Workplace safety begins with training. For example, anyone familiar with manufacturing, specifically in a machine shop, will know what a lathe is. It’s a piece of equipment on which you can create round parts from wood or metal. You might also know that with a little time, someone could teach you how to make a few rudimentary parts on that lathe. So, now that you know the basics of operating a lathe, you think it’s time to turn you loose so you can start producing. Right?   

Well, not so fast. Allowing you to use a lathe without workplace safety training is equivalent to asking you to walk through a minefield: either way, it’s just a matter of time until something goes wrong.  

When you leave for work each morning, you do so with the expectation of coming home safe and healthy. And that can only happen when you avoid doing anything during your shift for which you haven’t been adequately trained.  

In the example of the lathe, knowing how to use it is certainly a starting point, but you shouldn’t turn it on until you know how to use it safely! Without safety training, you risk losing an eye, a finger, your arm, or even your life. And this doesn’t only apply to the machine shop. All industries have safety risks, and you need to know what they are and follow your company’s safety guidelines to stay safe.  

Whether it’s a forklift, a drill press, a press brake, an overhead crane, or a bench grinder, don’t touch it unless you’ve been trained!  

Here are 4 more workplace safety tips:  

1. Always be aware of your surroundings

Too many works are unaware of the hazards that are around them. It’s important to know what is happening in your work area and with your coworkers. Once you get a comprehensive picture of the dangers in your workplace, you can take some precautions and work toward reducing the risks.    

2. Use all tools correctly

You need to take appropriate precautions not only while using machinery but also with smaller tools. Don’t take shortcuts by using tools in ways for which they weren’t intended because it’s a safety risk. And once again, don’t use even a small tool if you haven’t been trained to use it safely.  

3. Report unsafe conditions

Don’t hesitate to approach your boss about a hazardous situation you have observed in the workplace. Updating your supervisor about the danger could prevent an injury or perhaps save a life. Accidents are always bad news for the company, so your boss will thank you for the heads-up.  

4. Use lifting equipment

Always use a forklift or crane to move heavy objects. If you aren’t trained on that piece of lifting equipment, find a coworker who is.  

Are you looking at changing jobs in 2021?

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