Training and Safety Come First: Does Your Manufacturing Company Need Improvement?

The importance of training and safety measures in the manufacturing industry should not be underestimated. Safety in manufacturing should come first when determining what areas of your company need improvement. This is especially true since it protects your business and employees from harm.  

According to Liberty Mutual's Workplace Safety Index 2021, the top five injury causes in the manufacturing industry have cost companies more than $6.08 billion and represent nearly 75% of all injuries in the industry annually.  

The top five injuries are: 

1. Overexertion involving outside sources 
2. Falling on the same level 
3. Getting caught in or compressed by equipment or objects
4. Being struck by an object or equipment 
5. Other exertions or bodily reactions (bad postures)

Manufacturing safety guidelines are a must! Knowing and understanding these concerns is the first step to proper prevention and response. The next step is to note our top tips for manufacturing workforce training and safety and learn why a PEO is the best solution to improve these areas in your business.  

Manufacturing Training and Safety Tips

Here are our top six manufacturing safety tips for improvement to reduce the negative impact on your bottom line and enhance the training and safety of your manufacturing company.  

1. Make sure employees are properly fitted with safety equipment  

While accidents happen, they should never occur as a result of not wearing (or being improperly fitted for) safety equipment. Ensuring every employee fits their safety gear properly will prevent most accidents and save your company millions in the long run. 

2. Don't overwork employees — exhaustion often leads to accidents  

Allowing employees to work beyond their limits can be tempting, especially if they're ready and willing to stay overtime. The problem is it can lead to burnout and exhaustion, which will also lead to stress, anxiety, and lack of clarity and ability to think straight (a recipe for disaster in the manufacturing industry). Regularly check in on your staff and monitor hours worked to prevent these accidents.  

3. Employees should be well-rested and in good health 

Well-rested and healthy employees are far less likely to have accidents than those who are not. In fact, Fisher Scientific reports that sleep deprivation increases the chances of an accident by 70% because it can lead to "impaired judgment, poor performance, and loss of coordination; similar to the effects of alcohol." If you partner with a PEO, be sure to look for one with wellness programs for manufacturing companies, too. 

4. Always have a clean, organized work area 

A work area that is clean and organized is one with fewer slips, trips, and falls. According to Dalmec, unorganized and cluttered workspaces are among the top causes of injuries and accidents. To combat this issue, properly dispose of materials, garbage, and other common hazards that can quickly build up when completing tasks.  

5. Ensure proper communication between employees and leadership 

In many cases, your staff may not know important precautions, guidelines, and information needed to complete their jobs safely. If this is the case, they require regular communication with leadership to receive meaningful feedback and ask questions when uncertain about a situation or task.  

6. Partner with a PEO 

Partnering with a PEO makes ensuring safety in the workplace more accessible. Not only can PEOs help you determine specific company/industry risks and apply proper preventative measures to avoid them, but the right partner will also help you ensure your staff is adequately trained. This will boost efficiency and productivity and ensure their safety since they'll be more accustomed to running equipment and doing their job correctly.  

How Do PEOs Improve Safety?

Improving the safety of your employees in a high-risk industry like manufacturing can be stressful and challenging. Fortunately, a PEO can help you in several areas. 

PEOs help with risk management  

Risk management refers to the process of identifying, evaluating, and managing risks. Risk, in this case, can be both positive or negative — meaning business opportunities versus business threats. It's important to businesses because it will maximize your company's success by maximizing opportunities and minimizing the impact of hazards.  

Risks can be both internal and external. The most common threats to control include financial, strategic, reputation, liability, legal, and data.  

Fortunately, PEOs manage risks like: 

• Workplace safety — safety documents and programs, comp claim investigation, workers comp insurance coverage, etc.  
• Security — particularly security systems and monitoring to protect your businesses from theft 
• New hires and terminations — bringing in only the right fits and protecting the company from risks like unemployment taxes, lawsuits for wrongful termination, etc.  
• Drug testing — minimizes the chances of staff working under the influence, helps with legally compliant testing, and has thorough insight into what types of testing your business can and cannot legally implement 

PEOs Maintain Manufacturing Worksite Safety

As an industry with the highest risk for employee accidents and injuries, expert help with worksite safety from a PEO can be a game-changer. After all, nearly 2.8 out of every 100 employees have an accident in the U.S. This figure can drop significantly with the proper precautions and measures.  

PEOs can help in several areas that contribute to the safety of your worksite: 

• Creating employee handbooks (outlines procedures, rules, laws, guidelines, etc.) 
• Law compliance  
• Sharing knowledge and expertise in safety and training  
• Better recruitment strategies and hiring practices (more experienced workers) 

PEOs Provide Training

Training and development in manufacturing the industry are essential. Poor training leads to a staff that is less productive and efficient at getting their job done. This also leads to higher employee turnovers and lower employee retention because unprepared and improperly trained employees leave sooner. One report found that almost half (40%) of the workers in the study left within a year of being hired because they did not receive the necessary job training they needed to become effective.  

The good news is a PEO like PRO Resources provides periodic training and a safety manual, which leads to benefits like: 

• A better understanding of individual responsibilities  
• Developing a culture of safety
• Builds loyalty and engagement  
• Increases productivity  
  
• Boosts employee morale and more 

PEOs Can Arrange Better Benefits

Competing with larger manufacturing companies can be a significant challenge because they have more money and resources to offer top talent. With a PEO, however, you can access the most attractive benefits at a more affordable cost. PEOs eliminate down payments and premiums while providing workers' comp coverage and wellness programs to take care of your employees and your company's financial stability.  

PRO for Manufacturing Companies

PRO Resources has been a long-time partner to companies in the manufacturing business. Our expertise and experience in the field have allowed us to help manufacturing companies overcome training and safety obstacles that have cost them millions in the past. Contact us to learn more about our workplace safety services and how they can make all the difference for you.