Industrial Safety Topics

Industrial environments breed a variety of health and safety hazards. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration is the agency in charge of ensuring that industrial work settings are as safe as can be for workers and that employers take appropriate measures to preserve employee well-being. With a host of safety topics to consider, it is imperative for employers to effectively train their workforce for working in industrial zones.

Heavy Machinery

• Industrial work sites use heavy machinery on a regular basis. Employees who handle heavy machinery and equipment must be trained to do so safely, because these massive machines have the potential to cause serious injuries, such as amputations. According to OSHA, a variety of machines such as presses, saws, conveyors, rolling machines, powered and nonpowered hand tools, forklifts, doors and trash compactors can cause amputations during operation and maintenance. OSHA outlines safety advisories to reduce amputation incidents, such as never clearing a jam while the equipment is on, inspecting machinery before it is used and using caution when adjusting the machines. In addition, safeguards on the equipment offer more protection at points of operation, the site where machines perform work such as cutting, shearing or slicing. Blades and sharp points are examples of points of operation. With safeguards at the points of operation, workers are protected against accidentally coming into contact with them.

Fall Protection

• Industrial jobs often require employees to work at heights; therefore, protection against falls is serious concern at industrial work environments. Steps employers take to eliminate or reduce fall hazards include making sure that workers have the appropriate fall arrest systems in place, such as body harnesses, head protection and a body lanyard, as well as ensuring that wall enclosures or guard rails are up. Floor surfaces must be dry, free of debris and evenly paved so that employees do not slip or misstep and lose their balance. Powered platforms and lifts also pose safety hazards, as mishandling machines can cause a worker to fall from them. Therefore, workers who operate powered platforms and lifts must go through training to learn how to control the machines.

Chemical Hazards

• Many industrial work environments require employees to handle chemicals. Chemicals hazards include direct human contact, which can cause illness, chemical burns or blindness, as well as two or more chemicals or gases coming into contact with each other, which can create a combustible compound that can cause fires or explosions. Storage requirements are specific to the types of chemicals on site, and only select individuals should have access to the environments where the chemicals are stored. Chemicals must be handled in controlled environments and not released or taken to areas where they are not meant to be.

Personal Protective Equipment

• In industrial environments, many safety hazards pervade, so it is essential that workers take the proper precautionary measures to protect themselves from injury. Personal protective equipment, such as face masks, eye goggles, body suits, helmets, hoods, gloves, steel-toe boots and fire-resistant coats, are required for employees to wear depending on the type of work that they perform. Not all industrial workers will have to wear eye goggles, for instance, but those who work with power saws and chemicals will have to.