Trends in ... plant safety

Plant safety can mean a lot of different things: keeping a facility’s stairways slip-resistant and free of debris, or having audible warning systems for collision prevention. It can range from industrial vacuum cleaners to remove dust – reducing the potential for a dust explosion – to safety gates, safety signs and spill kits.

Here, industry insiders offer insight on common plant safety issues.

Training is critical

The most important factors in plant safety haven’t changed much, according to Todd O’Rourke, copywriter for Brimar Industries Inc., a Garfield, NJ-based manufacturer of safety signs, pipe markers and mailing tabs. “It’s imperative that workers are properly trained for the equipment/environment they are in, they wear the proper personal protective equipment and remain aware of their surroundings,” O’Rourke said. “They are basics of safety, but they’re also the most important steps in keeping an injury-free facility.”

Being accountable

Accountability is crucial to a safe plant, notes Mike Giovinazzi, safety director for Brooksville, FL-based Accuform. “One of the most important things for employees is to feel comfortable knowing that they are responsible for holding themselves, along with any other employees, accountable for safety,” Giovinazzi said, adding that workers should be empowered to speak up when they see unsafe conditions. “Empowered and accountable employees are the backbone to a culture committed to safety,” he said. “The more frequently workers are motivated to look for dangers in their workplace, the more safety conscious they will become.”

Compiled with the assistance of the International Safety Equipment Association

Coming next month …

• Protective clothing
• Safety signs and labels