A comprehensive preventative maintenance plan keeps workers safe on the job at your facility. Even with an agency like the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) working hard to stress employee safety tips and make sure facility managers are complying with stringent rules and regulations, there are still risks for workers in a variety of industrial occupations. Here’s how crafting a preventative maintenance plan can keep your employees safe, as well as save you money and prevent downtime.
Preventative maintenance directly impacts workplace safety
If you have poorly-maintained equipment at your industrial facility, keep in mind that it poses a major safety risk to everyone working at the site. Occupational safety and health are important, not just for those working at a facility, but also for investors. The ESG (environmental, social and governance issues) movement is changing the way productivity is measured in heavy industry.
Now, profitability is measured in human capital rather than simply by numbers and overall financial bottom line. Research shows that there’s a direct correlation between a focus on preventative maintenance and workplace safety. Don’t wait to formulate a comprehensive plan for your operations.
What should be included in a preventative maintenance plan?
Depending on the type of facility you run, some things you should incorporate into your regular preventative maintenance schedule include inspecting and repairing valves, pumps, hydraulics, pneumatics and more. A good program will include routine equipment inspections by skilled mechanics on a predictable cycle, ensuring that machines are always running exactly as they’re designed to.
As maintenance technicians inspect equipment, they’ll perform simple tasks like changing seals or lubricating individual components. They’ll also determine whether a machine isn’t operating to spec and whether that machine should be shut down or if operations can continue until the next scheduled downtime period.
Other benefits of preventative maintenance
While workplace safety is always the top priority for any organization, there are some other benefits you’ll enjoy when sticking to a regular maintenance plan, including:
- Improved quality control: If you run a manufacturing facility, preventative maintenance ensures you’re able to produce a quality product every time. Businesses that fail to establish a comprehensive preventative maintenance plan instead have to rely on reactive maintenance, in which case full breakdowns will inevitably occur. If you want to maintain consistency in the quality of your products, keeping your equipment in good shape is simply a no-brainer.
- Enhanced efficiency: Efficiency matters in any industrial or manufacturing setting. Businesses that create a preventative maintenance plan can unlock the potential of the IoT (Internet of Things). The IoT allows machines to “communicate” with each other, ensuring efficiency and consistent productivity for your business. The end result is a decrease in operational costs and waste.
Adhering to established employee safety tips is only one part of ensuring the well-being of your workers and your company as a whole. Establish a preventative maintenance plan to reduce the likelihood of hazards, downtime and even fines from impacting your business. Contact J.F. Heat Treating Inc. to craft a regular maintenance schedule that keeps your business on track.