Manufacturing Safety Basics in the Era of Covid-19

The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the world, and there’s just no way to pretend that it hasn’t. The world post-pandemic will and must look different than the world pre-pandemic. One of the many areas that will inevitably change is safety equipment in manufacturing environments.

Protective Equipment

Of course, there has been a lot of discussion of personal protective equipment (PPE). It has always played an important role in manufacturing work, with goggles, work boots and work safety gloves. Many factories already require masks or face shields for safety, so it’s not like it’s out of the way to include PPE for pandemic safety as well.

Space and Shielding

Oftentimes more difficult is the necessary social distancing. Reducing the number of employees in a factory or increasing the space between them can be difficult in certain industrial settings, but it’s vitally important for the safety of the workers. Where you can’t create distance, you may have to create shielding or some other kind of barrier to help protect your employees.

Backup

Perhaps the most important protection you can offer your employees is a backup plan. What happens to them if there is an outbreak? What will you do to protect their jobs and lives if they get sick? How much do you have in terms of cash reserves to keep the payroll safe if the factory has to shut down temporarily? In sum, what have you done to prepare for the worst? It has happened before, and no one knows if or when it will happen again.

Factories have been hot spots for Covid-19 outbreaks so they must remain vigilant going forward or face further outbreaks and shutdowns. Many of these factories are essential businesses with many communities depending on them, so it’s all the more important to keep the workers safe so the businesses can stay open.