Safe Workplace and Safety News
This is the safety news blog for the Safe Workplace web site. We cover workplace safety related news with a focus on how safety, or a lack of safety, impacts employers, employees and their families. We also cover topics such as safety training, safety tools, and legal issues related to safety. For regular safety news and information enter your email address in the box above the Subscribe button to the right (then click on the button).
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Using 5S For Improving Safety
It is called 5S because it is based on a five step process. Each step is identified by a word beginning with the letter "S".
Sort - Eliminate unnecessary items in the work area.
Set In Order - Establish effective storage and organization.
Shine - thoroughly clean the area and the equipment in it.
Standardize - Establish standards for keeping the work area clean and organized.
Sustain - Maintain what has been accomplished
I recently read an article in Modern Machine Shop magazine that provides a good overview of the benefits several facilities saw from using 5S. The article is titled "Success In Workplace Organization Efforts"
A free guide the summarizes the 5S System is available on the Custom Sign Makers web site.
A guide to the standard color coding system used for 5S is available from Graphic Products, Inc.
Labels: Lean Manufacturing
posted by Steve Hudgik |
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Wednesday, February 28, 2007
What IS TPM?
The article quotes Scott Haulotte, the Manager of Technical Services and Continuous Improvement, as saying, "We are, I believe, a success story," says Haulotte. "We are showing that you can succeed, even in a high-labor-cost country, if you work hard, think smart and come together."
Labels: Lean Manufacturing
posted by Steve Hudgik |
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Thursday, February 15, 2007
Ergonomics For the Construction Industry
Mention ergonomics and the first thing that comes to mind is typically an office setting and preventing repetitive stress injuries. Or maybe a warehouse in which workers are doing a lot of lifting and stretching. But, ergonomics is a major issue in the construction industry also. An article published in the January 29th issue of Occupational Hazards magazine points out:
"Construction, after all, involves gritty, physical labor - often performed by workers who aren't in peak physical condition. With that in mind, it should come as no surprise that the BLS statistics for 2005 indicate that construction not only led the way in the lost-days injury and illness incidence rate for sprains and strains, but also in the lost-days incidence rate for cuts and lacerations; fractures; and multiple traumatic injuries."
How can injuries such as these be prevented? This article has several recommendations including stretching exorcises and getting lean. Not workers getting lean, but applying lean manufacturing techniques such as 5S to construction.
Labels: Lean Manufacturing, Safety Training
posted by Steve Hudgik |
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Wednesday, November 01, 2006
Free Introduction To Kaizen
Kaizen is a system for making continuous improvement in all aspects of your business or organization, including safety, productivity, employee retention, and quality. By continuously making small improvements based on employee suggestions, changes are implemented quicker and are more readily accepted.
Kaizen is suitable for any type of organization, from an industrial manufacturing facility to a social service nonprofit. It provides a structured approach to finding ways to improve, and for implementing changes to make those improvements.
Labels: Free Safety Guides, Lean Manufacturing
posted by Steve Hudgik |
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