The Importance Of Health And Safety In The Automotive Industry
Importance Of Health And Safety In The Automotive Industry — Health and safety requirements are essential for every business, but it’s even more critical for the automotive industry since employees are often at high risk. Failing to meet the regulatory guidelines on health and safety could lead to legal action and hefty fines from the Health and Safety Executive. And if one of your employees got injured, you could be taken to tribunal by your staff.
Here’s the importance of Health and Safety in the Automotive Industry.
The Main Risks
While safety is vital to every operation in the automotive industry, some companies view it as a costly burden. However, that should not be the case, especially since the industry is high-risk. The automotive industry involves working with dangerous chemicals, machinery, and tools, putting workers at a higher risk of workplace injury. Statistics show that the automotive industry experience more than 13,000 non-fatal injuries leading to valuable time away from work.
Some of the most common hazards in the automotive industry happen during manual handling work, which requires workers to bend, reach, stretch, lift, and pull heavy objects, requiring them to be in cramped positions. In most cases, these tasks have to be repeated several times, which further adds to the risk. If staff needs to bend in an engine bay, he will maintain a fixed posture for a long time, which puts him at risk of injuries.
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Another common risk in automotive is getting hit or trapped between objects, which can happen when working under vehicles and cleaning parts. Bonnets, doors, and other equipment could slip or move when working, causing the worker to be trapped or hit by these objects.
Machinery Safety
The need for machinery safety is of critical importance in the automotive sector. If the machinery has remained dormant for a long time, it can create additional risks that you should fix before resuming your operations. The inactivity can degrade the machinery’s condition due to the increased corrosion caused by rust.
When the machinery degrades, you could encounter issues with components that can lead to a dangerous working environment. To prevent these, you must conduct inspection and maintenance. Perform detailed assessment of the machinery before starting operation. Conduct a visual check on the equipment’s structural framework to ensure that the condition of the bonded structure, bolted joints, and cast components are up to par.
Closely examine the machinery for any signs of deformation, rusts, or delayering by touching or smelling. It’s also necessary to conduct a functional test and observe if any moving parts are not working well when the machine is operating. After completing the inspection, take proper corrective action on the physical condition of the machinery. Regular maintenance can ensure the machine’s reliability, safety, and productivity.
Online Training
Online training is way better than traditional training methods. Also called e-learning, online training is a type of training taking place on a computer device with access to the Internet. It involves various multimedia elements, such as graphics, videos, voice-over animations, etc. The training content is presented in logical blocks, followed by real-time feedback in the form of tests or quizzes.
Since online training programs do not set any time limit for the completion of the course, participants will be able to train at their own pace. They can save the progress of the training and review the material before taking the test. Indeed, online learning is flexible, allowing participants to pause, start, and repeat when needed.
Using online resources for delivering safety training has become a growing practice in the automotive industry. Over the past years, there has been a surge in e-learning as a way to offer safety training to employees in various industries. Online training is cheaper compared to actual training. Automotive companies will not have to spend money on classroom rentals, hotel rooms, transportation, etc. In addition, online training is a greener and more sustainable option, especially during economic slowdowns.
The Benefits Of Health And Safety Training
Safety training is a vital part of learning and development for employees, saving them from workplace accidents that could even lead to fatality. It is even more necessary in the automotive industry, where employees work with heavy machinery.
There are many benefits to health and safety training. First, it helps make your employees more competent in health and safety. Secondly, it helps your business avoid the hassles and stress of dealing with work-related accidents and injuries. More importantly, health and safety training can keep you from the financial burden of accidents and occupational ill health. Not to mention the fact that your insurance may not be able to cover all losses.
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When your employees know how to keep clear of safety hazards and follow proper safety regulations, you will end up with a safe and healthy work environment. It’s also worth noting that the law requires all employers to provide whatever training is needed to ensure the health and safety of employees.
Providing Training
In compliance with business laws and regulations, employers must ensure that their employees have proper health and safety training. If employees undergo safety training, injuries and accidents at work can be lessened. Every employee should receive safety training, whether working in mechanics, manufacturing, logistics, sales or software. Many companies are now focusing on automotive software engineer recruiters to help find employees who specialise in these areas, as they already offer a wealth of knowledge.
By offering proper safety training, you can increase your staff’s awareness of potential workplace hazards while educating them on policies and procedures. There are various ways to provide safety training to employees, from workshops to e-learning training modules and online courses. These training methods can help ensure your workers are engaged in workplace health and safety, reducing the risk of injuries, accidents, and hazards.
When providing workplace safety training to staff, employees do this through solid block training, such as all-day orientation sessions. Sometimes, employees may need to undergo two-hour workshops. These can take up plenty of time and can be a burden for them. So, why don’t you consider giving them online training instead? There are online training courses for all areas of workplace safety and compliance.
The Importance Of Health And Safety In The Automotive Industry
