The industrial sector is made up of more than 2.5 million workers, and this makes up everything from plastic work and woodworking to surface engineering and textiles. The manufacturing industry exposes their workers to various airborne substances and various other harmful substances and machinery. It’s been revealed that every year, there are approximately 33,000 workplace injuries and illnesses caused by these factors. As a factory owner, it is important to make sure that your health and safety policy is up to date and in line with the HSE legislation.
Clean air:
Pollutants, fibres and other substances can become airborne and cause harm to workers in different industries. It’s important to ensure that your factory or workspace is well equipped with the correct ventilation systems, which will allow fresh and clean air to be filtered through. This will prevent employees from developing respiratory problems, coughs and even cognitive implications. In line with HSE legislation and the Safe Work Act 1974, clean air needs to be provided for workers, this will improve workplace productivity and more importantly, will ensure employee wellbeing.
Manual Handling:
Some industrial factories require a lot of manual handling, lifting, shifting and moving heavy objects around. It is important to make sure that you provide the correct manual handling training, so that employees do not injure their backs in the process. As well as this, it is important to make sure that you provide the correct PPE (personal protective equipment), such as back support, gloves and machinery to assist when necessary.
Noise:
Machinery within the manufacturing industry can create a lot of excessive noise, which can be harmful to those who work within the area, and irritating to those who live within the vicinity. As a factory owner, it is important to ensure that the correct acoustic solutions are put in place to reduce any excessive noise for neighbours, and so that workers within the area do not experience excessive inner ear damage. If a worker uses machinery, or is in a close vicinity to the machinery, it is important to also provide protective ear equipment, to reduce the immediate noise significantly, and therefore prevent or massively reduce any inner ear damage.