Safety and Compliance in a Signshop

MANUFACTURING SETTINGS ARE inherently places where safety is a main concern for all. When machinery, heavy raw materials, chemicals and other factors are requirements for the job, they become necessary risks that must be handled to ensure the safety of your staff and longevity of your business. Regardless of the shop’s size there are going to be safety concerns to contend with.

One of the most common and easy-to-identify hazards in a manufacturing environment is the forklift. Many shops have at least one forklift to move materials and load trucks, and although it is easy to become complacent with commonplace equipment, forklifts have the potential to be extremely hazardous if used incorrectly. This is why signshops, along with all manufacturing companies of all sizes must keep a robust and up-to-date safety and compliance program that covers all of the unique aspects of their production process.

In this column I will discuss some main points that I have found to be crucial when working in manufacturing settings and, specifically, ones that are prevalent in a signshop.

Equipment Inspection and Maintenance

A great place to start is putting together an inspection and maintenance program for your equipment. The tools used to make your final product are extremely important to keep functional and safe, both because they are an investment and because maintaining their functionality will ensure your workers can be as safe and efficient as possible in their day-to-day operation.

Items such as forklifts, overhead cranes, press breaks, shears, CAD tables and miter saws should have their own established maintenance and inspection program. It is recommended that forklifts, overhead cranes and fire-suppression equipment receive daily visual inspection by a qualified individual within your organization. This can be documented in a logbook which identifies at a minimum the equipment being inspected, the date/time and who inspected it.

These pieces of equipment, depending on usage, should receive yearly maintenance by a certified individual from outside the company. Other machinery such as miter saws, letter benders and CAD tables can be inspected and maintained according to the manufacturer’s guidelines, as long as these are documented to ensure proper maintenance records.

Have a comprehensive ‘lock out tag out’ procedure for every piece of electrical equipment in your shop, which can complement your inspection and maintenance logs.

OSHA Considerations

The acronym OSHA can carry a negative connotation for manufacturing companies; however, it is beneficial to think of OSHA as a resource instead of a hindrance. The chance of an OSHA inspector showing up to walk through your facility and interview employees is extremely low, especially if you are a smaller shop, but an OSHA inspection can yield some helpful insight.

When you work in a space regularly, it is easy to overlook certain hazards that an outside party may pick up on immediately. Some companies provide simulated OSHA walkthroughs, where a qualified individual who is familiar with OSHA’s standards will come in and walk through your facility with you in a mock inspection. This inspector will point out issues in your shop that an OSHA inspector would dock you for, and provide a comprehensive report at the end of their visit. This gives you the chance to fix any safety hazards present before they become more serious or an OSHA violation.

The best avenue for finding this service is to speak with your company’s insurance provider, and they may offer some discounts for proactive safety inspection initiatives. Another factor to consider is getting some of your employees OSHA 10 and OSHA 30 certified. These certifications are offered by OSHA in online classes and give your employees a good base of knowledge on OSHA best practices and requirements. A sign install crew should have at least one person onsite who is OSHA 10 certified. (Being OSHA 30 certified is an even better scenario.)

PHOTO: ISTOCKPHOTO

Training for Compliance

One of the best investments you can make is in your people. When it comes to safety and regulation compliance, this principle still rings true. Establishing a training program for your shop’s equipment is another crucial part of safety due diligence. Some requirements are obvious, such as forklift and lifting platform training for scissor lifts, bucket trucks and cherry pickers, but some training can get overlooked by companies, such as chemical handling/disposal, emergency action plan/evacuation route training and ‘lock out tag out’ training. These subjects should be covered with any employees whose job description has them working in these areas.

Another training best practice is to have a dedicated program for new employees before they begin regular work. Many workplace studies have found that 35-40% of workplace accidents involve workers who have been on the job for less than a year. Ensuring your new employees are educated and safe will give them a sense of comfort that will not only reduce accidents but aid in retention.

This column barely scratches the surface of what can and must be done to ensure your shop is as up to date as possible on safety procedures and compliance. Many companies have a designated employee solely to ensure standards are met and adjustments are made in the event of policy change.

There has been a push for large corporations to take vendor compliance much more seriously, which in turn has forced them to vet current and potential future vendors. This means not only is it in a shop’s best interest safety-wise to be up to code, but it also ensures you are eligible for new business when potential customers see you already have a safety program in place.