Manufacturers are under immense pressure these days. Reports show that the demand for manufactured products has surged, and it’s projected to soar even higher in the years to come. Manufacturers are expected to continue meeting consumers’ expectations regardless of any challenges they may face. They must keep their prices competitive even though their own costs are skyrocketing. Supply chain issues are further complicating the situation, making it difficult for manufacturers to get the parts and materials they need so that they can get their products to consumers.
In some cases, overcoming all those hurdles and meeting consumers’ demands leads to certain workplace hazards. Though manufacturers may not intentionally place their workers in danger, it can certainly be an unexpected side effect. Effective Safety Measures for Manufacturing can help facilities protect their workers while still rising to the challenges they’re facing.
Automating Manufacturing Processes
One way to reduce workplace injuries is to keep manual intervention at a minimum. Automation can help manufacturers do just that. Even automating certain basic, repetitive tasks can go a long way toward keeping injuries at bay. Of course, the more automation a company implements, the less human intervention it needs. That doesn’t necessarily mean eliminating people’s jobs; it simply means reducing human contact with moving parts and materials. From loading materials into machinery to unloading packaged products, it’s possible to automate the entire manufacturing process at this point.
Gates, Safety Doors, and Machine Guards
Another way to minimize injuries is to use gates, safety doors, and machine guards. In situations where no human intervention is necessary, fixed gates can keep people out of danger zones. Moving gates and safety doors equipped with the right access control measures can allow access to machinery while still preventing injuries. Machine guards protect workers from moving parts, flying debris, hazardous substances, and other dangers while machines are running. Those, too, are available in both fixed and movable versions.
Implementing Advanced Access Control Measures
While machine guards and gates can aid in keeping workers safe, more advanced access control measures are also available. Guards and safety doors can be fitted with sensors that detect whether they’re properly secured. They can also be equipped with safety features that prevent them from being opened when machines are operating or keep machines from running if they’re open.
Additionally, machine control panels can be set up with password protection, biometric access controls, RFID scanners, and other security measures. Those features can prevent unauthorized personnel from operating machinery, which will further prevent injuries. It’ll also aid in protecting expensive machinery and fostering product quality. Access control measures can range from different areas in a manufacturing facility to specific machines and operations, and a variety of solutions is available in this category alone.
Focusing on Safety in Manufacturing
Keeping workers safe is crucial. While the safety measures listed here are some of the most widely used, several other solutions are also available. Each one is designed to prevent injuries in its own way. These measures can also help manufacturers overcome many of the challenges they’re up against by improving productivity, reducing downtime, mitigating compliance issues, and providing many other benefits.
