There’s no question that companies in the manufacturing industry put great emphasis on the health and occupational safety of their workers. However, in an industry where the work can be dangerous and there are always risks, it’s always possible to do more.

The good news is that most companies are willing to do more. They understand that there is a spotlight on this kind of work. Also, most have come around to believe that keeping employees safe and healthy improves production and ultimately is what’s best for the bottom line. With that in mind, we’d like to share a few ways that manufacturing companies can work to improve the health and occupational safety of workers.

Allow for Open Communication

One of the first keys to promoting a safe work environment is creating clear channels of communication. Companies need to make it easy for workers to inform their supervisors if they see a potential safety hazard or if something doesn’t sit right with them. They need to feel like it’s safe to come forward with questions or concerns when it comes to safety.

Without that kind of open communication, it’s easier for things to slip through the cracks. When it comes to safety, every resource possible needs to be used so that avoidable accidents can be prevented. Employees who are working on the floor and the front lines are often the best resources for finding potential safety hazards that need to be rectified.

Protect Against Physical and Mental Stress

More than ever, health and occupational safety means not just physical hazards. Workers who endure physical and mental stress while on the job are more prone to making mistakes that can lead to accidents in the workplace. When employees spend long hours on the job, physical exhaustion can hinder productivity and lead to careless mistakes that can lead to injuries and accidents on the job. It’s up to supervisors to recognize if workers are being overtaxed and being put in a vulnerable position.

At the same time, employers need to continue to be more cognizant of emotional stress and the mental health of workers. In many ways, this relates back to open communication and a culture within a company that makes workers feel comfortable coming forward with concerns. More than ever, mental health concerns need to be addressed as part of safety training. Businesses can also look for creative ways to let employees blow off steam so that they don’t allow stress to overwhelm them.

Record Everything

One way to make sure you’re doing enough for health and occupational safety is to keep a record of everything you do in that arena. Make sure there is a record of every safety meeting and training session, as well as every employee in attendance. There should also be documentation of every workplace accident, regardless of how major or minor it was. Finally, you should always document whenever an employee comes forward with a concern. Tracking all of this will give you a record of everything you’ve done to improve health and occupational safety in the workplace, as well as the areas where more can be done.

Helping Hand for Health and Occupational Safety

If you’re hoping to boost your health and occupational safety in the workplace, a software system can be the perfect tool to help you step up your efforts. It will make it easy for employees to make observations and report incidents. Software can also keep track of all safety drills and audits that inspect current safety protocols.

For more best practices, visit the CMMS Insight blog!