How to Organize Shops for Safety

by David A. Kolman
Created: June 13, 2012

Shops with good safety policies and systems outperform others in terms of productivity and financial performance

Photo courtesy of TransAm Trucking

Good shop organization and layout can make the difference between a stressful job that takes longer than expected and one that goes smoothly and safely.
Good shop organization and layout can make the difference between a stressful job that takes longer than expected and one that goes smoothly and safely.
Photo from Thinkstock

Workers need to be trained to use the appropriate ladder and the correct technique for placement and climbing.
Workers need to be trained to use the appropriate ladder and the correct technique for placement and climbing.
Photo courtesy of TransAm Trucking

Regular shop housekeeping - routine maintenance and upkeep - help reduces injuries and accidents, improves morale, reduces fire potential and makes operations more efficient.
Regular shop housekeeping - routine maintenance and upkeep - help reduces injuries and accidents, improves morale, reduces fire potential and makes operations more efficient.
Photo courtesy of New Pig

Leaks and spills that aren’t cleaned up promptly create slippery floors and track messes throughout the shop, leading to slips, trips and falls.
Leaks and spills that aren’t cleaned up promptly create slippery floors and track messes throughout the shop, leading to slips, trips and falls.
Photo courtesy of Dur-A-Flex

“Bounce back” light reflectivity, along with an easier to clean, professional looking facility, are among the reasons that companies choose resinous floor systems for many of their facilities.
“Bounce back” light reflectivity, along with an easier to clean, professional looking facility, are among the reasons that companies choose resinous floor systems for many of their facilities.
Photo courtesy of Ryder

Safety signs can be used to guide behavior and reinforce training so that hazards are avoided, people are not injured and equipment and the facility are not damaged.
Safety signs can be used to guide behavior and reinforce training so that hazards are avoided, people are not injured and equipment and the facility are not damaged.
Photo courtesy of Dur-A-Flex

“Bounce back” light reflectivity, along with an easier to clean, professional looking facility, are among the reasons that companies choose resinous floor systems for many of their facilities.
“Bounce back” light reflectivity, along with an easier to clean, professional looking facility, are among the reasons that companies choose resinous floor systems for many of their facilities.
Photo courtesy of Ryder

Safety signs can be used to guide behavior and reinforce training so that hazards are avoided, people are not injured and equipment and the facility are not damaged.
Safety signs can be used to guide behavior and reinforce training so that hazards are avoided, people are not injured and equipment and the facility are not damaged.

3. Maintain interest.

The supervisor plays an important role in creating and maintaining interest in a safety awareness program. A supervisor is responsible for translating management’s policies into action and for promoting safety activities directly among the employees.

It is the responsibility of management that the safety director and supervisors receive adequate safety training. Essentially, supervisors are directly accountable for the safety of their employees.

4. Create safety committees.

Safety committees play a key role in any safety program as they can help share the responsibilities of implementing and monitoring the program, plus maintain interest in safety and health, all of which helps to reduce accidents.

Safety committee membership should be rotated periodically, suggest the Grainger officials. “Rotation allows for new viewpoints while it increases the number of employees to look at operations through the eyes of safety.”