Passaic County Manufacturing Insurance: Employee Safety Awareness
As we stated in our “Responsibilities of a Safety Manager” blog post in late 2013, the manufacturing industry is only expected to grow, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and with that growth comes more employees and greater risks. As a business owner, you likely understand that the benefits of maintaining a safe work environment are many. Safety is about what you can do to protect your workers. While having a Passaic County Manufacturing Insurance policy will protect your business financially in case an incident should occur, you likely want to take steps to try to prevent an injury from happening to your employee in the first place. Listed below are some manufacturing safety issues to keep in mind.
Hearing Protection. The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) requires employers to provide hearing protection when noise levels exceed specific volumes. Industrial machines produce high amounts of noise that can certainly affect your hearing if exposed to it on a prolonged basis.
Eye Hazards. According to the Vision Council, 61% of eye injuries occur in the manufacturing, trade and construction industries. Machines can throw dust, metal, concrete, and other particles that can easily injure the eyes.
Chemical Exposure. Exposure to chemicals such as lead harms the nervous, reproductive, and urinary systems. Lead exposure has been found to lead to miscarriages, seizures, coma, and even death. Employees should wear personal protective equipment when working with not only lead, but any other chemicals that can be considered hazardous to one’s health.
Mechanical Hazards. Any machine that has two hard surfaces that move together puts employees at risk of crush injuries. Machines that have sharp edges or perform scissoring actions put workers at risk of cuts, punctures, etc. Employees are also at risk of trip-and-fall accidents in the manufacturing industry.
Fire Hazards. The tools and equipment used in manufacturing can produce heat and flame, increasing the risk for fires. Employees should always know where to find fire extinguishers and understand how to and where to evacuate the facility in case of fire.
At Tri-State Insurance, we understand that running a well-oiled New Jersey manufacturing operation takes a great deal of work and tireless attention to detail to deliver a quality product on time. We provide a comprehensive business insurance portfolio, including Passaic County Manufacturing Insurance for companies throughout Pennsylvania, northern New Jersey and New York. Give our professionals a call at (888) 990-0526.