents at work.

• Safety Gear Must Be Worn Always:
  Personal protective equipment (PPE), also known as safety gear, is an essential safety practice at the workplace today. Wearing protective gear shields employees from potential risks on the job – be it physical, chemical, or biological dangers, as well as other kinds of risks.

  For instance, wearing goggles can prevent eye injuries from flying debris, wearing a hard hat can prevent head injuries from falling objects, and wearing earplugs can prevent hearing loss from loud noises. Keep in mind that injuries cannot be foreseen or avoided altogether every time. Hence, in such cases, safety gear can at least reduce the severity, as well as the risk of long-term health effects from hazardous substance exposure.

  To gain a detailed understanding of OSHA’s process safety management regulation, read this.

• Stay Up-To-Date On Latest Safety Processes:
  If your primary concern is to promote workplace safety in your organization, always stay updated with the latest safety guidelines regarding your areas of work. These guidelines can range from coronavirus to natural disasters, mechanical hazards or fatalities, etc. Some of these are as follows:
  – Encourage frequent hand washing and social seclusion to stop the spread of COVID-19.
  – Sanitize work surfaces and equipment regularly to reduce the spread of germs.
  – Create an evacuation plan in case of a fire or other emergency.
  – In case of an emergency, keep first aid supplies and emergency phone numbers nearby.
  – Conduct regular safety inspections and audits to identify potential hazards and implement corrective actions.
  – Set up a system for reporting and investigating workplace injuries and accidents.
  – Implement safety policies and procedures to ensure employee safety.
• Look Out For Fire Hazards:
  Here are some industrial workplace safety tips to prepare for fire hazards:
  – Identify possible fire hazards by keeping an eye out for anything that could catch fire, such as electrical wiring, open flames, and heating devices.
  – Look for materials that are flammable or combustible, such as paper, chemicals, and fuel.
  – Use fire-resistant materials and keep flammable materials away from sources of ignition. Keep workspaces tidy and uncluttered.
  – Create and publish a fire emergency plan, which should include directions on how to leave the building and where to assemble outside; ensure everyone is aware of the strategy.
  – Install and maintain fire detection and suppression systems which can warn staff members of a fire and help put it out before it spreads.
  – Hold regular fire drills to train staff members to practice the fire evacuation plan.
• Alcohol Abstinence At Work:
  Goes without saying, sobriety at work is critical for workplace safety and professionalism. To protect oneself and all those around, it is crucial to maintain optimal mental clarity and the capacity to carry out tasks safely.

  Alcohol affects judgment and cognitive function, resulting in poor decision-making. It also slows your reflexes, triggers drowsiness and fatigue, and impacts one’s alertness. All of this can be risky and may cause mishaps or dangerous circumstances on the job. Therefore, being under the influence of alcohol while at work is strictly against company policy, and can lead to severe punishment or even termination.

• Implement Ergonomic Solutions:
  Ergonomic disorders are the fastest-growing category of work-related illness. Hence, ergonomics standards are crucial for workplace safety as they help prevent injuries and accidents caused by improperly designed or used tools and working conditions.

  According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, ergonomic injuries on the job account for one out of every three workdays. Ergonomics risk assessments can be used to identify workplace hazards and determine adequate preventive measures and risk monitoring.
  
  That said, proper ergonomics lowers the risk of musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) and other types of injuries or discomfort. Implementing ergonomics in the workplace will prevent injuries, increase productivity as well as substantially reduce potential costs for the company.

• Carry Out Timely Safety-Related Audits:
  Lastly, a workplace safety audit is intended to find potential risks at work. This can include physical hazards such as trip and fall or electrical hazards, as well as chemical and ergonomic hazards. By identifying these risky situations, employee managers can take precautions to avoid accidents and injuries.

  As we’ve learned earlier, employees today hold safety in the highest regard. That said, a secure workplace also promotes employee satisfaction. Their motivation and productivity are more likely to increase when your workers feel safe at work.

  Besides being enlisted in safety tips at the workplace, safety audits are also useful to cut costs. Accidents and injuries can be costly for a business in terms of lost productivity, medical expenses, and legal fees. In this regard, auditing can lower these costs and boost the bottom line by identifying and addressing hazards.

  Read this guide to gain a thorough understanding of EHS management software and how it can benefit your business.

Wrapping Up

Creating a safe working environment is crucial for the safety of all employees in a manufacturing or production setting. It is key to reduce the risk of accidents and injuries by adhering to guidelines like wearing protective equipment, properly educating and training employees and inspecting equipment and machinery periodically. Lastly, while mapping out a workplace safety strategy, implementing emergency procedures and having a clear plan in place in the event of a mishap is critical.

How VisiumKMS Promotes Safety In The Workplace

VisiumKMS addresses all regulatory standards of Process Safety Management (PSM); such as the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Standard 29 CFR 1910.119, thereby ensuring all 14 elements of a process safety management plan. Our process safety management software helps you maintain all of your process safety information in one system, using best-in-class, standardized workflows developed by industry experts!

We commit to staying ahead of the curve; to help our customers keep ahead of the business and operational pressures, regulations, and global or local challenges they face. To discuss your needs with one of our experts, schedule a call with us here.