There has been a lot in the news lately about boredom. In fact, some people say that what is most wrong with today’s youth is that they do not know how to be bored. Instead, they check their cell phones for messages and social media posts from friends, the twirl a fidget spinner between their fingers, they mindlessly channel surf through hundreds of television channels that provide 24/7 viewing options, and they play video games online with friends or in person on occasion.
Without boredom, some experts predict, this may be a generation that lacks focus, a generation that does not know how to day dream, a generation that does not understand the value of spending time with their own thoughts. Who knows, without boredom would we have the advancements that we have today. Without boredom, we might not have the ideas that have provided innovation and made our nation great. A simple look at the material handling industry and it is easy to see that it is only the long thoughtful process that was common in past generations we might not have all of the innovative designs that have made our manufacturing industries more safe and more productive. From wire rope slings to various kinds of rigging supplies, the safety of many in the work force may indeed be the result of the thoughtful consideration of someone who today might simply decide to check a cell phone update, rather than consider further safety advancements.
The Material Handling Industry Relies on Safety Measures to Protect Both Products and People
Boredom can lead to productivity, but today’s manufacturing workers need to make sure that their boredom does not lead to negligence. Paying attention to the detailed safety requirements for a variety of tasks allows workers to perform mundane tasks safely.
- OSHA uses a three step process of plan, provide, and train to prevent dangerous falls and save lives.
- Worker illnesses and injuries are down, moving from 10.9 incidents for every 100 workers in 1972 to 3.4 incidents for every 100 workers in 2011.
- Safety nets can be used to lesson fall exposure when employees are working in situations where temporary floors and scaffolds are not used, and when the fall distance exceeds 25 feet.
- During the testing of all fall arrest systems, a test weight of 300 pounds, plus or minus five pounds, should be used, according to OSHA.
