10 Workplace Safety Tips for Manufacturing – and How Cintas Can Help

There’s nothing more crucial than workplace safety in a manufacturing plant Taking your eye off that ball can lead to injury, lost days of production, even death. It’s something you know well, but in the day-to-day juggling of operational issues, staffing, training, budgeting and more, are you doing everything you can to keep your facility safe?

Read on for 10 easy-to-implement – and easy-to-keep – tips and routines that can help you keep safety as your top priority.

1. Start Every Day with a Safety Huddle

Set the tone with a 10-minute (or less) safety huddle at the start of the workday. This quick touch base with your team can be done standing up right at the heart of the facility. Topics discussed might include:

• Reviewing safety procedures
• Reinforcing safety culture
• Identifying potential hazards
• Reviewing near-misses from the previous day
• Highlighting PPE protocol

A safety huddle accomplishes several goals, from shining a daily spotlight on safety, to creating an opportunity for staff to ask questions or share safety concerns. Following a structured format helps keep the huddle focused and encourages open communication.

2. Dress for the Task: Uniforms and PPE

Next, it’s time to outfit your team with the gear and training they need to help them stay protected. Uniforms can be a trusted asset in getting work done efficiently and comfortably. Look for workwear that meets the specific needs of your facility. Your team can benefit from details like:

• Vented clothing and breathable fabrics
• Storage pockets
• Durable and reinforced fabrics
• Women’s cuts

Keep in mind hi-vis, e-vis or flame resistant (FR) workwear too for those employees who work in maintenance or with substances like metals or chemicals. The innovative features found in these categories can help protect your team from injury while helping to keep them cool and comfortable.

Talk to Cintas about PPE options, like fitted respirators, chemical resistant gloves, eye and face protection and protective clothing such as Tyvek® coveralls. The professionals at Cintas can help you gather information about other important protective assets like safety signage that clearly communicates necessary details, and eyewash stations that can quickly flush chemicals from eyes and prevent injury.

3. Maintain Clean, Dry Floors with Mat Services

A safer workplace starts right beneath your feet. Look for floor mats specifically designed to help cut down on tracked dirt, salt, leaves and sand, or mats that can help absorb water. Cintas WellnessMats® help reduce fatigue and discomfort and are preferred by 95% of people over standard anti-fatigue mats. You can count on Cintas Xtraction® Mats for water absorption that helps to keep floors cleaner and drier.

With regular mat service from Cintas, your floormats are picked up, laundered and returned clean and ready for whatever the workday brings.

4. Store Tools and Equipment Properly

A cluttered workspace can be an accident waiting to happen. When tools are left scattered around work areas or equipment isn't returned to its designated spot, it creates trip hazards and makes it harder to find what you need when you need it. Develop a system where every tool has a home and make it easy for workers to put things back where they belong. Consider shadow boards for frequently used tools or mobile carts that can move with the work. The few extra minutes spent organizing at the end of each shift can prevent injuries and save time in the long run.

5. Label Hazards Clearly

Your workers shouldn't have to guess what's dangerous. Clear, visible labeling helps everyone identify potential hazards quickly, whether it's a chemical storage area, a piece of hot equipment, or a zone with moving machinery. Use simple language that everyone can understand and consider using internationally recognized symbols alongside text. Don't forget to update labels when conditions change, as that temporary repair might not be so temporary anymore. Good labeling is especially important for new employees or contractors who aren't familiar with your facility.

6. Keep First Aid Kits Stocked and Accessible

Provide your employees with relief from minor cuts and scrapes when you keep your first aid cabinet stocked and ready. Bandages, antibiotic ointment, gauze, tape and wraps are the foundation for basic first aid.

Make sure first aid cabinets are easy to find and reach. They shouldn't be locked away or buried behind other equipment. Different work areas might need different supplies too. A welding area might need burn gel, while a packaging area might need more bandages for cuts. Build a custom first aid cabinet with Cintas and restock based on the products that suit the needs of your facility. Plus, a Cintas professional provides regular checks of your first aid cabinet, making sure you never run out of what you need.

One final but important detail: One final but important detail: provide your employees with instructor-led first aid training from Cintas so there's always someone available who knows what to do in case of an injury.

7. Stay Fire Code Compliant

Fire codes aren't just red tape. They're based on real-world disasters and designed to keep people safe. Here’s a short list to help:

• Conduct regular inspections to help catch problems before they become emergencies.
• Keep exit routes clear and well-lit.
• Maintain your sprinkler or suppression systems.
• Make sure fire extinguishers are charged and accessible (and make sure they match the specific risks of your facility). Routine inspection is important to help make sure your fire extinguishers are ready.
• Don't let storage areas creep into walkways or block emergency exits.
• Consider a fire monitoring system, which can come with round-the-clock remote observation, saving crucial minutes and notifying first responders when no one is in the building.

If you're making changes to your facility or processes, check with local fire officials to make sure you're still in compliance. What seems like a minor modification could have major safety implications.

8. Promote Ergonomic Lifting Practices

Back injuries are among the most common workplace injuries, and they can sideline good employees for weeks or months. OSHA says, “In 2025, workplace injuries continue to be a major concern across multiple industries, with construction work facing the highest risk. Back injuries, in particular, have reached crisis levels.”

Teaching proper lifting techniques is important, but it's just part of the solution. Look at your processes and see where you can eliminate heavy lifting altogether through mechanical aids, conveyors, or redesigned workflows. When manual lifting is necessary, emphasize team lifts for heavy items and proper technique: squat, don't bend; keep the load close to your body; avoid twisting while lifting. Long periods of sitting or standing, overexertion, and poor posture are all common culprits in contributing to back pain, says OSHA.

Find a variety of ergonomic back support products and training services at Cintas to help keep employees safe.

9. Report Incidents Promptly

Near misses and minor incidents are valuable learning opportunities, but only if people feel comfortable reporting them. Create a culture where reporting problems is seen as helping the team, not tattling. When someone reports an incident, follow up quickly and let them know what actions you're taking. This shows that their concerns are taken seriously and encourages others to speak up. Sometimes a small incident points to a bigger problem that could cause a serious injury down the line. The goal isn't to assign blame, but to prevent future incidents.

10. Encourage Ongoing Training

Safety training shouldn't be a one-and-done event during orientation. Regular refresher training helps keep safety practices top of mind, and new employees benefit from ongoing mentorship from experienced workers. Consider short, focused training sessions on specific topics rather than marathon sessions that people may tune out. Hands-on training often works better than classroom lectures. When you introduce new equipment or processes, make sure everyone gets proper training before they start using them.

Cintas offers a host of engaging training options, from fire prevention and response, to forklift safety, to PPE and more to help support your safety and compliance efforts.

We hope this guide is a helpful place to start – or recalibrate – your safety and compliance focus. The team at Cintas is here to partner with you to keep things running smoothly. Contact us to learn more today.