Creating a Safe Welding Environment for (and with) Employees
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No two welding operations have the same needs. Equipment, processes and welding operator skill sets vary, as do a company’s safety requirements. Still, employee safety should always be a top priority. Taking the right precautions to protect welding operators can limit negative impacts on production, as well as increase employee acceptance of safety regulations.
Typically, safety measures a company takes are multifaceted and they serve more than just the purpose of establishing and maintaining compliance with regulatory guidelines. A safe work environment can save companies money by reducing liabilities. It can also help attract and retain skilled welding operators, which is extremely important considering the shortage of welding operators is poised to reach approximately 400,000 in the next five years. In many cases, companies can directly involve employees in efforts to create a safer welding environment and to sustain it. Such involvement is beneficial to employee morale — it empowers welding operators to take a proactive role in making their work environment safer.
To create a clean, safe and comfortable welding environment, companies should consider three key steps, as follows, in addition to implementing the proper safety equipment.
This article is an exclusive feature published in Practical Welding Today, September/October 2015. To read the full article, please
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