Running a successful manufacturing business involves many elements, including finding ways to make your factory more efficient to boost production. However, a significant aspect often overlooked is the facility’s safety, which can also significantly impact output levels. A recent study mentioned that safety and efficiency are intermixed since people are cost-conscious and inclined to do more if they feel safe. Prioritising safety around your facility will motivate your employees to perform their functions better while helping them feel valued.  Below are four ways to make your manufacturing facility safer. 

1. Set the pace 

Developing a safety culture begins with good leadership, where managers create a culture in which safety has been completely integrated into the business and is a key value in which all workers participate and share responsibility. By proving that you care about your employees’ well-being, your staff will be more grateful to your management and more willing to follow standards and procedures. It’s always easier for your workers to remember what is required of them when you lead by example and show them the way. That includes wearing the appropriate safety gear and using equipment for their intended purpose.

2. Establish key performance indicators

Establishing key performance indicators for safety is critical for your manufacturing facility. These metrics should concentrate on leading indicators and lagging indicators. Consider lagging indicators as events or incidents you are attempting to avoid. In contrast, leading indicators are a set of metrics that provide an early warning that the danger of an incident is growing. A measurement of the methods you use to prevent events, such as training, observation, and inspections, are examples of leading indicators. While doing this, remember to keep your staff updated on the status of repairs and how dangers have been prioritised.

3. Learn how to spot safety hazards

Spotting safety risks is essential and requires training for management and working teams. You should be familiar with the safety hazards common in your specific facility. This way, you can readily identify red flags during a routine walk through the plant. For instance, is your factory bursting with slip or fire risks? They might not be obvious, but with the right training and knowledge, you can quickly spot them and take the right preventative steps. Meanwhile, applying high performance coating with anti-slip and fire-retardant properties to your components can help eliminate some risks.

4. Create a clear emergency exit plan 

Although you may take proactive steps to prevent emergencies, it’s still possible for them to occur. Therefore, having an evacuation plan that is clear and understandable to everyone in your facility is essential. Your employees should know where the emergency exits are located and how to navigate them promptly. Having all staff crowding a single emergency exit is not productive, leading to gridlock. Identify multiple egress points, and assign employees to specific routes. It’s also vital to designate a clearly defined meeting point outdoors to avoid confusion while checking to see who is unaccounted for. Having a list of employees in the facility on any given day is also essential so that a plant safety supervisor or designated employee can frequently keep track of who is entering and leaving the facility during the evacuation.