Occupational risks and accidents occur when employees perform production activities that most times are done with different types of industrial tools in various sizes and shapes. Industrial safety refers to measures taken within an industry to protect workers from risks and accidents.
The following are branches of Industrial Safety:
- General Safety
- Fire Safety
- Occupational Safety
- Workplace safety
- Electrical Safety
- Environmental safety
- Building safety
- Material safety
Almost all these branches of industrial safety are connected to safety while using industrial tools.
All tools are made to make our life and work easy and tasks less time consuming. However, if you do not follow the right safety measures while using industrial tools, the work ease that they bring could become serious injuries or even death.
The most important precaution to be taken before using any took is to read the instruction manual and learn everything the maker needs you to know.
A lot of hazards and accident could be prevented just by reading the tool manual.
Now what are some of the measure you can follow while using industrial tools:
1. Always wear eye protection
The American national institute for Occupational Safety and Health reports that everyday about 2,000 US workers sustain eye related job injuries.
This means there are many people who do not know the importance of eye protection. Wearing eyes protection protects your eyes from flying particles, grease and oil splashes, and radiation. Eye injuries can cause long term vision problems and can permanently damage the eyes.
The following are some types of eye protection that can be used while using industrial tools:
a. Goggles
b. Face shields
c. Helmets
2. Wear appropriate clothing and protective equipment
While using industrial tools, you must wear clothes that will not get caught in the moving parts of industrial tools, boots that will prevent injuries to the foot, and leather gloves to protect your hands.
3. Keep floors dry
When you work in a dry area, you reduce hazards and the possibility of accidents. Wet floor can cause you to slip and get yourself injured. I am sure you can imagine the type of injury that will happen when an industrial worker slips and falls in a room where there are sharp objects laying around.
4. Do not use electric tools in a wet room or surrounding
Electricity and moisture do not mix; therefore, using electric tools in a wet surrounding exposes you to dangers of electric shock. Never use electric tools in a wet surrounding unless they are approved for that use.
5. Use a safety clip when using pneumatic tools
A safety clip or retainer helps you keep attachments in a place, preventing them from getting suddenly ejected.
6. Make sure you are standing on a flat, strong, stable surface
It is scary enough standing on a wobbling platform, not to talk of working with industrial tools on such a platform; it can result to serious injuries.
Always make sure that what you are standing on is stable and strong enough to support both your weight and weight of the tool you are using.