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Machine Safety: Best Practices for Operating and Maintaining Production Equipment
Posted on 10/19 by Erin Helms
Machinery is standard in factories and other industrial environments. There are, however, risks attached. There are sharp edges, hot surfaces and moving parts, and you must protect your workers. There are many reasons why your company needs to adhere to best practices for operating and maintaining production equipment.
Practical Precautions
It keeps your workers safe. Unquestionably, companies use safety maintenance to keep their workers safe. When workers who use production equipment follow the correct procedures, they lower their risk of injury. It protects the equipment. Following maintenance safety procedures helps to protect equipment, too. Routine safety checks help maintenance teams keep machinery in top condition, minimizing breakdown time while prolonging equipment life. It helps you avoid delays. Safety issues cause delays. To keep your production timelines, make sure your equipment is operating at safe levels. Peace of mind for workers. Workers feel safer when the risk of injury goes down. When workers know their machinery is safe, they will work less fearfully.
Ensure Equipment is Safe Before Working On It
If you are planning performance maintenance on facility equipment, ensure the equipment is safe to work on before you call the maintenance crew. Any equipment, such as conveyor belts or heavy machinery, should never be active while maintenance staff works on them.
Stick to a Schedule
The first best practice is for your organization to stick to a regular safety check schedule. Handle safety checks on machinery, maintenance tools and personal protective equipment (PPE) on a routine basis.
Authorization Keys
Access control affects maintenance safety. Plan to restrict authorization for hazardous pieces of equipment. Grant access only to those workers who have sufficient training. When few people have the code to start and stop dangerous equipment, it minimizes the risk of someone starting a machine while the technician works on it.
Individual Equipment Checks
Individual workers should consistently ensure their equipment is in top order. It must be in proper working shape, whether a hard hat, drill or large industrial equipment. Require all your employees to check on their equipment.
After-Use Checks
Instruct team members to report on the equipment they use after their shift. If there are issues with any tools, the employees need to report them. A system of checkout/check-in forms for tools and equipment can assist with this process.
Anonymous Feedback
A crew member might be uncomfortable reporting on equipment faults to a supervisor. Requesting anonymous feedback might be the answer. It can prevent an injury later on.
Regular Training
Regular training is necessary for your company to improve machine operation safety. Teaching your team why specific safety measures are needed will help them comply with your established standards. Ultimately, it enhances safety. LaborMAX can help your company decrease overtime expenses, foster productivity, and add flexibility to your workforce.
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