Metal Detectable Knives and 5 Other Essential Workplace Safety Tools
Keeping employees safe at work should be a top priority for all employers.
A recent report on workplace safety shows that in 2019, more than 270,000 claims of workplace injuries were reported, and of those, over 900 were fatal. Manufacturing facilities make up a disproportionately large number of non-fatal workplace accidents, and experts say companies should be doing more to protect their workers.
Ethical and moral obligations aside, there are substantial company benefits to supporting a healthy and safe work environment. A safer working environment helps to:
- Increase productivity by reducing employee absences
- Reduce the costs associated with workplace accidents
- Improve employee retention by making them feel valued
- Enhance company reputation and brand image with consumers
Essential Workplace Safety Tools for Manufacturing Facilities
A comprehensive workplace safety strategy should include elements of employee training, well-defined safety policies, strong communication and leadership, and the right equipment. This blog will address the latter, providing information on safety tools that should be a part of any production line.
Metal Detectable Safety Knives
Retractable metal-detectable safety knives serve a dual purpose; they help keep both employees and products safe from accidents or accidental contamination.
Retractable blades help prevent accidental cuts, while ergonomic grip support reduces the probability someone will inadvertently drop it. However, adding metal datable knife blades and casing ensures that even if a knife is misplaced, it will be picked up by production safety equipment before it makes it off the production line.
Protective Clothing and Footwear
The right protective gear is crucial to keeping employees safe and products free from contamination, particularly in food processing facilities. Depending on the nature of your production facility, the essential protective clothing may include the following:
- Gloves
- Gowns
- Aprons
- Safety boots
- PVC coveralls and jackets
- Hair nets and beard covers
- Face masks
Ear Protection
Noise is one of the leading causes of workplace injuries in food processing plants. Help protect your employees from the damaging effects of hearing loss with metal-detectable ear plugs.
Eye Protection
Food processing plants often have high amounts of food particles circulating in the air, which can irritate or seriously damage vision. Eye protection is highly recommended to keep employees on the production floor safe.
Anti-Fatigue Insoles and Floor Mats
Not all workplace injuries result from direct contact with dangerous equipment; fatigue can negatively affect employees working long hours at repetitive tasks. Anti-fatigue insoles and floor mats can provide comfort and pain relief for workers who spend long periods on their feet, reducing absenteeism for preventable injuries and increasing employee satisfaction.
Sanitization Equipment
Illness is the single most significant contributor to workplace absences. But you can help reduce cold-related absences by encouraging good hygiene practices and prioritizing cleaning and sanitization on your production line and throughout shared employee spaces.
Ozone sanitizers are the newest and most effective ways to eliminate germs in the workplace. All-natural ozone sanitizer harnesses the power of Aqueous Ozone to create a cleaning solution that is safer and more effective than even bleach.
Keeping employees safe and healthy at work provides measurable benefits to everyone. Employers can increase productivity by reducing absences, employee turnover, and the costs of workplace-connected accidents. Meanwhile, workers who are given the tools to do their jobs safely can perform their duties more productively.