Facility Maintenance Keeps You Safe
Regular maintenance equals greater worker safety. How, you ask?
Improperly functioning machinery puts workers at risk of injury...or
worse. Regularly scheduled maintenance can help minimize the risk, save
downtime, and save money.
Employees working on or near improperly maintained machines face a
variety of risks, from machinery-related incidents, to slips, trip, and
falls. Those employees are not the only ones at risk, though. The risk
of injury extends to the workers responsible for repairing the
machinery. The most common injuries and fatalities linked to maintenance
are:
- Falls from working at heights
- Confined spaces or harsh environments associated with accessing
equipment
- Shocks and burns if power is not properly isolated
- Injuries from moving machine parts
- Musculoskeletal problems related to exerting force or working in
awkward spaces
- Exposure to asbestos, chemicals, dust, and excessive noise
Maintenance can be broken down into three categories:
- Routine (preventative) maintenance – performed to keep equipment
working, or to extend its service life
- Corrective maintenance – get broken or improperly functioning
equipment running again
- Predictive maintenance – a variety of tests are performed to indicate
that maintenance is needed, or will be needed soon
No matter what type of maintenance is being performed, precautions must be made to ensure safety, including:
- All sources of electrical power to the equipment being
maintained must be disconnected and tagged “OFF” to ensure the power is
not turned on while work is being completed. The machine under repair
must also be isolated from all others on the same system, and a proper
lockout/tagout device must be employed.
- Maintenance procedures must be developed for all equipment, and should follow manufacturer recommendations.
- Maintenance activities should be planned, even emergency repairs.
- Maintenance workers must be trained on the equipment they’re working
on.
- Maintenance workers must be properly protected with safety equipment,
including gloves, eye protection, and hard hats.
- Any safety devices (machine guards, shields, etc.) removed
during
maintenance must be reinstalled before maintenance is complete.
- Before the machine is put back into service, repair work should
be
inspected by a supervisor familiar with the equipment. This will
ensure the maintenance is complete and the equipment has been properly
reassembled.
Maintenance and safety go hand-in-hand. Regular maintenance
helps workers stay safe, and safety practices keep maintenance workers
on the job. If you have any questions about how our products can help
you and your workers safely maintain your facility, give our Technical
Support Reps a call at 800-922-8553, or email techsupport@northernsafety.com. They’ll help you find the right products to fit your need.