Where do you begin when it comes to health and safety in the workplace? Do you start from the perspective of the staff? Do you start from the foundations of the building you are operating in? It can be difficult to find a way to run an operation effectively while conforming to the health and safety standards that are so rigorously enforced. From the perspective of a start-up, it can be daunting to locate the right information and to make your facilities as safe as they possibly can be. This is doubly so in a warehouse operation, a factory or a haulage company. Here are some of the basics that you need to follow to make sure that if you are running a factory that it is operating at its safest.
The Right Hazard Protection
Hazards are always the main thing you need to be thinking about when it comes to protecting colleagues and employees. When working in a factory setting, there are many things that can be extremely dangerous. So the first step is to make sure you have the correct signs for the basic hazards like tripping or slippery surfaces. Some ways to prevent hazards are:
- Maintain your work equipment and your premises properly.
- Having windows that can be opened safely and also cleaned safely.
- Keeping floors free from obvious tripping hazards or obstruction. If there are certain floor areas that are getting constant wear and tear, you may wish to invest in items such as anti-fatigue mats.
- Making sure that any transparent walls or transparent doors are protected or made of a material conducive to its safety.
Even from a financial perspective having an employee that injures themselves can have serious repercussions from a legal standpoint. Such as fines and compensation for the afflicted employee.
Staff Hygiene
The common cold and ailments like flu are ubiquitous in the workplace. Make sure that the company promotes hygiene by using posters or hygiene signs. This is a simple and cost-effective way to remind employees to wash their hands sore to clean after themselves. It never hurts to go over the basics, make sure you have drinking water, soap, towels or a hand dryer, and a place to store special clothing, like lockers.
Make Sure The Layout Is Used Well
At the beginning of a factory operation, it is advisable to make the most of the methods of integrating staff. As the factory line is a linear process, grouping departments together that are next in the process make logical sense. And it also provides an approach that is easy for most people to follow. From the perspective of quality control, it is also easier to see if there are issues within the production line or with the product itself.
Equipment Amounts
Running a manufacturing operation, you need to know how much equipment you need to purchase. There are so many areas that need to be covered, it is best to keep your outgoing costs low at the start. This is so you have the right amount of machinery to best serve the employees needs as the staff amount will likely be low.
This article was provided by ellie jo