Minimise access risk in a manufacturing situations
Would a toothbrush be used to paint a room in home? Would a putter to hit a long shot down the fairway be used on the golf course? These might seem like silly examples, but some businesses do similar things when working at height.
Besides being inefficient, using the wrong equipment can result in serious injury or death. It’s more than a question of compliance. Having the right work equipment for the job means greater safety, productivity and morale.
Conceptual work platforms are one type of equipment that can prevent injuries and increase productivity and morale in situations where standard equipment isn’t suitable. Conveyor belts and manufacturing lines are examples where the proper work platform can make a big difference.
In some cases, items get stuck on conveyor belts and need to be removed by workers. This can be a risky situation if the wrong equipment is used. Putting an unstable ladder on the side of the conveyor belt might seem like a simple solution, but the risk of injury is too great. In these cases, work platforms can be purpose-built to create safe solutions.
When there is no safe or easy access in a manufacturing situation, there can be a temptation to play it by ear. According to Access and Safety Consultants, there are problems when people make it up as they go without having a solution correctly designed for their situation by a professional. Although the intentions are usually good often the finished result does not adequately solve the problem or comply with Australian Standards.
Brown has seen an increased awareness since the fall from height legislation came in and put a benchmark at 2m. Until that came in people would commonly work off ladders or walk along the tops of conveyors as a normal part of the job. Since the legislation has come in people have had to examine work methods where there is a risk of falling.
Besides the safety and legal issues, the right equipment can increase morale in the workplace. According to No Bolt Operations, it is evident that if employees are equipped with the right tools for the job and know that the employer, is looking after their health, they will be more comfortable about their jobs.
Injury or death due to accidents in the workplace can seriously hurt productivity through down time. In the past, when someone was fatally injured at a workplace, the employees would be ordered back to work.
Nowadays, work comes to a complete halt until the cause of the accident has been thoroughly investigated.
15-Nov-2006