Figures from the report of the Deputy Directorate General of Statistics and Sociolaboral Analysis indicate that the manufacturing sector has the highest number of workplace accidents when compared to other economic activities.
The occupational risks that we face day to day in our industrial facilities are always a priority for the company. They can cause accidents, absences, or even greater damage to our operators and equipment. If we manage to identify them in time, we can implement preventive measures and create safe working environments.
The following report extracts data from the monthly survey conducted by the Deputy Directorate-General for Statistics and Sociolaboral Analysis from reported workplace accident notifications.
In the January-December 2020 forecast, the total number of accidents with injury was 485,365, while the number of workplace accidents without injury was higher at 518,979.
If we compare the figures with those for the same period last year, we can see that accidents have fallen significantly, with accidents resulting in sick leave down by 23.61% and accidents not resulting in sick leave down by 28.31%.
But unfortunately, the cause of this considerable decrease is not so much due to the continuous improvement of workplace safety but rather due to the pandemic, as many companies were forced to cease their activities partially or totally.
Source: Deputy Directorate-General of Statistics and Soci-Labour Analysis.
However, while accidents have been reduced, the figures remain very high.
The manufacturing industry is one of the most dangerous sectors for worker safety when compared to other economic activity sections.. This sector was the one that registered the most workplace accidents in 2020, with a total of 86,862 accidents at work with sick leave and 117 fatal accidents.
Last year, this sector recorded 4,289.7 workplace accidents per 100,000 employees, and 5.78 fatal accidents (employees), figures which, although lower than the same period last year, remain alarming.
To avoid and reduce these statistics, it is important to detect the potential risks of accidents that our machines and equipment can generate in installations and for our human resources. This way, it is possible to identify and implement preventative measures on machinery, thereby ensuring the safety of workplaces and consequently, the safety of workers.
But How do I ensure proper maintenance of my facilities, machinery, and equipment?
In order to avoid accidents and unnecessary risks, there are a number of preventative measures that can help us with the safe maintenance of our facilities and machinery:
- Initial Risk Assessment Report of all my machines.
- Remediation of deficiencies that the machines present following the risk assessment report.
- Compliance with Royal Decree 1215/97 of the machines that require it.
- Obtaining CE marking my machines.
- A suitable maintenance plan work schedules to be carried out, which includes both the maintenance established by the manufacturers of the facilities, apparatus and equipment, as well as the periodic maintenance established by current regulations.
- To have the maintenance certificates available carried out.
- To have the records, minutes and reports of the maintenance carried out.
- Periodic statutory inspections
- Have a calendar with the planned dates to carry out the periodic inspections established by the various regulations.
- Get in touch with an authorised inspection body.
- To implement corrective measures necessary to rectify any potential shortcomings found during routine inspections.
- Keep a record of all periodic inspections carried out.
Of course, accidents won't be entirely eliminated, but we will reduce them considerably if we adopt preventive measures that guarantee the safety and well-being of a company's most precious assets: its human team.
