Many workplaces wrongly believe that they do not have any issues with machine safety. These are the organizations that are surprised and ill-prepared when an incident occurs, or they are issued an improvement order from Workplace Safety and Health. Some workplaces know that they have high risks but believe that machine safety programs are too time-consuming and costly to manage.

      Here are a few questions that you can ask yourself to determine if your workplace is at risk for a machinery-related incident.

1. Do you rely heavily on awareness controls and training to keep your workers safe around equipment?
2. Do you believe that if you purchase a new machine it will come with all the required safeguards?
3. Do have workers who work on equipment that do not understand energy control (lockout)?
4. Do you have machines that do not have task-based risk assessments?
5. If there was a problem with a guard, would an operator or supervisor remove it and continue working without proper consultation?

      If you answered YES to any of the above questions, you are at a much higher chance of experiencing a machine-related injury at your workplace. The good news is, machine safety programs do not have to be complicated or time-consuming. Here are a few simple things you can do to get started today.

1. Have an inventory of the equipment in your workplace.
2. Identify your highest risk machines based on severity and probability of injury.
3. Determine proper safeguarding controls through the development of a task-based risk assessment.

If you would like some help or advice on any of these recommendations, contact us today at info@workengsolutions.ca or visit www.wesguard.ca/freetrial.