Your industrial environment can be full of hazards and dangers that put the safety of workers and visitors at risk. Failure to address hazards and implement stringent health and safety measures increases injury risks.

Although most industrial site accidents result in only minor injuries, they can potentially cause fatalities. Even if accidents don’t result in death, they could cause long-term injuries or disabilities.

As the owner or manager of an industrial site, you must keep it safe. We’ve covered some top tips for industrial safety below.

Keep Your Site Well-Lit

A poorly lit industrial environment makes it difficult for staff and visitors to see where they are going. As a result, they could slip, trip, and fall over, potentially sustaining an injury in the process.

If somebody gets injured due to your negligence and inability to keep your site well-lit, they could sue you. Not only would legal claims lead to financial losses, but they could be a detriment to your company’s reputation.

To avoid nasty injuries and hefty claims, keep your environment well-lit with permanent overhead and eye-level lighting. Provide a portable light for each staff member who is working outdoors during dark mornings or evenings.

Provide Your Staff and Visitors With Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is mandatory by law in most areas of the country. It’s been proven time and time again to decrease the risk of injuries and increase safety significantly.

PPE protects the whole body and may be specific to the environment. Depending on where your workers or visitors are on your site, they may need specifically designed personal protective equipment.

For example, those working in environments with heavy, moving machinery will need hard hats, steel-toed boots, and goggles to prevent head, foot, and eye injuries. Those working with potentially dangerous chemicals will require thick gloves and lab coats to avoid skin damage or cross-contamination.

PPE includes hard hats, goggles, face masks, earmuffs or earplugs, high-visibility vests, lab coats, waterproof and chemical-proof trousers, hazmat suits, and steel-toed boots. Make sure to supply every employee and visitor with adequate personal protective equipment when on-site and replace damaged items immediately.

Provide Ongoing In-Depth Staff Training

Staff need to be aware of how to use equipment, machinery, and PPE appropriately to keep themselves and those around them safe. You must provide in-depth training for every new staff member before they enter your site and start working, and ongoing training sessions for your existing staff. Proper workplace training also improves employee engagement and experience.

It’s particularly important to provide health and safety training when you invest in brand-new equipment or implement new policies, so your workers are kept well informed. Make sure to emphasize the process of reporting faulty equipment and damaged machinery to ensure all staff members can report potential hazards before these hazards can cause accidents and injuries.