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Mining? Manufacturing? Making energy? No matter what your industrial business does, we’ve gathered industry safety tips to help you operate more safely day after day.

Here are 15 industrial safety tips to implement or improve, starting today:

  1. Conduct regular workplace inspections. On a casual stroll from one side of your workplace to another, you probably won’t notice many safety risks because you won’t be actively looking for them. Make it a point to do a regular workplace inspection. That way, you’ll search for things that could pose danger and spot things you’ve never seen before. A safety services expert can also come and inspect your facility to identify risks and provide solutions.
  2. Encourage employees to report any unsafe working conditions. In case there’s something you don’t see, make sure your employees feel empowered to come forward and report equipment or conditions that are safety risks.
  3. Mandate training for new hires. When hiring people to do dangerous jobs, like operating a forklift or working with heavy machinery, it’s important to make sure employees are trained in-house. And, in accordance with federal and state requirements.
  4. Offer ongoing safety training. When an employee is up to date on job safety, they’re more likely to work safely. Regular safety training sessions benefit all.
  5. Allow only authorized personnel to use machinery. If an employee hasn’t been officially trained to use a certain machine, they shouldn’t be using it.
  6. Provide personal protective equipment to all employees who need it. Think: safety glasses, hard hats, steel-toed boots, aprons, gloves, and more. Encourage all employees to wear personal protective equipment when and wherever necessary.
  7. Hang mirrors and warning signs to combat blind spots. If your employees are operating heavy machinery in the workplace, help them see at all angles with corner mirrors and blind spot signs. It’s a simple, affordable solution to prevent larger problems.
  8. Prevent slips, trips and falls. Ask employees to report or clean any spills or leaks across the facility. Also, perform regular maintenance on spots with worn, ripped, or damaged flooring that could cause trips or falls.
  9. Store flammable liquids away from the work area. If your employees work with any combustible materials, keep only the amount they need for the job nearby. Store the rest safely in approved containers in an assigned storage area.
  10. Store all other materials in their proper places. At the end of the workday, make sure employees clean up their spaces and store all materials in their designated places.
  11. Keep aisles and exits clear of clutter. In case of emergency, all routes should be clear. Pay special attention to clearing paths to stairways and fire doors.
  12. Promote a substance-free workspace. Employees who use drugs or alcohol while on the clock can do serious damage. Substance use can lead to injured employees or other team members.
  13. Create a safety incentive program. Where there’s a reward, there’s motivation to earn that reward. One of the best ways to support a safe workspace is to reward employees for maintaining one. Offer monetary incentives, lunch gift cards, raffle entries, assigned parking spots, or other prizes to promote a safe workspace.
  14. Ensure injuries are reported as soon as possible. Workplace injuries and illnesses should be reported and investigated within 24 hours, no matter how small the incident seems. Follow proper, prompt protocol.
  15. Have an emergency action plan. Do you have an evacuation route? Do all employees know where to exit and where to meet after? At the time of hire, ensure all employees are briefed on these important details.

Reviewing and implementing industrial safety tips benefits you, your team, and your business overall. Safety service experts at Frankenmuth Insurance can even come to your worksite to review safety and suggest changes.

For more industrial safety tips and advice, talk to one of our local, independent agents today.

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