What Are the Different Types of Industrial Plants?
Millions of Americans work in the manufacturing industry and thus in several kinds of industrial plants. These facilities, however, can be quite dangerous; a significant number of workers are hurt every year while on the job.
Avoiding injuries at industrial plants begins by understanding the dangers they face every day on the job. It is also important for workers to know their rights if they are hurt at work, no matter what type of plant or environment they work in.
Although all industrial plants share certain similarities and common characteristics, each also comes with its own set of dangers and risks. In many respects, these hazards are inherent and immovable. Nonetheless, owners of these plants have a legal obligation to make these working environments as safe as possible for their employees.
Five of the most common types of industrial plants in the United States include the following:
Power Plants
A power plant converts an energy source (like coal or nuclear energy) into electricity to provide to businesses and residences. The fuel itself can be hazardous, though, as is the case with nuclear materials. Generators and other machinery also pose a risk of electrocution, electrical burns, and crushing injuries to workers.
Manufacturing Plants
All manufacturing plants take raw materials and fashion them into more refined products that are then sold to users. The specific dangers at these plants depend on what is being manufactured.
For example:
- Chemical burns are a danger at plants that work with hazardous chemicals
- Thermal burn hazards are present at steel mills and other places where products are made at high heat
- Automotive plants present a risk of crushing injuries to workers who are caught between the heavy machines used to move vehicle components
- The machines that textile plants use to make their products can also lead to crushing injuries
In all cases, plant owners must train their employees how to safely handle the materials they are using and provide workers with adequate safety equipment.
Pharmaceutical Plants
Certain manufacturing facilities produce prescription and non-prescription drugs. Unlike some manufacturing plants, though, pharmaceutical plants must operate under strict guidelines designed to maintain a sterile environment; some of the substances used can be dangerous if they are not handled or labeled properly.
Warehouses
A warehouse does not manufacture or produce goods but instead stores and ships those produced at other locations. These plants use forklifts and other machines to move goods in and out of storage, which means workers here are at risk of being struck by one of these machines while taking care of other tasks.
Forklifts and similar machines can also leak oil, hydraulic fluid, or other substances that can present slip and fall hazards. Likewise, goods that fall to the floor are also a danger to unsuspecting workers paying attention to other matters.
Metal Fabrication Plants
Finally, metal shops are plants wherein large sheets of metal are cut and shaped for use in products like cars, heavy machinery, or buildings. These plants often use lasers or other tools to make precise cuts, which can also easily cut through the skin and bones of workers who are not careful.
Get Legal Help if You’re Injured While Working at an Industrial Plant
No matter the type of industrial plant you work at, your employer must make efforts to inform you of the dangers present at that facility and train you on how to avoid them. If you are hurt on the job, you could be entitled to compensation depending on the cause and severity of your injury.
