Safety Tips for the Manufacturing Floor

If you're like me, sitting at a desk has become your typical daily routine when at the office. However, some companies aren't just full of offices with desks and cubicles. Instead, at some companies, you'll find the manufacturing floor, where products are created for future sales and distribution. If you've never been on a manufacturing floor, even at your company, there are some necessary safety precautions to take. There will typically be some heavy machinery on the manufacturing floor, so it's always best to play it safe.

Between tools, heavy machinery, chemicals, and so much more, it's important that you take the proper safety precautions before entering the manufacturing floor of any company or building. Here are some tips and suggestions to consider.

1. Ask Questions: Don't enter blindly. Ask for guidance, assistance, and information in understanding your safety risks. Every single person on the manufacturing floor wants to see everyone be safe because they understand the dangers, so ask questions. Ask what the primary things are that you should be on the lookout for.
2. Dress Appropriately: Anyone entering the manufacturing floor should dress appropriately, and that especially includes goggles to cover your eyes. It's also important to make yourself stand out, and wearing bright colors can certainly help your cause. Also, it's best not to wear loose clothing. You don't want to get caught on anything! Lastly, have your hair tied back if you have long hair.
3. Pay Attention To Your Surroundings: Always be cautious of what's around you. There will be people moving, machines operating, and much more going on. Don't step too close to anything; anything and everything could be considered a danger.
4. Don't Trust Your Ears: This goes back to knowing your surroundings. The manufacturing floor can be very loud, and even some forklift trucks can be much more quiet than one would initially think. Keep an eye out!
5. Use The Pedestrian Lanes: Did you know that some manufacturing floors will have pedestrian lanes? If they're there (which they should be), use them. The last thing you need is to get in the way of any of the floor's workers or in the way of anything oncoming, like a forklift. This is also important because one rule especially applies on the manufacturing floor when it comes to things like forklifts: "If you can't see it, it can't see you." Use the pedestrian lanes!
6. Make Safety Goals & Awareness a Priority: Having Safety Signs and Informational Boards in optimal areas on the work-floor is a proven way to promote and increase safety awareness in the workplace.  These boards can also help visualize safety data and spot trends that can trigger the proper preventative safety initiative needed for each incident.

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These are just some basic things to keep in mind when it comes to safety when entering the manufacturing floor of any company, as it can undoubtedly be a dangerous place if you don't take the proper safety precautions. When I first entered our company's production floor, I didn't take it lightly and made sure to understand all safety precautions before really checking it out, and you should, too. Does your company have a manufacturing floor? What would you tell someone who is going to check it out for the first time? Let us know in the comments below!