Tomes of rules and regulations, best practices touted from professionals around every corner, but what ultimately is the right way to go forward in your business? Each week, we collect interesting ideas and practical articles to spark some inspiration. This week we have thoughts on accident prevention and often misunderstood OSHA regulations, next to the potential of IIOT and an interesting webinar on offer.

Accident prevention not as obvious as it seems

A UK study showed that non-fatal injuries have declined steadily for the past five years, whereas fatal accidents have stayed about the same. Martin Dean, on The Manufacturer, tried to get to the bottom of this strange difference. He discovered that companies still make the same mistakes when it comes to analyzing accidents and injuries, for example not taking into account near-accidents enough. Another problem is handling safety as something that exists outside of the regular business objectives and company culture. Luckily, Mr. Dean also gives a lot of insights into the elimination of these problems. Recognize any of them or want to make sure you don’t fall into the same traps? Go here and be on top of accident prevention!

Implementing IIOT: the challenges

The Industrial Internet of Things is opening doors to a wealth of possibilities for businesses worldwide, but it’s not easy to see all of the possibilities or even really grasp how it can be beneficial for your business. Cost is also a factor that may seem daunting, but Guneet Bedi outlines compelling arguments on manufacturing.net on why IIOT is worth the investment, as long as you are able to analyze the risks and ensure that you know which problems are best tackled using IIOT and in which way. Technology is not the be-all and end-all of businesses, but it’s a vital tool to reach your goals. Some quick tips: phrase your problems and questions as business problems, not tech problems, make sure you don’t only depend on the cloud, and engage the right partners to embark on a tech journey. Read it all in detail here.

LOTO procedures: getting it right

OSHA’s Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) rules are often violated, often because of misunderstanding or misinterpretation of the regulations. It may seem like the regulations deal with non-standard situations, but LOTO deals with everything concerning machine servicing and maintenance, and situations in which guards or safety devices are removed or overruled. In short, LOTO deals with high risk areas where accidents frequently happen. And these types of injuries aren’t temporary or easy to manage, they often incur life-changing disabilities. All the more reason to read up on LOTO regulations, and ensure everything is followed to a T. Luckily, David Sparkman on EHS Today clarifies any confusions that may exist about LOTO.

Webinar: 3D Printing in Production

IndustryWeek is hosting a one-hour webinar on the 9^th of October, sponsored by Formlabs, to talk about the ways in which 3D printing can optimize your workflow, reduce costs, and meet increasing customer demands. Join this webinar to find out how manufacturers everywhere are making use of 3D printing in ways that may not seem obvious at first, but which give them a competitive edge. Register for free here!

Thank you for reading. Find another one of these in two weeks for more bursts of inspiration, and in the meantime, if there’s anything you want to share, get in touch!