Tips for operating machines and heavy equipment safely

Employers should take steps as directed by experts for instilling safety habits in their employees. Some of them are:

• Wear well fitted clothes that will not snag or become entrapped in any machinery.
• Workers should be safety-conscious. They need to pay attention to the instructions given about operating the machinery in a safe manner and take the uttermost care during hazardous jobs.
• Keep all safety tools, guards and equipment in a place that is easily accessible.
• While cleaning or maintaining machinery, take care to replace guards that have been removed under the supervision of an authorised person.
• When not in use, machinery should be switched off. You should also first switch off machinery when cleaning or maintaining it.
• Distractions during intricate jobs can result in injuries; concentrate on the job at hand. Using the mobile phone or listening to one is a distraction that could be fatal.
• Safety comes before speed. Do not hurry while operating machinery.
• Make it compulsory for workers to wear the personal protective equipment provided to them.
• Helmets and proper masks should be used even if there is no visible danger.