According to the International Labour Organization, there are about 340 million work-related accidents a year all around the world. As such, many private and public establishments have used informative and regulatory information scattered around the workplace to indicate danger. These notices help workers and employees avoid highly dangerous areas as well as be more careful when they need to be around those places and handle hazardous materials.
#1. Safety
On average, 6,300 people die every single day due to work-related accidents or diseases. That’s 2.3 million people every year. Many of those deaths are from electrocution, falling, being struck by objects or getting stuck in machinery.
How many of those fatal accidents were preventable? We’ll never know. But we do know that proper signage in the workplace cuts the probability of these accidents happening and keeps people safe.
No matter what type of business you’re running, everyone’s safety should be of the highest priority. Losing employees to accidents lowers productivity and employee morale and increases turnover. In more compassionate terms, you don’t want to see the people working hard for you every day getting hurt.
Proper safety notices can’t prevent every accident but they can help minimize them. They allow people to be aware of their surroundings and act accordingly. A large part of workplace safety is getting people to realize what dangers surround them so that they can avoid them.
Most industrial plants will have warnings like “Danger: High Voltage” and “Caution: Watch Your Step.” Others may have biohazard or caution warnings regarding specific machinery. Often these notices are aluminum signs coated in a bright yellow color which makes them difficult to ignore. Today, that “caution yellow” color is famous for being a color of caution. It will surely catch the attention of anyone working in your facility.
You may think that these notices are no more than background noise and that very few people actually see them. For employees who’ve been at your facility for ages, that may very well be true since they might not notice it because they’ve already internalized its lesson. This shows that the message you’ve showcased has been effective.
Meanwhile, new employees are likely to see the warning first and then ask questions. In its absence, they could just stroll into a hazardous area, completely oblivious to the dangers that lie ahead. These notices help them know the precautions that should be taken to avoid them.
Of course, safety boards aren’t just for employees. In fact, people who don’t spend all day in your facility are arguably even more important to keep informed. There’s a reason the “Danger: Authorized Personnel Only” notice is so popular. Passersby stumbling into a work area is a recipe for potential disaster.
#2. Information
Combine safety boards with other items that provide even more information. Place sandwich board signs that guide visitors wherever they may need to go. Make sure delivery drivers know where to pull in and how to get in touch with the right person in the facility. These are all things that can be accomplished with proper wayfinding solutions and are all part of keeping your facility running smoothly.
And speaking of running things smoothly, did you think all industrial notices had to be about safety? Granted, a big chunk of it is. But that doesn’t mean you can’t also design some items to remind employees of your mission, best practices and any number of other things. Add a guideboard to remind workers about easily-forgotten but important rules like washing hands or lifting heavy objects with a partner. All these things have the potential to maximize productivity at your facility and keep your business running smoothly.
Most industrial facilities are absolutely covered in notices. Whether they’re promoting safety or raising productivity, it is undeniably in your interest to do everything you can to keep your employees as safe and informed as possible at all times. Don’t hesitate to contact us and we’ll help you make that happen.