Work environment safety and body in the trade
How you take care of yourself in a job with machines, shift work and repetitive movements
The industrial operator works closely with machines that can cut, press, heat and move quickly. It is a versatile and exciting job — but it makes demands on how you take care of body and mind. Here we take a closer look at the work environment so you can maintain the trade for many years.
§The greatest risks
The most tangible danger is the machinery. Moving parts, pinch points and pressurized equipment can cause serious injuries if guards and procedures are not in place. Therefore a large part of your training is learning how to stop and secure a machine before you touch it. But there are other hazards to be aware of.
- 01Moving machine parts and pinch hazards — the most serious but also the most shielded risk
- 02Noise from production equipment — hearing damage comes sneaking
- 03Heavy lifting of materials, items and packaging
- 04Repeated, monotonous movements at assembly and packing lines
- 05Chemistry, dust and fumes depending on the industry
§Ergonomics — look after your body and joints in the long run.
Much work in production is repeated many times an hour, and this is where a working life can wear out if you do not do something active about it. Good lifting techniques, technical aids, adjustable work tables and alternating between tasks is not trivial — it is what makes the difference when you are 55. Speak up if a work posture hurts; often it can be changed.
§Noise and hearing protection
A production hall can be a loud place, and hearing loss cannot be healed. Therefore hearing protection is not something you put on when you feel like it — it is part of your work clothes in zones where noise is high. Take it seriously from day one; your hearing needs to last a lifetime.
§The psychological work environment and shift work
Many productions run in shifts and changing working hours affect sleep family life and health. At the same time there can be pressure when a line stands still and many wait for you to get it running again. A good work community clear team agreements and a culture where people help each other means a lot here.
§How you learn by doing, instead of just reading
Safety is not only the individual's responsibility. On a good workplace you talk about risks before a task starts, you use the personal protective equipment needed, and you speak up if something does not feel responsible. As an apprentice you have both the right and duty to speak up — an experienced colleague would rather stop the machine than see you get hurt.
- 01Stop and secure the machine before you go into it (lockout)
- 02Use shielding as intended — never put them out of action
- 03Hearing protection and other protective equipment in the zones where they are required
- 04A culture where it's okay to stop and speak up
“The most important thing you take home from work is yourself — in one piece.”