The Importance of Plant Safety

Although the number of workers’ compensation claims has decreased over the past fifteen years, the total cost of medical payments to workers has significantly increased (Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services). In fact, the total price of workplace injuries and illnesses cost the nation around $250 billion each year (FSM). In order to keep workers safe and protect the company from lawsuits, it is imperative to create a safe workplace.

In addition to staggering costs, a safe workplace typically increases productivity and boosts employee morale (FSM). Preventative care is the best solution for both the company and the employees.

Did you know corrosion is the third largest cost for Americans, only to be preceded by real estate and healthcare?  Why should this even be? Many applications could utilize corrosion resistant materials, saving the economy money and, more importantly, lives.

Faced with the safety problem of slippery steps and slick landing on an outdoor stairway at their facility, the facilities engineer at UPS was looking for solutions that would provide long lasting slip resistant stair steps and a platform landing. This stairway was the only way to access the driver dispatch office from the truck terminal parking lot. During rainy weather, the stairs became even more hazardous when the oily surface became wet.

While food and beverage facilities already have their own unique set of regulations when it comes to cleanliness and sanitation, the wine industry has an additional motivator: the purity of their wine. According to Emile Peynaud, “Cleanliness is a basic condition for quality. The whole of enological science would be to no avail if the work itself were done in places that were dirty.” Consistent quality routes from consistency in the beginning of the process.  You cannot have a consistently quality wine if your winery is not always clean. In addition to cleanliness, employees can affect consistency. One of the best way to retain employees is to care for them on the job. By making sure your facility is safe, you will experience increased employee retention.

Outdoor stairs require tedious maintenance and can be very expensive. There are a variety of different traditional materials to choose from including wood, metal, and concrete to use in stair application.

Hotels, apartment complexes, and various commercial properties struggle with the nature of these materials. Wood rots and splits. Metal becomes slippery and corrodes.  Concrete cracks and crumbles.  Plus, metal and concrete are heavier materials making delivery and installation an expensive, long process.

When replacing something as common as grating, it is natural to go with the same material you have always used.  It has worked in the past, so why would you change your preference now?

Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic (FRP) grating is a great alternative to steel grating.  It will solve problems and save money on major issues that you may not have even known were avoidable.  Here are some things to take into consideration with grating:

Slips and falls are some of the leading causes of workplace injury suits.  They cost companies millions of dollars each year.  The costs, which include lost work time, lost productivity, lost production, training of new employees, workers’ compensation claims, as well as many other expenses, quickly add up.