According to a recent report by the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), America is regaining its foothold on global manufacturing thanks to falling domestic natural gas prices, rising worker productivity and a waning upward wage pressure. China is in danger of losing its number one position in terms of manufacturing competitiveness due to its increasing labor and transportation costs and its decrease in productivity. The US Department of Commerce claims that manufacturing employment has risen by four percent (489,000 additional jobs) which is the strongest comeback since the recessions in the early 1980's.

Import substitution, increased exports and higher domestic demand has resulted in an increasing demand for manufacturing. Foreign trade has sustained much of the efflux in manufacturing activity and contracting, as exports of manufactured goods rose 38 percent in current dollars from 2009 to 2011. Regardless of the fact that worker productivity has doubled since the 1960's, the wages are actually lower. In addition to this, there will be an increase in new and inexperienced workers which could result in an increase of job-related injuries.

Manufacturing and industrial work is often fast-paced and potentially dangerous. If not monitored properly, one wrong move could result in extreme injuries or fatalities. This is why Bear Staffing is dedicated to helping their clients implement workplace safety regulations. Since the implementation of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in 1972, there have been advancements made in workplace safety, but there is always room for improvement. We would like to focus on four major steps that could be taken to decrease the likelihood of job-related injuries in manufacturing plants and industrial warehouses.

Obviously, the most important task is to create and put into writing, a thorough workplace safety program that adheres to all OSHA requirements and any other industry-related safety standards. This document should encompass everything from wearing the appropriate safety attire to the proper utilization of tools and machinery, as well as accident protocol. Next, safety training programs, held on an annual basis, should be made mandatory for each and every employee, not just new hires. It would be helpful to consider offering specialized training for specific employees such as heavy machinery operators.

There are a few things that can be done to ensure that your training programs are successful and taken seriously by all employees. Formal and informal random tests can be done which will enable you to pinpoint future problems and correct them immediately. Tests coupled with employee incentive programs can make a huge difference in the future safety of your employees. Most people are surprised to find that the simplest and most basic safety procedures are often over-looked. Simple things such as remembering to be observant of your surroundings, taking breaks to avoid fatigue, knowing the location of emergency exits are all essential factors in keeping employees safe from harm. 

Written guidelines and training programs alone will not determine the overall success of your company. Workplace safety must be ingrained in the culture of the company itself from upper management to workers on the floor. Employees should be inspired to keep their eyes open and remain alert to any future dangers and report them immediately. It is impossible to eradicate the possibility of accidents in the workplace.

However, utilizing a staffing firm that understands manufacturing for seasonal, ramp up or temp to hire manufacturing employees helps to mitigate risk. It has been our experience that many workplace accidents occur to people who are newer on the job.  It has also been our experience that the number of claims where some sort of fraud is suspected is even higher.  Bear Staffing knows how to manage these claims and keep the negative financial impact to a minimum.