A Guide to Industrial Safety

The potential for accidents and catastrophes in industries, especially for an industry 4.0 company, is immense to say the least. A lot of complex machinery and technology goes into it, which explains all the risk. 

It is for this very reason that robust safety measures should be in place to protect industry workers and the machinery alike. This article covers all the basics of industrial safety.

Let’s get right to it:

What Is Industrial Safety?

Industrial safety envelopes lots of things, from general safety to environmental safety. In essence, industrial safety refers to the set of safety protocols put in place to protect workers, equipment, the workplace, and the environment from hazards. An industrial safety company should have multifaceted safety policies and strategies simply because the risks come in many shapes and forms.

The Main Types of Industrial Safety Hazards

As I had mentioned, safety hazards come in all shapes and forms. They are mostly classified by how they threaten operations and the party or parties involved.  The particulars include:

Physical Hazards

These occur when the risk posed is to those standing in or around the workplace in question. Top instigators in this category include noise, radiation, and temperature extremities. Where to begin?

I don’t have to explain the kind of complications that noise pollution brings. It starts with perhaps some mild tinnitus and ends with possible permanent hearing loss. Long term exposure to noise pollution is the recipe for long term hearing loss. 

The worst thing about noise pollution is even harmless sounds like a vacuum cleaner can cause ear damage if exposed to it long enough. On top of the hearing damages, noise pollution also causes lots of stress as well as reduced productivity from the constant distractions.

Radiation is in line with industries in the radioactive material business like in nuclear power stations. Exposure to radioactive substances always demands immediate critical emergency management. Workers under such risks should be prepared for such unfortunate events.

Last on the hot seat, excuse the pun, is temperature extremities. Extreme temperatures on both ends of the spectrum can really mess up one’s thermoregulation. Heat stress for one occurs from high temperatures from furnaces or any heat-emanating device. 

Heat stress can result in rash, heat stroke, and muscle cramps. On the not so hot side, the biggest risk is hypothermia when working in freezers or coolers. Other risks in cold temperatures include frostbite.

Chemical Hazards

Chemical hazards certainly need no introduction. Any chemical you see at work with a skull sign basically falls under this category. 

Chemical hazards arise from hazardous chemicals that can cause harm, from inhalation or simply touch. Handling this as an industrial safety company means training all your staff on safe work operation practices. 

On top of that, equip them with personal protective equipment as the last line of defense for some level of protection in an accident.

Biological Hazards

Biological hazards are indeed from tiny living organisms that cause illnesses like viruses or bacteria. Although something like a flu may not require as complex critical emergency management as a uranium mishap, it still shouldn’t be undermined. 

This is because the illness may be contagious and it ends up spreading through your entire workforce and you are left counting losses with the drop in productivity. Imagine half your staff calling in sick for work.

Safety Hazards

Safety hazards are perhaps the textbook definition of occupational hazards. Work in electricity? It is plausible you will be shocked at some point in your career. 

Other examples of safety hazards include falls from working at heights or cuts from using sharp machinery. These risks may not be as profound in an industry 4.0 company because of all the automation but they are hazards nonetheless.