Tips on Workshop Health and Safety

Keeping employees safe as they use equipment in specialist workshops is one of the most important aspects that every manager has to know about.

22:06 05 June 2018

Engineering workshops, with heavy machinery, tools and equipment can be dangerous places, and there have been many incidents where people have been hurt. So how do we minimise hazards to ensure workshop health and safety? These tips give you the basics every workshop manager should know.

 

Keep it Clean and Tidy

A clean and tidy workshop is a safer place to work. Keep cables neat and do not let them trail on the floor where people could trip over them. Tools should be put away when not in use to keep a work area uncluttered. Clean up any spills as soon as they happen and ensure that staff report any damages. If any hazardous chemicals are being used, makes sure all staff understand what to do if they come into contact with them or any methods that are required to clean up spills correctly.

 

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Personal Protective Equipment, or PPE, are items that protect against the hazards of a workplace. The equipment required will differ depending on the workshop, but general PPE includes steel toecap shoes, overalls, hard hats, protective face masks, goggles, protective gloves and ear defenders. Wearing PPE helps to prevent injuries, or sometimes illnesses like respiratory conditions that are caused by exposure to dust. Make sure all staff wear the appropriate protection for the work they are doing or the areas that they are working in.

 

Machine Safety

When working with machinery, it is important to follow some general rules to keep safe. It includes things like not wearing jewellery or loose clothing that could get caught in moving parts. The piece that is being worked must be securely held before starting a machine and make sure all workers know where the emergency stop buttons are on machinery. Regular maintenance and repairs should be made to machinery to make sure it is safe to use.

 

Noise Control

Workshops can be noisy places, so protective equipment, such as ear defenders, should be issued if the recommended decibel limit is exceeded. Generators can also be noisy, so there are a variety of acoustic container solutions to house them to reduce the noise in the surrounding location.

 

Training

Staff needs to be aware of anything that could be a hazard to their health and safety, so have a Health and Safety policy in place for all staff to follow, and provide training on a regular basis to keep staff informed of the procedures. If you need help in working out health and safety procedures, there are consultants who can assist you. Risk assessments should also be regularly carried out to make sure that health and safety procedures stay effective.

 

Following health and safety rules is essential to keep workers safe and also to comply with the law. There is a lot of legislation that applies to different sorts of workplaces, so do your research to follow the rules regarding your workshop.