Field engineers face a variety of hazards on the job. Since that’s the case, taking steps to ensure your safety is essential. In recognition of National Safety Month, here are seven safety tips specifically for field engineers.
1. Actively Engage in Safety Training
Safety training gives you a strong foundation, ensuring you’re aware of hazards you’ll encounter and how to navigate various situations. Whenever training is offered, strive to actively engage.
Take notes, ask questions, and focus, ensuring you absorb the material. Also, request supplementary documentation, review labels of any discussed materials, and take other steps to gather information whenever possible.
2. Use Your Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
PPE requirements are in place for a reason; they help prevent injuries on the job. As a first step, check your PPE regularly to ensure it’s in good repair. If you have any doubts about the equipment, get a replacement immediately.
Then, whenever you’re on a job site, make sure you wear all of the required PPE for the environment. Keep it on until you leave the hazardous area, ensuring you’re appropriately protected.
3. Have Backup PPE for Remote Worksites
If you’re headed to a remote worksite and aren’t sure if you’ll have access to extra supplies, consider bringing backup PPE with you. While some locations may have spares available, others won’t. Since that’s the case, it’s best to have your own backups. Then, if anything is damaged while you’re there, you can switch out the gear quickly, allowing you to remain productive.
4. Choose the Right Attire for the Job
Your clothing plays a significant role in the safety equation. Ideally, you want the clothing to be loose enough to support full movement but tight enough that it won’t get caught on equipment, tools, and more. Additionally, sticking with pants and long-sleeved shirts is often wise, as it protects your skin against abrasions.
For materials, choose natural fabrics like cotton whenever possible. Since natural materials breathe, they can prevent overheating while also drying quickly if the fabric gets damp.
5. Have Basic Tools on You at All Times
Having essential tools at the ready can improve safety in a number of ways. First, it allows you to address common issues quickly, keeping the machinery running correctly. Second, it limits the need to walk back and forth across the job site, potentially exposing you to fewer hazards during your workday.
6. Familiarize Yourself with the Job Site
Knowing your surroundings – including the location of equipment and how traffic moves through the facility – can improve safety. You’ll be able to plan the safest and quickest routes. Plus, you’ll be able to find critical spots, like the location of emergency stop buttons, with greater ease.
Similarly, being familiar with exits, restrooms, and water sources allows you to get to what you need in the most efficient way possible. You’ll also be more comfortable navigating the space during an emergency, which makes a difference.
7. Take Your Breaks
Breaks are critical for any active job, particularly if you can’t bring water with you out into the main worksite area. Along with giving you a chance to rest and cool off, breaks are an opportunity to rehydrate and grab some food, keeping your energy levels up and ensuring your health.
Get in Touch with Our Recruiting Team
Ultimately, all seven of the safety tips for field engineers above can help you remain healthy at work. If you’d like to learn more, the team at Selectek wants to hear from you. Contact us today.
