In an article titled “Safety Products” by Nicholas Kamuda, industrial safety products are considered just as important as the employees they protect. Nicholas reinforces the idea that quality industrial safety products allow employees to focus more on their tasks, rather than the fear of an accident. The evolution in personal protection products makes industrial safety products more comfortable for employees to use. For example, safety harnesses and fall protection systems are becoming lighter and more breathable. He also comments on how advancements in protective coatings can make materials more durable. For instance, when a non slip coating is applied to a metal substrate used for flooring, the flooring becomes not only slip resistant, but also more resilient.
One type of industrial safety products are personal protection safety products. Personal protection industrial safety products include earplugs, gloves, hard hats, safety vests and safety goggles. In my opinion, these types of industrial safety products are proactive instruments used to prevent accidents.
The second type of industrial safety products are what I consider a “reactive” safety product. In the article, this type is referred to as “Treatment and containment products”. These products are used after an accident has occurred. Types of these products include eyewash stations and showers, and also cleanup products like sorbent pads, first aid kits and pill control products. Industrial safety products of this sort are used in case of emergency for a quick, efficient response that can help minimize potential risk, contain hazards and reduce the number of potential injuries.
The author notes that “Keeping this main division in mind while assessing hazards can help you decide what kind of product is best for your needs.” In order to build an appropriate safety plan and obtain the industrial safety products necessary to carry out the plan, a full analysis of the situation must be done. Employers must explore the workplace and be familiar with any possible hazards that may arise, such as potentially dangerous objects, including breakable objects, harmful chemicals and hot surfaces, or sources of electricity or open flame.
While industrial safety products can help prevent and respond to accidents, they are useless without an appropriate safety plan in place. Employees must know how to correctly use equipment and be aware of dangerous situations in the workplace. Safety manuals with detailed instructions should be printed and distributed to each employee. An Occupational Safety and Health Technician can perform full assessments, as well as help you choose what kind of industrial safety products are best suited to your needs. For recommendations, contact your local or regional OSHA office. OSHA can also provide you with information regarding OSHA standards and other helpful safety hints.
Kamuda, Nicholas. “Safety Products” Article Insider.
