Safety first: How to keep a shop environment safe

Not only is the requirement that employers provide a safe workplace embedded in Canadian law, but it is also a key to creating a productive and happy work environment. When a shop follows safety guidelines, it can produce a higher standard of material, and therefore a better outcome for clients.

Be aware of your surroundings

Any workplace runs the risk of workers becoming distracted after working on something particularly difficult, but the consequences of this in a shop environment are far worse than any other occupation. Employees should be aware of what’s happening around them, even if they aren’t the ones performing a dangerous task. Working alongside heavy machinery intended to form and shape materials comes with risks even when you aren’t doing the work. Do not bump into anyone performing a task, walk slowly and carefully, and generally make sure anyone working is aware you are in the area.

While working on a task, be aware of your surroundings at all times. Observe the area around you before starting to do anything potentially hazardous, concentrate on what you’re doing, don’t leave your work unattended, and listen to the machine you are working on. Don’t be afraid to stop if you are unsure of something – it’s better to be completely sure than to hurt yourself or those around you accidentally.

Creating safe zones

Although paying attention to your surroundings while working is important, you must focus on the task at hand rather than getting distracted by what is happening around you. There is a simple solution to this: safe zones. A safe zone is a place in the shop where no machinery is operated and there is no danger of someone being accidentally harmed. This also might include spaces for people to maneuver through a shop knowing no machinery will be there or no vehicles will be driving in a warehouse space. This can be done by using floor tape or other visual cues to indicate the space. Ensure that everyone working in or visiting the space knows the rules and recognizes the safe zones.

Storing chemicals and materials

Following the law surrounding the storage of dangerous chemicals and materials is absolutely necessary. Certain chemicals need specific containers to be properly stored. Don’t store incompatible materials together, like acids and bases, flammables and oxidizers, and water reactive and aqueous solutions. Keep an inventory of materials in storage so you can account for the location of everything potentially hazardous, label all materials, and make sure those handling the materials are knowledgeable about the dangers of using them. It’s also important to have a plan in place for if something does go wrong, by knowing how to properly clean a chemical spill, and by always inspecting storage areas and containers to make sure they are not damaged or leaking.

Mechanical lifting procedures

Like most safety procedures, mechanical lifting and overhead hoisting should be left to those who know how to operate the machines and are well aware of the safety risks. Once again, paying attention to your surroundings, both when you are the one lifting and as someone in the shop while this is being done, is very important. If the shop is clean and free of chemicals or dangerous materials that could cause a spill, safety zones are established, and everyone is aware of their surroundings, a dangerous situation can be avoided. Establish a safe speed limit for vehicles and machines in motion and make sure materials are moving forward so the operator can see everything in their path.

Safety encompasses the most basic and important procedures within a shop. Only when everything and everyone is safe can quality work be performed.