Factories form a crucial part of the manufacturing sector in many developed and developing countries. These industrial premises are the site for a wide range of products, components, and services that serve other businesses and the consumer markets.
At any factory, there is likely to be a high degree of automation on the various production lines. This helps to ensure that production remains as efficient as possible, and the unit costs of the finished items remain low.
Many factories are constantly looking for ways to improve the efficiency of their operations, often by investing in the latest technology that offers cost savings and productivity gains. However, the overall environment and working spaces in a factory are also vital considerations in any modern operation.
This article explores some key ways in which your factory environment can be improved. The benefits from these modifications will lead to a safer and more comfortable working environment for your staff.
Have dedicated forklift zones
In many factories, it is vital to invest in forklift trucks. These are commonly used to lift heavy goods when loading, unloading, or storing finished items. This is a far more efficient working practice than simply relying on human staff to move the goods and helps to reduce the risk of worker injuries through manual handling.
However, many forklifts are quiet in operation, especially when they are electric-powered. This creates a collision risk between staff and the forklift driver if they do not hear the vehicle approach in a busy factory. Thankfully, this risk can be eradicated by creating forklift zones.
This restricts staff access to areas where forklifts operate, or even bans pedestrians completely from the location. Put simply, this can be highly effective in reducing accidents and improving worker safety in the factory environment.
Use high-power fans
It is also vitally important to ensure that staff can work in a comfortable environment. Temperature levels need to be managed so that staff do not overheat in the summer months—or get too cold during the colder winter season.
In addition, the factory will need to take steps to ensure suitable air conditioning units are provided to promote a healthy and pleasant working environment. Comfort can be assured by investing in industrial fans. Search online for HVLS fans for sale to find high-volume, low-speed fans that can move immense amounts of air in the factory environment. These fans have low energy requirements due to their eco-friendly design, which can also help to keep energy costs low in the factory.
In short, such equipment will ensure that the working environment is comfortable all year round.
Provide comprehensive staff training
As a final tip, the safety of the factory environment can be improved by offering comprehensive staff training to all workers. Safety training should form a key part of this education and ideally will include modules on manual handling, accident reporting, and the importance of suitable protective clothing when on-site.
When workers are trained to spot potential dangers or avoid unsafe working practices, the working environment will pose less risk. This training should be backed up with the standard procedures for reporting adverse incidents or near misses so that staff understand the importance of reporting such events.