The US is undergoing a construction boom, both for residential and commercial projects, which necessitates a huge variety of raw materials. Wood, concrete, metal fasteners, and glass panes must all be produced in massive quantities to satiate America’s strong demand for new buildings or renovated homes, and it is often more efficient to create these domestically rather than import them from abroad.
When demand rises, safety often drops because companies are desperate to ramp up production, which can be a dangerous mistake. Hundreds of workers are injured, and some are killed, in manufacturing facilities across the country every year, and many of these accidents could have been prevented through proper safety equipment and practices. Today, we’ll look at some of the most essential measures to ensure worker well-being in construction manufacturing.
Fire Prevention
Many construction materials are flammable; lumber is the most obvious, but chemical solvents may ignite and lead to massive fires. Metal shavings from machine shops are also dangerous, as these hot shards will act like flint and tinder when they land on combustible materials.
As such, it’s important to have a great fire suppression system in place, which includes numerous parts. Firstly, you need sprinklers installed in every area of the floor, with handheld fire extinguishers available to put out smaller fires. Have them tested regularly by the local fire department, and have used or expired extinguishers recharged as soon as possible.
Industrial facilities should have dust collection systems, which capture fine particulates so that they’re not floating freely and potentially catching fire. This system will also prevent breathing issues for your employees as they go about their tasks.
Personal Protective Equipment
The toxic fumes released by construction materials may lead to severe respiratory distress, corneal burns, or death if inhaled. For example, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which is used to manufacture sewer pipes, is incredibly toxic to the central nervous system, especially as it is readily absorbed by the lungs and circulatory system. For those working in masonry shaping, silica, which is naturally present in most commercially used rocks, can cause silicosis, a permanent scarring of the lungs.
At the very least, employees should wear gloves, safety glasses, and respirators when working with potentially hazardous materials. Steeltoed boots are a must to prevent crush injuries should something fall.
You may install monitors for particular fumes like PVC, as a sniff test alone can’t tell you if there is a dangerously high concentration. They can be a bit pricy – polyvinyl chloride gas monitors cost about $800 on the low end of the price range – but it is well worth it to avoid endangering workers.
Some employees may grow cavalier with their safety measures as they grow more comfortable working in the facility, so it’s important to regularly emphasize safety and perform periodic checks to ensure compliance.
Equipment Guards
In addition to personal protective gear, construction manufacturing facilities must also have adequate equipment protection. This differs greatly by the type of equipment and is usually installed by the machine’s manufacturer, though it is up to the end user to ensure it functions correctly throughout the course of its use. For example, all equipment should have a kill switch that will allow it to be almost immediately shut off should there be a problem.
Any machinery that someone may ever have to walk inside, such as a kiln that workers roll the product into before beginning the firing process, must have an escape hatch to prevent entrapment.
Secure Containment
Material management is critical both in the manufacturing facility and construction site. You need to ensure things are properly secured, particularly as these products can weigh hundreds of pounds and may easily kill a worker if they fall from even a small height. Even if it doesn’t land on someone, a broken block or chipped piece of lumber might need to be written off, eating into your bottom line.
Work with a safety consultant to make sure that your materials are properly secured both before and after manufacturing, whether that means having sturdy metal containers or strong steel ties. This also keeps your building neat and tidy, making it easier for workers to find products for shipments or inventory management.
Fall Protection
When working with large equipment, workers may need to ascend stepladders, walk along catwalks, or work on suspended platforms during the course of their duties. This can be incredibly perilous, especially if this infrastructure is slick with grease or dusty from shavings. Clean and well-maintained equipment avoids slip-and-fall accidents, which can result in anything from a fractured elbow to paralysis, depending on the height and angle of the fall. In some circumstances, safety harnesses or safety nets may be helpful as well; for example, a wire mesh that insulates or surrounds a catwalk can provide an extra measure of safety should someone trip.
With construction on the rise after the pandemic, it’s important that every manufacturing facility champions safety when boosting their production. A regular review of procedures and equipment can prevent tragic accidents while also improving product quality, making it a vital component of success.
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