When accidents occur they can cause severe and life-changing situations for workers and employers of the company. Living in a “fix it when it’s broken” society benefits from initial costs of safety fixes, but consequentially creates situations in the future that may cause extreme financial and personal issues.
Some of the most accident-induced industries are the construction, energy, mining, and manufacturing industries. But within the small accounts of disaster stricken industries lies one of the sleepers. This industry is the automotive industry. Workers in automotive companies are manufacturing heavy equipment using welding devices, cutting equipment, and hoists. Therefore, many of the violations, and preventative accidents, occurring within the plant are similar to most manufacturing incidents.
What are the Most Common Accidents?
1. Caught In Disaster
One of the most common workplace accidents in manufacturing, including the automotive industry, is entrapment. A part of the body is squeezed, pinched, or crushed within a device, piece of equipment, or other heavy machinery. In the automotive industry, when workers are moving small parts to one central area for construction, problems can occur. Many of these injuries are due to human error and safety procedure failure within the workplace. Therefore, following the OSHA guidelines is the best route for successfully avoiding injury. In addition, staying clear of moving objects will help lower potential accidents.
2. Slips, Trips, and Falls
Although most automotive manufacturing plants do not require workers to work at elevation, slip and falls are very common in practice due to the scale of the project. When there are extensive components involved in any process, potential for accidents due to tripping or slipping are prevalent. Many workers fall from components left on the ground, as well as oil and engine fluid slips left without proper cleaning. The only way to avoid tripping or slipping is to ensure all components and liquids are properly labeled, stored, and cleaned after use. Spending a little more time on the clean up process will go a long way in protecting workers from future safety hazards.
3. Physical Injuries of Upper Body and Lower Body
Overexertion is probably the most prominent accident currently affecting workers within manufacturing operations. Many workers must meet quotas and are forced to do anything in order to ensure product is leaving the factory on-time and on-budget. Unfortunately, this causes workers to overexert, lift extremely heavy components, and skip steps in the safety process. Rather than using a “dolly” or lifting aid, many workers are lifting components over 50 lbs to save time. Repetitive motion over time will cause back and neck problems and companies will often deny involvement in the procurement of the injury. Make sure that you’re using all of the proper safety equipment available to avoid lifting heavy objects or components. These safety aids include back-braces, lifting-aided devices, and proper shoes.
4. Motor Vehicle Accidents
This one is a must on the list because within the automotive industry there is sure to be driving, crashing, and testing of vehicles. But to great surprise, most workplace industries within the automotive industry are not from traffic accidents using the manufactured automobiles, but rather occur from the misuse of construction vehicles such as forklifts and hoisting machines. All drivers should be certified to operate the machinery, but many fail to qualify for the standard use of the equipment. Stay clear of moving vehicles and wear protective hard hats, gloves, flashers, and suits when working at factory.
5. Noise Issues
Exposure to extensive noise can cause long-term hearing problems and future health issues for workers, especially in an industry that deals with engines and welding. Protective glasses and ear plugs should always be worn when loud equipment is present.
This article was written by Matthew Hall. Through his undergraduate studies in pre-law, Matthew became quite familiar with OSHA violations and workplace injuries. Now he is a professional writer for eCompliance.com. To read more of his work, feel free to visit his Google+.
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