Safe material handling in the manufacturing industry can do much more than protect your employees from injury. A manufacturing plant can be significantly more productive, efficient, and profitable when it follows safety protocols, as these measures typically troubleshoot common issues including staff retention and avoidable downtime from strain or fatigue.
When it comes to material handling, there are plenty of ways you can lessen the impact of strenuous roles within your manufacturing plant, reducing the risk of injury and creating a more effective workforce. Here, brush manufacturing brand Brushtec share their tips.
Identify risks
Outside of regular risk assessments, be sure to constantly review the safety of your plant as it runs and remember to talk to your employees to get their perspectives. This will help you to identify physical safety risks, whether by preventing accidents or minimising long-term strain from strenuous manual labour. It’s also crucial to address mental fatigue as a result of material handling to protect the mental wellbeing of your employees — this can be from intense or repetitive work. Lax or improperly applied safety procedures can also lead to reduced employee attitudes towards safety, which comes with its own risks, so this must be also be prevented.
Address common issues
All employees should be up to date with their health and safety training, and you may want to focus on specific courses for lifting, handling, and other physical activities related to the manufacturing process of your particular plant. When it comes to physical strain, aim to limit employee exposure to risk by only having them assigned to strenuous activities in short shifts, and the same can be said for high-fatigue tasks too. Overall, you should be creating a culture of safety to prevent your employees from taking unnecessary risks, stamping out risky behaviour. Lead by example, ensure you have plenty of safety signage, and encourage conversations about safety both with and among your staff.
Provide PPE
Providing comfortable and highly effective personal protection equipment to your employees is a must, so consider whether you need to invest in better quality PPE for your staff. They will need eye, ear, and respiratory protection as well as helmets, gloves, and steel-capped boots. You may also want to consider providing back braces and knee braces for additional support when lifting. Not only can this help limit the amount of strain and injury, but it demonstrates to your staff that you take their health seriously which can give their wellbeing a boost. If you’re not sure where to start, you can use recent accident reports or speak to individuals to determine what additional PPE you need.
Maintain equipment
Thorough cleaning of your material handling equipment is essential for ensuring your plant stays both safe and efficient. Removing debris, dirt, and grime can help ensure there are no potentially dangerous malfunctions, and the lifespan of your machinery will be improved too. So, be sure to take the time to train your employees in proper equipment and machinery maintenance, and always have the best cleaning tools available for the job as these can improve maintenance times and decrease downtime.
You should also ensure all routes through your plant are well swept, kept clear, and free from tripping or collision hazards, either from clutter or due to the condition of the flooring — this will have the added bonus of improving efficiency, too, as your staff will be able to navigate through your warehouse quicker and more easily.
Embrace technology
Technology such as heavy machinery and robotics can be used to bear the brunt of physically demanding labour that can put a strain on your employees, or they can perform repetitive tasks that would otherwise give your staff mental fatigue. In terms of software, AI, data analysis, and warehouse management systems can be used to automate or otherwise streamline several processes including forecasting and troubleshooting, allowing for more accurate, productive, and streamlined operations. Support from technology such as these can improve the efficiency and overall health of your staff, ultimately resulting in a more productive workforce.
– Barry Crackett, Product Designer at Brushtec comments:
“Safety in material handling starts with your staff. As an employer, you must provide adequate PPE and training in safe practices, as well as working to create a culture of safety within the workplace. Other methods like keeping the environment clean and maintaining your equipment and machinery can help reduce the risk of accidents, too, so don’t neglect essential housekeeping either. These techniques can be perfected by embracing technological advances within the manufacturing industry.”
“Brushes can help keep your industrial equipment performing efficiently and with minimal shutdown. If your plant uses conveyors, for example, you will need brushes to help keep the conveyor clean as well as for helping move things along it. Depending on what materials your plant works with there will be specific brushes that can provide optimum cleaning and function for your needs, such as soft brushes for glass manufacturing and bottling plants. So, it’s worth working with your brush provider to find the best option for you, or even discussing custom brushware.”
