Workplace safety for production and workshops

A production hall or engineering workshop is an environment where risk cannot be hidden in paperwork. There are machines with moving parts, noise, chemicals, material handling and usually welding as well. The list of duties is longer than in an office, but it is finite and you can work through it.

What you need from your first employee

• initial OSH training and refresher training at least every two years (Section 7(1) and (5) of Act No. 124/2006 Coll.),
• a written risk assessment document and a list of PPE provided (Section 6(1)(c) and (d) of Act No. 124/2006 Coll.),
• occupational health service and work categorisation (Section 21(3) of Act No. 124/2006 Coll.),
• fire protection training and fire protection documentation (Section 22 of Decree No. 121/2002 Coll., Section 9(2) of Act No. 314/2001 Coll.),
• records and reporting of occupational accidents under Section 17 of Act No. 124/2006 Coll.

Machines and their guarding

For every machine you need the operating manual in the national language, a risk assessment of that machine, working guards and interlocks, accessible emergency stops and designated, instructed operators. Machines placed on the EU market must bear CE marking and have a declaration of conformity; the framework for accreditation and market surveillance is set by Regulation (EC) No 765/2008. A guard removed "because it is faster that way" is the most common inspection finding and also the most common cause of finger amputations.

Local operating safety rules

For workplaces with machinery it pays to have written rules for each machine or group of machines: who may operate it, how it is started and shut down, what happens in case of a fault, who carries out maintenance and how the machine is secured against unintended start-up during repair. Without that, maintenance is carried out on machines that somebody switches on in the meantime.

Noise

In a hall you will almost always exceed the action values under Government Regulation No. 115/2006 Coll.: the lower exposure action value is 80 dB, the upper 85 dB and the limit value 87 dB for eight-hour exposure. From the lower action value you provide hearing protectors and inform employees; from the upper you ensure they are used, mark the area and address technical measures. Measurement and health surveillance through the occupational health service belong here too.

Chemical factors

Oils, cutting emulsions, degreasers, adhesives, paints and thinners fall under Government Regulation No. 355/2006 Coll. You need safety data sheets, an assessed risk, operating procedures for handling and storage, informed employees and health surveillance where the assessment shows it is needed.

Manual handling and ergonomics

Moving parts, lifting moulds and turning heavy pieces fall under Government Regulation No. 281/2006 Coll. on minimum safety and health requirements for the manual handling of loads. Assess weight, frequency, pick height and trunk rotation, and replace manual handling with equipment wherever possible.

Dedicated technical equipment

Compressors and pressure vessels, cranes and hoists, the electrical installation and gas equipment are dedicated technical equipment under Decree No. 508/2009 Coll. Group A and B equipment is subject to professional inspections and tests (Section 13) and to operation by a certified person where the decree requires it (Section 17). Hand-held power tools are inspected under STN 33 1630:2025, which replaced STN 33 1600 and STN 33 1610 on 1 May 2025, with parallel use until 1 May 2027.

Welding

Welding and cutting metal are activities with an increased risk of fire under Section 1(1) of Decree No. 121/2002 Coll. Outside a permanent welding station you need a permit, a fire watch and a check of the site after the work ends. The welder must hold a valid certificate and the workplace needs fume extraction.

Fire protection of the hall

Portable fire extinguishers in the quantity set by Section 9 of Decree No. 347/2022 Coll. checked once a year, hydrants under Section 15 of Decree No. 699/2004 Coll., preventive fire inspections under Section 14 of Decree No. 121/2002 Coll., clear escape routes and marking under Government Regulation No. 387/2006 Coll.

Ask for a quotation for your plant, tell us the number of employees and what machines you use.