In 2019, 26 workers died, 61,000 non-fatal injuries were reported and 79,000 workers suffered from a work-related illness in the manufacturing sector. In the vast majority of cases, these accidents were completely avoidable. Yet many business owners remain unaware of the small, effective ways in which they could improve safety standards and reduce business risk. And in the manufacturing sector, health and safety compliance has never been more important.
The manufacturing sector remains one of the most heavily enforced industries, subject to regular HSE inspection due to it’s ‘high-risk’ status. Alongside the ever present risk of on-the-spot fines in the form of an FFI, health and safety infractions now carry the risk of heavy fines. Since the introduction of the sentencing guidelines in 2016, much harsher penalties are being imposed on businesses, with offending businesses now much more likely to face substantial fines based upon turnover, imprisonment of an individual, or the insolvency of a business. Unsurprisingly, manufacturers have been one of the worst hit sectors for these high court fines and FFI’s.
1. Machinery Safety - guarding and more
Machinery is arguably the biggest area of risk for all manufacturers. Moving parts of machinery should always be adequately guarded to prevent injury from crushing, shearing, entanglement, impact or ejection. The age of machinery is no defence - just because an old machine was not fitted with a guard originally it doesn’t necessarily mean one isn’t required now.
Guarding varies from fixed guards, moveable interlocked guards through to modern safety devices such as laser and light sensors, trip wires or pressure pads to shut off moving parts if operators enter the ‘danger zone’.
However, simply fitting a guard is only part of the picture. How staff operate the machine routinely and during non-routine tasks like removing blockages, changing blades, cleaning or maintenance must also be considered. Staff bypassing guarding for these non routine tasks is a common cause of injury. Whenever this access is required, employees should use a permit to work - isolate the power to machines with a ‘lock off procedure’. Where maintenance work can only be carried out with the power on, consider the use of hold-to-run controls and limited speed operation. Developing a positive attitude to safety and positive safety culture within a business led from the top down is key to ensuring staff aren’t tempted to cut corners and inappropriately remove machinery guarding.
Operators should also complete daily machine pre-use checks to ensure all controls and safety measures (e.g. emergency stops) are fully operational. Finally, employees need to be trained so that they can operate machinery safely. Often overlooked is the need for training in cleaning, adjustment maintenance and blockage removal in addition to the obvious training in routine safe use of the machine.
2. Noise Control - can you hear me?
Machine operation and noise goes hand in hand. Machinery noise is an occupational health risk that can cause permanent hearing damage and tinnitus (a constant ringing in the ears).
Noise levels and the duration of exposure contribute to hearing damage but there are many practical, cost-effective measures to prevent this, including machinery noise reduction measures, adequate hearing protection and health surveillance. If you find it necessary to raise your voice whilst talking to someone 1 metre away, to be heard over the machinery noise in your business, that is a good indicator a noise risk assessment (using specialist noise monitoring equipment) will be required. Southalls can undertake this for you, following up with a report and the advice you need to reduce the risk occupational hearing loss.
3. Manual handling - lifting, carrying, pushing and pulling
Many manufacturing jobs still operate using traditional methods involving production lines and manual handling of goods. Manual handling injuries account for nearly one-quarter of all reported injuries at work, so it is critical that all relevant members of staff are trained and compliant with proper handling practice. If your company is involved with daily materials handling, you should speak with your workers about the best approach to lifting and handling. This will help them to feel involved in the process, as well as reinforcing good manual lifting practice.
4. Workplace transport - train, maintain and separate
Manual handling risks can be reduced by use of mechanical handling aids but this introduces different risks. Around a quarter of all workplace transport accidents involve forklift trucks. Pedestrians and forklifts are an especially dangerous combination with a number of injuries and fatalities resulting from operatives being struck by forklift trucks. Reversing delivery lorries and loading, unloading activities also present a danger to those on the ground or those assisting with unloading by working on the back of lorries.
Forklift operations and lorry loading and unloading should be separated from operatives wherever possible. Lorry reversing should be avoided, as far as reasonably practicable, with one-way systems used in preference.
Forklift operators need regular training on the specific type of truck that they operate, and refresher courses should be provided every three to five years. Forklifts must be well maintained and inspected regularly, including at the start of each shift, and any issues should be logged immediately.
It is also worth noting that when dealing with forklifts, wearing of seatbelts should now be mandatory. Whilst not a specific legal requirement, recent case law has set a precedent, citing their requirement under the general duty to risk assess and reduce risk in the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations and the Health and Safety at Work etc Act.