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When Factory Work Goes Wrong: How to Prevent Major Crises Before They Happen

Anica Oaks

July 19, 2017

Almost no work environment on American soil posts as many safety risks as factories and manufacturing jobs. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of fatal injuries in a factory setting rose to 353 with no drug or alcohol involved. This is 353 out of 4,836 fatal work injuries for just one profession.

There is no doubt that there are plenty of hazards present on a manufacturing job site, but many of the hazards are avoidable if diligence and strict routines are maintained to ensure these accidents do not happen. Here are several ways to prevent some of the major catastrophes from happening.

Fire

The engines and electrical wires used to keep the welding equipment and machinery running pose a major risk to the manufacturing facility. In addition to those problems, machines overheating have caused significant damage, injury and death. In order to cut down on some of the risks, there should be routine equipment and machinery checks, and fire extinguishers should be visible and well-marked.

Make sure that you keep all your factory equipment maintained on a regular basis to reduce the risk of faulty equipment starting a fire. You should even check out your HVAC system for issues, and you may have to replace critical parts as they wear. MTA Australasia and similar companies offer replacement parts such as evaporating units for HVAC systems.

Chemicals

Hazardous chemicals can range from leaking battery acid to corrosive cleaning solutions used on machinery. In order to minimize the risk of employees being exposed, it is crucial to have all chemicals properly labeled and stored based on their elements. Any safety instructions listed nearby should also have instructions on how to treat chemical burns and other forms of exposure. Additionally, factory employees should be trained to spot the symptoms and signs of chemical exposure before it gets too out of hand.

Heavy Machinery

Many workers take for granted just how destructive operational equipment can be, especially if they are new, being careless or are under the influence. For example, carelessly driving a forklift can result in multiple injuries or deaths because of the power of the machine. Also, one of the main problems in factories involving heavy machinery accidents are untrained employees getting a hold of them.

The best way to prevent these disasters is to keep heavy equipment well-guarded and make sure no one who appears to be under the influence is given clearance to operate. Finally, rigorous drug and alcohol screenings should be part of the company policy.

Confined Spaces

This has a whole lot less to do with claustrophobia, and a lot more to do with oxygen depletion. For example, symptoms of suffocation can come on so fast with one or several workers inside a tank or a vat that they would quickly be unable to communicate and not even realize what was happening. It is best to work in pairs with one person completely out of the danger zone. Also, it is prudent for the facility to be equipped with specialized rescue equipment for confined spaces.

These dangers listed above are real and happen routinely. Factory workers may not realize they put their lives on the line to a certain extent. It is crucial for factory operators to take every precaution possible to prevent the kind of tragedies these examples can cause.

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