Your business as a whole is responsible for the individual and collective safety of the entire staff. Individual workers need the company’s guidance to know how to operate dangerous machinery. Your company has to provide comprehensive safety training and follow state and federal regulations on how to best handle heavy, dangerous machinery. Below are a few ways to help your safety regulations meet local standards.
Follow Industry Rules and Standards
There are specific rules that are widely adopted by workers who operate heavy machinery. The three-point rule encourages retail and factory workers to apply the three-point system when using a ladder. Additionally, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommends prior safety training and certifications for the operators of forklifts. The OSHA recommends many other rules and standards that are accepted by the majority of workers in the warehouse industry.
Apply Driving Safety Rules
Operating moving equipment is the same as driving a regular vehicle on the road. Follow the same road safety rules that you use on the roads and highways when operating a factory vehicle like a forklift. Using horizontal grinder equipment safely requires the same level of training as using construction machines like excavators and bulldozers. It’s always best to find an equipment supplier that provides plenty of information about the tools they offer. Visit your local supplier’s website and click for more info so that you know exactly what kinds of tools you’re investing in. The most common driver safety tips are to wear a seat belt, check the vehicle’s blind spots before moving, and use hand signals to communicate with workers on the floor.
Follow Emergency Plans
Every business needs an emergency plan that is understood by the employers and all of their employees. This plan includes every step that a worker takes in the event of an emergency, which includes reviewing evacuation procedures, locating emergency exit doors and stairs, and locating the sites of fire extinguishers and other emergency equipment.
Implement an additional emergency plan to assist in the operation of heavy equipment. This plan includes every fast-acting procedure to take after an accident or injury occurs. For example, lacerations and losses of limbs are common injuries for industrial workers. All employees should know how to use the supplies in first aid kits and follow basic emergency techniques, such as CPR. Overall, an emergency plan helps employees quickly mitigate the effects of a serious injury that’s caused by the misuse of commercial equipment.
Implement Company-Wide Policies
No matter how frequently heavy machinery is used in warehouses, the rates of equipment malfunctions and injuries remain high. Every industrial workplace must have strict safety policies and procedures in place to regulate the actions of every person in the workplace.
