logo
Business Award

Blog Layout

How to Simultaneously be Fast and Safe on the Job

Trevor English • Dec 09, 2016

The constant stress of work can sometimes push us past our limits, so what’s the best way to walk the thin line between efficiency and safety?

In any job, whether it be in an office filled with cubicles or out on a job site, there will always be safety concerns and bosses pushing you to work faster. In essence, work is finding a balance between operating at maximum efficiency without being dangerous. This is especially evident in more hands-on manufacturing jobs. Let’s look at a few ways we can walk the thin line between safety and maximum efficiency to optimize your workday.

First, you are going to want to nail down exactly what you are trying to do in your job, task by task. If you approach something without a plan, whether that be machining a part or writing a report, you will inevitably waste time and perhaps compromise your own safety. Laying out a set of microtasks in your manufacturing process can be useful to maintain safety and work fast. This will allow you to move forward in a planned and steady manner while staying focused on what needs to be done. For the most part, safety becomes a problem when workers lose focus or take on too much at once. This planned work method will help you get all of your work done as fast as possible while also keeping all of your fingers.

Next, you will need to have a very real discussion on what is an acceptable compromise to safety for an increase in efficiency. It’s likely that we will be willing to accept a little more strain during certain tasks if that’s all it takes to get things done at an accelerated pace. However, even though we all have likely found ourselves doing something this stupid, it’s not a good tradeoff to risk your fingers to save a few minutes. When it comes to manufacturing and even engineering in general, finding an acceptable level of risk is a necessary part of achieving the highest efficiency possible.

navy-workersIn terms of a more corporate workplace environment and not just you in your shop, there are other governing bodies that you are going to have to deal with – like everyone’s friend OSHA. When you shift to managing others and determining the risks that they will need to take, your decision making should be different than if you were determining acceptable risk for yourself. In order to be fast and safe at the same time, you have to ask the questions: how fast can I be? And how safe do I need to be?

Ultimately, there is always going to be some level of risk in every task. We can’t spend our lives in giant padded bubbles, although some people probably should. Risk is an everyday part of life, especially engineering. The best way to optimize your performance and overcome these daily hurdles is to develop specific plans for moving forward. This may sound boring, and it likely is going to involve hours of meetings in some cases, but ultimately, your business will see great financial gain from the optimization process.

Image Sources:  [1] [2]

3D Printing Services and Technology
by Dwight Mitchell 16 Jul, 2024
3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, has transformed industries by enabling the creation of complex geometries that traditional methods can't achieve.
3D Printing: Innovations, Challenges, and Applications
by Dwight Mitchell 10 Jul, 2024
The world of 3D printing or Additive manufacturing is changing at a neck-breaking speed with new technology and new materials entering the market frequently.
3D Printing with Polystyrene (High Impact Polystyrene (HIPS)):
by Dwight Mitchell 04 Jul, 2024
3D Printing with Polystyrene (High Impact Polystyrene (HIPS))
Comparative Analysis of 3D Printing Filaments
by Dwight Mitchell 02 Jul, 2024
I know it can be confusing to know which is the right material and also which is the best brand to use.
Threaded Inserts in 3D Printed Products
by Dwight Mitchell 27 Jun, 2024
One of the shortfalls of printing a functional part in plastic is that it can wear very quickly especially if you are producing parts that need to or have a screw fixture.
Which is the Best TPU Filaments in 2024?
by Dwight Mitchell 18 Jun, 2024
The Quality of the prints that the Creality K1 and K1 max produce is fantastic
 Materials for your project, is ASA or ABS or PC right for you?
by Dwight Mitchell 17 Jun, 2024
When having to decide on the type of materials to choose for your project, the choice can often be confusing as 3D Print Filament manufacturers and suppliers
ASA 3D Printing Filament: A Comprehensive Guide
by Dwight Mitchell 15 May, 2024
ASA 3D Printing Filament: A Comprehensive Guide
Reverse Engineering and Hyper 3D Printing
by Dwight Mitchell 05 Apr, 2024
In the rapidly evolving world of manufacturing, staying ahead means not just keeping pace with current trends but pre-emptively leaping towards future innovations.
3D Printing: Key Trends Shaping the Future in 2024
by Dwight Mitchell 05 Mar, 2024
Here, we dive into the key trends that are set to redefine the boundaries of 3D printing technology and its applications, ensuring businesses and consumers alike are prepared for the future
More posts
Share by: