Work environment safety and ergonomics in production

As a manufacturer you spend your working day close to machinery materials and products in motion. It is an exciting work environment but also one where inattention can be costly. Understanding the hazards and knowing how to protect yourself is just as much part of the trade as operating the machines.

§The hazards you must know

Warning labels and safety data sheet.

• 01Moving machine parts that can catch clothing, hair or hands.
• 02Sharp edges hot surfaces and items being thrown.
• 03Noise that damages hearing over time.
• 04Dust and vapours and chemicals that strain respiratory system and skin.
• 05Heavy internal transport such as trucks and cranes in the same space as people.

§Protective equipment — the last line of defence

Protective equipment protects you when the hazard cannot be completely removed. It can be hearing protection against noise, safety glasses against splinters, gloves against sharp items and respiratory protection against dust or fumes. The point is that protective equipment is the last line: the hazard is first removed or reduced at the source and then protective equipment is used on top of that.

§Ergonomics — take care of your body in the long haul.

Many injuries in production are not sudden accidents but wear that builds up over years. Heavy lifting repetitive movements and poor working positions wear on back shoulders and wrists. Good ergonomics is about arranging work so your body can last a whole working life.

• 01PLACEHOLDER_0
• 02Use aids — truck, hoist, lifting platform — rather than pulling it yourself.
• 03Vary the tasks so the same muscles are not strained all day.
• 04Set the working height so you don't work with raised shoulders or a crooked back.

§Noise and chemistry — the invisible burdens

Hearing damage and respiratory problems come gradually and are often only noticed when damage occurs. Therefore it is important to put on hearing protection before noise becomes a problem and to use extraction and respiratory protection with dust and vapours. Always read the safety datasheet before working with a new chemical.

§Safety culture is shared

A good working environment is not created by rules alone but by a culture where people look out for each other. Speaking up when a colleague is working unsafely reporting near-misses and tidying up after yourself are small actions that together make the entire production safer. As a production worker you are part of that culture from day one.

When safety and ergonomics sit in your backbone, you can concentrate on the craft—and you can keep going to work for many years without wearing your body out.