Regulatory changes have a significant impact across an array of industries, including energy, waste management, manufacturing, agriculture, transportation and construction. As a result, many businesses are responding to these regulations by investing in new technologies and processes to improve outcomes and boost compliance. A willingness to embrace innovative approaches has become critical as industries strive to uphold and adapt to new standards.
The materials handling industry, like many sectors, can revolutionize its operations by embracing more sustainable innovations in response to recent regulatory changes. However, the successful implementation of these new processes and equipment, in compliance with updated regulations, requires a robust commitment to safety at every level.
Sustainability innovations
When it comes to materials handling, innovation may include implementing new recycling and waste reduction solutions and investing in updated equipment.
Most manufacturing processes yield byproducts, which many manufacturers have traditionally discarded as waste. However, many of these byproducts offer beneficial reuse opportunities in other industries. For example, slag from steel production is among the most repurposed byproducts with diverse applications that yield sustainable results. Slag can replace mined aggregate in asphalt production, keeping the slag out of landfills and reducing emissions associated with sourcing new materials.
Similarly, investments in new, innovative equipment may also reduce energy use and emissions associated with materials handling. New equipment can complement existing processes and improve the way materials are produced without changing the composition of those materials.
There are many innovative solutions for recycling and reducing waste and emissions in materials handling that allow producers to make their processes more sustainable and compliant with tightening regulations.
Innovating safely
Safety is a core pillar of a strong sustainability program. Companies that adopt innovative processes and equipment to make their materials handling operations more sustainable must also consider how they will ensure that employees interact safely with new processes and equipment.
Robust training on equipment and transformed processes is fundamental to achieving compliance when handling materials. Beginning with a foundational risk assessment, operations leaders can understand the risks and areas for improvement associated with employees using each piece of equipment in a process. Then, informed by the risk assessment, leaders can identify key parts of each process that require structured education and training programs.
Businesses are responsible for providing operators with training and resources that empower them to work safely. As processes and equipment change to adapt to tightening environmental regulations, businesses should evaluate their overarching safety cultures to ensure that all employees are committed to taking personal responsibility for the safety of themselves and their colleagues. Since operators are experts in the day-to-day activities associated with materials handling, their perspectives on the safety of processes are especially valuable. These insights can help shape effective protocols. When each employee is committed to safety, operators can drive continuous improvement, enhance risk assessments and actively maintain a safe work environment.
Safe operating procedures may be complex, which is why businesses use creative tools to improve compliance. For example, pictorials are visual aids that simplify safety guidelines and promote dynamic conversation and active engagement with safety protocols. Additionally, mandatory stop points at critical stages help workers remember to perform each step according to a safe operating procedure.
For some services like slag management or resource recovery, materials handling poses unique challenges due to the sheer weight of the items being moved and the high temperatures associated with handling finished products and byproducts. These conditions emphasize the importance of robust and up-to-date safety protocols to prevent potentially serious accidents. By adhering to safety regulations and updating protocols as needed, organizations can mitigate risks and create a safer working environment for all involved. Ultimately, safe operations support sustainability and compliance with evolving environmental regulations.
Supporting compliance with a safety culture
Safety and compliance with evolving environmental regulations go hand in hand. As companies innovate their processes and update their equipment to comply with stricter environmental regulations, they must update their safety protocols to minimize the risk of accidents and injuries. A comprehensive safety culture within an organization supports this ongoing innovation. When employees are attentive to protocols and have the resources they need – like visual aids, stop points and frequent, effective training – they are more prepared to adapt to changing procedures associated with more sustainable operations.
