Ensuring maintenance safety for technicians

Due to the nature of their jobs, maintenance technicians are exposed to many risks. Outsourcing maintenance makes managing their safety even more complex.

Being exposed to toxic fumes, radiation, high-voltage and pressurized equipment present various health risks. In addition, parts can be heavy to carry and difficult to disassemble and reassemble. Technicians are also asked to work in cramped or poorly lit spaces.

According to an article in the American Machinist, tasks that are performed repeatedly “can have long-term effects on the health of the technician”. Being forced into compromising positions for extended periods of time not only impacts them physically, but mentally as well.

Stressful situations

Outsourcing comes with additional problems

Maintenance outsourcing, which has accelerated in recent years, increases risk exposure even more. Maintenance technicians aren’t always familiar with the facilities they’re working at and haven’t always received specific maintenance technician training on-site safety. In addition, the lack of communication between customers and field service providers makes things difficult. They aren’t always given all the facts about the context of the service required.

Field service technicians can only determine the results of equipment breakdowns and the risks to which they are exposed after they’ve arrived on-site. They can also be the victims of untimely equipment startups by production teams who aren’t aware of their presence.

Here are some tips to help prevent accidents from happening in the field.

Occupational Safety: A Priority for Maintenance Workers

Occupational safety for maintenance workers is paramount in any work environment. These professionals often deal with high-risk activities, involving maintenance technician tools and equipment that require specific safety procedures to mitigate potential hazards. Maintenance technicians, for instance, need to adhere to safe work protocols when dealing with any piece of equipment, from the simplest to the most complex machinery.

To maintain workplace safety, protective measures such as the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) are essential. The correct PPE can safeguard maintenance workers from a multitude of risks, such as physical, chemical, and biohazards. PPE could include helmets, technician safety goggles, gloves, boots, and more, depending on the nature of the maintenance operations.

Mental Health Support for Maintenance Technicians

Maintenance technicians experience stressful working conditions; they work under time pressure, long working hours, and come across harmfully exposed materials. These factors can cause stress and burnout, affecting mental capacity. To overcome this, organizations should incorporate effective mental health and well-being initiatives. These programs could include: 

• Support Systems: Providing technicians with opportunities to receive counseling, stress management workshops, and mental health days can go a long way toward improving their mental health.
• Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs): EAPs offer technicians anonymous assistance with personal and/or professional concerns and help control stress levels.

Implementing these support systems into field service management software supports technicians with notifications when such resources are available.

Preventive Maintenance: Ensuring Safety and Efficiency 

Preventive maintenance is another critical component of workplace safety. Regular inspection and upkeep of field service management tools and equipment are necessary to ensure their optimal and safe operation. By performing routine checks, maintenance teams can identify and rectify any issue before it escalates into a significant hazard.

Besides safeguarding the health and safety of maintenance workers, preventive maintenance also helps protect equipment and prolong its lifespan. The process involves regular inspections, replacements, repairs, and calibrations, which can enhance the performance of the technician’s equipment and minimize the risk of sudden breakdowns or malfunctions.

Adapting to Emerging Technologies

Embracing New Technologies for Enhanced Safety

Industrial maintenance safety is another area that is changing rapidly due to the introduction of new technologies. Maintenance technicians must be ready to face these changes to guarantee continuous technician safety and effectiveness.

• Training on New Tools: Ongoing field service management training and certification in new field service technologies like IoT, AI, and automation are necessary. Technicians must be knowledgeable on these tools to work with them safely, ensuring not only their physical well-being but also operational security and data integrity.

• Safety with Robotics and Automation: Employment in an environment with complex robotic systems entails compliance with specific safety measures. Field service technicians should be educated on the dangers of such technologies and how to avoid them.

Emergency Preparedness and Response

Developing Robust Emergency Protocols

Maintenance safety is critical in industries involving emergency preparedness. Corporate emergency response plans are essential as they help avoid expanding minor problems into significant crises.

• Creating Comprehensive Plans: Create detailed contingency plans for certain types of emergencies, such as equipment failure or chemical leakage. These plans should include the procedure and duties of every team member.
• Regular Drills and Training: Maintain a schedule for practicing emergency drills and training technicians. Field service management software can help plan and log such protocols.

Improving Maintenance: Towards a Safer Work Environment

Improving maintenance activities is a proactive approach to fostering a safer work environment. Investing in field service management training and education for maintenance teams can help instill a deeper understanding of safety procedures and the ability to identify potential hazards. Moreover, utilizing technology like maintenance management software can assist in field service scheduling regular inspections, tracking maintenance activities, and ensuring compliance with safety standards.

Workplace safety for maintenance workers involves a holistic approach, from adhering to safe working procedures and wearing appropriate PPE to implementing preventive maintenance strategies. By prioritizing the safety of maintenance technicians, businesses can not only create a safer work environment but also enhance operational efficiency.

1. STRENGTHEN COMMUNICATIONS WITH CUSTOMERS

A field service management solution like Praxedo keeps the lines of communication permanently open and can send safety instructions for each site directly through the technician’s smartphone.

Information on the service contract that describes risk prevention measures that have been implemented can also be sent in real-time. For example, the contract could indicate that field service technicians must always be accompanied by an in-house employee. Or, that techs are contractually obliged to wear protective clothing, gloves, safety shoes, glasses, and other equipment.

With Praxedo, job history can be pulled up on their mobile devices using the field service mobile app, so that they know the work that was performed on a piece of equipment beforehand. This helps them better prepare for the job at hand.

2. CONSIDER PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE

An intelligent scheduling tool is a key component in planning preventive maintenance visits. Protective measures are planned in advance, organized and standardized to reduce the risk of accidents or exposure.

MSC Direct recommends a maintenance plan particularly for technicians in manufacturing. In fact, it highlights how “maintenance that is planned and scheduled is by nature less risky than middle-of-the-night emergency repairs”. 

Praxedo field service management software allows field service managers to predefine a maintenance plan so that urgent calls are avoided. Emergency equipment breakdowns don’t only cost more, but also put field technicians in dangerous situations. They may not be working at their full potential when they are dispatched during the night. Moreover, darkness adds a layer of complexity if the technician is working outside.

3. CREATE A RISK PREVENTION PLAN

Maintenance providers and their customers must share responsibilities for safety management. If maintenance operations are recurring or considered dangerous, labor codes require a prevention plan based on a risk assessment.

A risk management plan is designed to guide the company and project team members on how the plan will be executed. There are usually specific methodologies to follow, a breakdown on risks and how to respond to them, roles and responsibilities of each team member, funding information and schedules, among others.

Associations that represent maintenance engineers, such as The Society for Maintenance & Reliability Professionals (SMRP) offer numerous tools, guidance, and best practices to help reach the goal of zero risk. They have a workplace safety program in place, provided by OSHA, in which regular communications are sent to members, access to training is provided, and the promotion of dialogue between employees at work is actively encouraged.

Technology is driving technician health and safety at work

Technician safety improvements in field service are highly due to technological advancements. Service companies that use mobile field service management tools contribute to a safer work environment for their employees. Field service management software provides an avenue to communicate more reliably and plan recurring maintenance visits for safer practices on the job.