The question isn’t speed or safety. The question is how to work efficiently while protecting yourself and your coworkers.
There might be times on the job where you’re under pressure to move faster, possibly cutting corners in order to meet a deadline or quote. Unfortunately, those tactics that might save some time could also compromise your safety — which could lead to injuries and delays, defeating the whole point.
When you work in a light industrial environment, there are plenty of safety hazards to be avoided, including:
- Heavy equipment that isn’t properly locked up after use
- Dirty rags or other flammable materials that aren’t properly stored or disposed of
- Cords that aren’t properly coiled up and put away
- Tools that are left plugged in and lying around when they should be unplugged and safely stored
Leaving things where they don’t belong might save a few seconds here or there, but the whole work site could come to a halt if someone gets hurt.
Tips for Staying Safe While Working Efficiently
Get Rid of Clutter
Everything has a home in a work site. If you want to avoid tripping hazards, put things away after use. Don’t keep excess paper around; throw it out or store it when it’s no longer in use. Only take as many small pieces as are needed when building something; leaving nuts and bolts around creates slip-and-fall hazards that can be avoided.
Keeping things neat and tidy will make it easier to find the tools and items you need next time while also eliminating unnecessary and preventable hazards.
Understand and Use the Correct Safety Gear
Deciding not to find and wear goggles when you’re welding because you want to get the job done quickly won’t save you any time if you get debris in your eye and need to go to the hospital. Protective gear exists for a reason!
If your job site requires protective equipment, including gloves, hats, goggles, coveralls, masks and other gear, use them! Make sure all personal protective equipment is properly in place and covering the intended area before starting to work on any project that could result in injury. If you notice the protective gear is getting old, looking a little worse for wear or is damaged, notify your supervisor so the item can be replaced.
Make Sure Everything Is Secure
Safety training should be conducted early and often to make sure everyone is aware of how to properly identify and mitigate hazards. This includes knowing how to correctly store heavy machinery and equipment. Make sure all locks are locked; that any tethers are properly fastened; turn off any engines that might be left running without a reason; make sure all items that are stored on high shelves are correctly positioned on the shelf and are not in danger of falling.
It’s also important to make sure all heavy machinery and equipment are regularly checked and routine maintenance performed to keep them operational and address any breaks or loose connections before they create problems.
This might all sound like a lot of work that will delay your productivity. That’s not the case! Taking a few moments to make sure things are properly and safely stored means you’re investing in the overall safety of your entire team. Every check goes a long way towards securing a safe work environment!
If you’d like to learn more about safety training and proper maintenance to keep a light industrial work environment safe, or if you’d like to consider other job opportunities if your workplace doesn’t meet your level of safety, it’s time to call Pirate Staffing. We work closely with companies who prioritize safety and we can help you find a new job where you won’t be asked to cut corners. Take a moment to look at our job board for the positions we’re currently looking to fill, then give us a call to get the ball rolling — safely, of course!