Staying Safe on the Shop Floor: A Guide for the Shop Floor Worker
Guest Post
You probably think you’re tough just because you work in a shop, don’t you? You think you’re a rugged piece of exceptional brilliance. Cool, good for you. I bet you’ll still think you’re one of a rare breed when you’ve successfully lost your arm in the equipment you’re heartily working with. Don’t be that unfortunate guy; be the awe-inspiring craftsman you are and always keep your mind on the shop floor safety precautions that will keep you working. Keep it cool while you oversee your projects with caution. You really never know what can happen, so here are some tips that will help you keep your remarkably one-of-a-kind body in one perfect piece while you get your hands dirty in the shop:
- Keep Your Head In The Game. You’re a pro at what you do, we get it. You can whip out some finely carved wood blocks like nobody else. However, can you do it safer than that loud mouth kid a couple machines over? It’s not just about producing high quality work, it’s about doing so with swagger: safely. Those fingers of yours are pretty handy, and you’d like to keep them for a while longer. You sure as hell can bet your employer wants you to keep them, as well. Do work safe; get some heavy-duty gloves, noise control products both on your ears and surrounding workshop walls, and review your shop’s safety regulations for good measure.
- Know Your Equipment. You may be fresh in the shop, or maybe you’ve been working there for the better half of your increasingly awesome life. Regardless, you should know your equipment. Even if you’re a veteran with your machine, do you know all of its nooks and crannies? What happens when you push that one button you’ve never pushed before? Become a master of your machine, not just in operation but in the finer details. You don’t want to bump the wrong switch.
- Protect Your Importants. I know what you’re thinking, you guys. Stop it. There are things that are stupendously important for the safety flow of the entire shop. Things to keep protected: eyes, mouth, ears, limbs and so on. These things are all necessary for your functions as a person and at work in the shop. Safety is not only an individual thing; it’s cooperation between you and all the other radically rugged people you work with. Do your best to watch out for the workers around you, and you can bet that you can expect the same from them.
- Keep It Clean. Listen, nobody likes a messy person. Keep your work area clean. This one really isn’t that hard: just keep the clutter to an absolute minimum. Clean up any and all spills right away; don’t let it be the reason for your next surgical procedure. Don’t leave any clutter in your work area that may get in the way of your work or even cause some kind of freak accident.
We understand you’re the fundamental example of a hard worker in the shop, but are you also the fundamentally cool guy who is always playing it safe for everyone in the shop? Make sure you have all the necessary safety equipment on at all times during your work shift (gloves, hardhat) and be sure your workshop is properly loaded with all the regulated safety procedures (noise control products). Turn your swag on and keep it safe in the shop, alright?
Got any other tips for keeping it safe and cool on the shop floor? What have you done to maximize your ridiculously high and awesomely safe swagger levels? Leave a note in the comments section below!
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