Safety, work environment and quality for the producer

As a manufacturer you move between many tasks and thus many risks. Therefore it is important that safety is ingrained in your backbone regardless of what task you face. Good safety and good quality have the same root: order care and following the agreed procedure.

§Machine safety — respect for what moves

Machines with moving parts are one of the biggest dangers. Guards emergency stops and fuses must be in place and work — they must never be removed to work faster. If you need to adjust clean or fix a machine it is stopped and secured against accidental start before you go in and guards are put back before restart.

§Personal protective equipment

Use the personal protective equipment the task requires: safety shoes, hearing protection in case of noise, eye protection against splashes and particles, gloves and respiratory protection in case of dust or vapours. Personal protective equipment is the last line of defence — first you eliminate or shield the hazard, then the equipment protects the person.

§Ergonomics and the long run.

Heavy lifting, repetitive motions and poor working postures wear the body down over time. Lift with legs close to the body, use aids for heavy items, vary tasks and change positions. Because wear creeps up on you, it's about good habits every day — not just when it hurts.

§Chemistry and hazardous substances

Many productions use chemical products. Each product has a safety datasheet with information on hazards protection and first aid and a label with hazard symbols. You must know what you work with use the prescribed protective equipment ensure ventilation and store and dispose of substances correctly.

§Order, fire and escape routes

A tidy workplace prevents falls keeps escape routes free and reduces fire risk. Spills are wiped up immediately cables and hoses are laid so you do not trip and you must know escape routes fire extinguishers and what you do if there is an alarm.

§Quality is part of the job

As a manufacturer you are responsible for the quality of your part of the work. Follow specifications and drawings continuously check — not just at the end — and report deviations rather than hide them. Document your work so there is traceability if something needs to be investigated later. A deviation that is reported can be fixed at the source; one that is hidden becomes expensive.

• 01Follow the agreed procedure — don't guess
• 02Check quality along the way
• 03Report deviations, errors and near-accidents
• 04Keep order — it's both safer and gives better quality

“A producer who can do many things must be able to do them all safely — that is breadth with responsibility.”