Thoughts on wearing bump caps when cleaning underneath equipment?
We are a dry food manufacturing facility. Recently we had a team member bump there head on a piece of equipment well cleaning underneath equipment. The question has come up that maybe we should have them where bump caps each time we are doing a wet wash/changeover so when cleaning underneath equipment this is avoided. What are any ones thoughts on this.
Thank you in advance
Stacy
We are a dry food manufacturing facility. Recently we had a team member bump there head on a piece of equipment well cleaning underneath equipment. The question has come up that maybe we should have them where bump caps each time we are doing a wet wash/changeover so when cleaning underneath equipment this is avoided. What are any ones thoughts on this.
Thank you in advance
Stacy
Requiring bump caps are a good idea. However, only requiring them to wear them the person is doing a specific job - you'll need to think of a few things.
Such as where are you going to store them. Will each employee get their own bump cap.
Bump caps are one thing very few people at my job didn't object too when we made everyone wear one. (Change usually brings many complaints).
They are a color based system. They call out different departments plus management and supervisors. The supervisors are the ones that really liked them.
All of our sanitation crew wears bump caps and they are hung on hooks with the other sanitation equipment --they go under equipment alot
i have worked in other places where only certain areas/departments require them
Make sure they are on a sanitation schedule
Bump caps are common in plants where there is the possibility of your scenario. Many food plants require them to be worn all the time. I dont see any reason not to.
I've hit my head at our place, as have others. Only happens once tho, lol. Hurts like hell, so you remember not to do it again. We've had hard hats since before my time here, and they're available if someone wants one, but we don't force anyone to. Haven't seen one worn in my time here... almost 15 years.
But this could easily be why all my coworkers seem to be idiots. Too much head knockin goin on....
If it's unavoidable to get underneath equipment when cleaning them it would be a good idea to require bump caps. Basically you should look at what employees are required to do to complete their tasks and assess whether there are opportunities to get bumped on the head. Cleaning under equipment, tight spaces with low-hanging pipes, or working in vertical spaces where materials/tools may fall to the level below are common reasons to start having crews wear bump caps.
Our entire sanitation team wears them, no other department does as they don't consistently have to travel under equipment
Ensure if using, that they are on a sanitation schedule