Visit Dynatect for Custom Protective Systems

Every manufacturing plant and industry location needs to improve machine and worker safety measures. It is easy to try to save money by neglecting safety measures. But, when workplace accidents happen, the financial liability will wipe out any savings. Machinery can be damaged beyond repair or need expensive repairs. Workers can be injured or even die leading to expensive lawsuits and OSHA fines. The “ounce of prevention” saying is correct.

Determining a Plan for Action

The first step in improving plant and workplace safety is to talk to safety experts and determine what needs to be done. What are the danger points? What are the safety products that could solve different safety issues? Visit Dynatect.com for Custom Protective Systems to get some ideas of what products are available. Talk to companies such as Dynatect which specializes in factory safety equipment. Deal with companies that have experts available to advise business owners.

Types of Safety Equipment to Consider

Cable carriers come in both plastic and metal and help control electrical and other cables, water lines, and other hoses and cables. When loose cable and hose crisscross a factory floor, they can be damaged and they can be a tripping hazard. Arranging them in cable carriers protects both the cable and workers.

Slip clutches work as either intermittent or continuous drag breaks and provide protection from overloads, act as drag brakes, and control slip as each stroke ends. Safety clutches protect worker’s hands and arms.

Aluminum roll-up doors protect machines and provide separation between dangerous machines and workers when not in use. These roll-up doors are also used on trucks, truck beds, and fire trucks.

Machine guarding is designed to limit worker’s injuries around hazardous equipment. There are many types of this guarding including shields, fixed or adjustable or self-adjusting shields. These shields protect workers from flying debris, pinch points, cutting edges, and moving parts.

Fire and Environmental protection such as sensors for fumes, fire alarms, and fire suppression equipment.

Protection equipment to secure hazardous openings and fall dangers when equipment is located at least partially below floor level. It is important to cover open pits and other dangerous openings. Walk-on covers have easy access features when machines will be in use or need repair but allow a safe walkable surface for workers at other times.

Containment tanks and covers to isolate dangerous chemicals and emissions. They are good for such applications as anodizing, etching, cleaning, plating, and other things requiring chemicals.

Ball screws are precision made and can make equipment run more smoothly with less friction. Ball screws make machines safer and more accurate.

Follow OSHA Law and Regulations

OSHA has laws and regulations covering industry safety standards. Each company or industry should have experts on staff who are familiar with OSHA requirements and how to meet them. The law requires safety for workers by setting and enforcing rules for training, education, outreach, and assistance. Each workplace is required to be safe from recognized serious hazards. OSHA has brochures and other materials to guide employers in making their workplaces safe.

Making a Plan to Retrofit a Workplace for Safety

When planning to retrofit the workplace for safety, consider this advice from experts in the field:

First, identify the hazards by talking to workers and doing a risk assessment by visiting the workplace and watching the work process.
Be sure to follow any set standards and regulations for industrial equipment used for safety. Organizations with standards to meet include, ANSI, OSHA, NFPA, and CSA. Then check all equipment to make sure it has the right labels and certifications.
Take into consideration the convenience, fit, and comfort of operation for the workers who will use the equipment. If safety equipment is not convenient to use, workers will make excuses to ignore it, leading to new dangers. It must not be too tight, too loose, to bulky, too heavy, or too complicated to use.
Safety equipment will not do any good if workers are not trained in its use. First train and then monitor the use of safety equipment. It is important to inspect and service the safety equipment on a regular basis.
Periodically inspect the equipment and evaluate its performance. Replace parts or whole units as needed. When better equipment becomes available consider upgrading.
Get expert advice before the final decision on purchasing each piece of safety equipment. It is important to make informed decisions on the correct equipment for each facility’s unique situation.
When new equipment is introduced, make sure to train and consult all the people who will be affected. This can include maintenance workers, quality control, managers, union representatives, the HR department, and workers. Let the insurance company know about the new safety equipment.

The Benefits of Adding Safety Equipment to the Workplace

Adding engineered safety solutions to a workplace can have several important benefits. When workers can work in safe conditions, they have better morale, less anxiety, and can perform their jobs better. Worker productivity helps a company produce more products and make more money. A safe manufacturing facility may see a reduction in its insurance rates. When a workplace is safer, it reduces the risk of accidents, injury, and expensive lawsuits.

A well-designed manufacturing facility with good safety measures in place will attract and keep better employees. A safe workplace needs more than added safety equipment. Some additional measures include:

A well-designed work floor with clear and convenient traffic paths. Machinery should be placed for optimum efficiency and less wasted steps.
All employees should be well-trained in the operation of all equipment and in safety rules and emergency procedures. If a fire broke out, all employees should have a marked escape route. Every employee should be trained in the correct procedures to avoid fire danger.
Cleanliness leads to risk management and a safer workplace. The facility should be kept clean and debris should be removed promptly. Trash should not be allowed to build up.

In conclusion, A workplace should be well-designed, well-run, and engineered for employee safety. Money spent on workplace safety equipment is never wasted. Getting expert advice is important when retrofitting a building for safety. Be sure to meet all OSHA safety standards and even go beyond them. Call a company such as Dynatect for a complete list of safety equipment and professional help in choosing the correct equipment for each manufacturing facility’s unique needs.