While the nation is focused on highlighting the manufacturing sector as a way to celebrate the sector’s contributions to the national economy, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health talked about worker safety in the industry.
The organization explains that in 2022, workers were involved in 2.8 million incidents, resulting in 5,486 fatalities (from both illness and injuries).
Of these, over 300,000 incidents and 405 fatalities were in the manufacturing sector.
In an article from its director, John Howard M.D. says that “NIOSH is focused on protecting the manufacturing workforce from the many hazards they face, both known and emerging. Understanding how to protect manufacturing workers is vital to the NIOSH mission."
The article points out that manufacturing, unlike other industries, intersects with dozens of hazards including:
- Musculoskeletal disorders from repetitive motions, awkward postures, and high forces
- Respiratory illnesses from dusts and chemicals
- Hearing loss from noise and ototoxicants (chemicals that can cause hearing loss)
- Cancer and cardiovascular diseases from exposure to carcinogens and high stress environments
- Infectious diseases from other workers
The agency offers assistance through its NIOSH Manufacturing Program, to help define current needs, identify research priorities and provide recommendations to continue to reduce the potential for worker hazards.
The program focuses on several key areas;
(1) reviewing new prevention documents and guidance,
(2) advising on new research proposals, funded both internally and externally,
(3) listening to concerns of manufacturing workers, and (4) exploring new technologies.
This research leads to innovative prevention solutions that can help to keep workers safe. These innovative solutions can be simple and include programs like Research to Practice or Prevention through Design.