Industrial working environments are far more dangerous than your regular office. As a business owner, it is your responsibility that the safety and health of your employees remain your top priority. You cannot exploit your workers to bump up your production numbers. Instead, you can enact time-saving measures and tools. Care for your employees and their health, and they will enjoy working there. As a bonus, you also reduce the risk of an accident happening and your company being sued.
Maintain Strict Codes of Organisation and Cleanliness
Industrial workplaces must be clean and organised at all times.
1. Keep it Clean
Keep all the machinery clean and maintained to prevent damage and safety risks. To do this, you will want to have your employees commit to maintenance checks at the end of every day and to report back to you so you can review any issues before they become costly or dangerous. As for the actual floor or other more typical office areas, you will need to hire janitorial staff.
2. How to Improve Organisation
Make it easy for employees to find and put away the tools they need. This way, you can reduce the risk of someone hurting themselves trying to get a file or tool that was incorrectly stored. A shadow board is a great way to encourage this, as it gives each tool a place.
Require Regular Inspections
One way to adhere to the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 is to inspect the machinery and working environment regularly. Having your employees maintain and report back to you can help you catch issues between these proper inspections. This includes everything from manufacturing machinery to fire extinguishers and air conditioning units. A faulty AC unit can be dangerous as if it leads to employees overheating and getting sick. You can contact an expert like In Phase Electric & Air (visit the site) or someone similar to give your unit a tune up.
Keep Your Workforce Cool
Industrial environments can be scorching, especially in summer. To keep your team cool you will need to:
1. Have Access to Refreshing Water
The break room should have access to clean, refreshing water. If a tap can not offer this, then invest in a stock of water cooler bottles.
2. Use Fans
Industrial workplaces can get very hot, which is why installing an industrial wall fan at key areas is imperative – both for the machinery and the workers. It is also essential to keep these fans maintained to prolong their life and their effectiveness. Stale air can be very dangerous in a hot working environment, and fans are far more cost-effective than trying to air condition a hot working room.
3. Have Air Conditioning (and Heating) in the Break Room
Have a fan or air conditioning unit in the break room to give your employees a reprieve if they feel too hot or dizzy. If your HVAC system seems to be running a little slower than normal, it’s time to call an AC Repair company. HVAC machines can have minor issues, but they can also have more serious issues. As the proverb goes, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
You could also contact someone like Valley Service to get started with the installation or help maintain any existing units you might already have in place.
4. Give Your Employees Regular Breaks
Depending on the weather you should be lenient with breaks. If there is a heat wave for example, then reduce working time and give your employees more opportunities to cool off and hydrate.
Regular maintenance and the right processes will go a long way towards improving the safety of your workplace, the health and wellbeing of your workers, and towards reducing the risk of being implicated in a criminal liability case. It’s a win-win for everyone, so start today.