Inspection hatches perform a vital function on production lines across the world, helping manufacturers comply with health & safety regulations at the same time as maximising productivity. They’re not only used in manufacturing. Inspection door access hatches are widely used in the mining, energy and food processing sectors and many other industries.

It’s because of the important role they play in so many industrial and commercial settings that we’ve chosen to focus on inspection door access hatches today. Whether you’re in oil & gas, mining, manufacturing, food processing or another industry, today’s guide is sure to come in handy.

The Importance of Safety in Industrial Environments

Before we look at how inspection door access hatches improve safety and efficiency in industrial settings, let’s take a moment to consider why safety in particular is so important in all types of industrial environments.

  • Avoiding Employee Injuries – Reducing the occurrence of injuries in the workplace benefits both employers and employees. Employees benefit from working in a safer environment, and employers benefit from a healthier workforce. 
  • Protecting Your Reputation – The reputation that your organisation has worked so hard to build over the years should never be taken for granted. If it is tarnished, your business could fail. One way to protect your company’s reputation is to make the workplace safer for all employees.
  • Fulfilling Legal and Moral Obligations – Companies have a legal and moral obligation to provide employees with a safe workplace and to ensure the safety of all visitors to their facilities. Failure to meet this obligation could have devastating consequences.
  • Encouraging a Positive Atmosphere – Employees who see more stringent safety measures implemented in the workplace are likely to feel more valued. By creating a safe, caring atmosphere in the workplace, your organisation can encourage workers to be more positive and more productive.

There are many reasons to pay close attention to safety, but those listed above are the most important in our opinion. One of the best ways to start a new safety campaign in an industrial setting is by installing inspection door access hatches in appropriate locations.

How Inspection Hatches Improve Workplace Safety

Inspection door access hatches help improve workplace safety in industrial environments in several key ways:

  • Physical Barrier for Hands – If you’ve worked on production lines for any length of time, you don’t need us to tell you how important it is to protect workers’ hands in manufacturing and processing facilities. Inspection door access hatches help prevent workers from injuring themselves by inserting their hands into dangerous machinery. 
  • Reduction of Dust in Air – A well-designed inspection hatch will help stop the accumulation of fines on the interior access door, thereby reducing air pollution in the workplace. With cleaner air to breathe, your employees will be healthier and happier. A further benefit of cleaner air that’s not directly related to safety is an HVAC system that won’t have to work quite so hard in the future.
  • Protection From Flying Debris During Inspections – Numerous accidents have been caused by flying debris in industrial processing and manufacturing facilities over the years, especially when engineers are inspecting fast-moving machinery. Many of these accidents could have been prevented by installing sturdy inspection door access hatches.

These are the primary ways in which inspection door access hatches improve workplace safety in many industries and commercial sectors.

Enhancing Efficiency and Productivity

By fitting high-quality inspection hatches in strategic locations, you can make significant efficiency and productivity improvements in your manufacturing or industrial processing facility.

  • Fewer Interruptions for Maintenance and Inspection Purposes – Inspection hatches make it easy for maintenance engineers to take a look at vital components without stopping production. This is a really important benefit for companies running busy manufacturing facilities where lost time costs a lot of money.
  • Less Downtime for Repairs – Some basic repairs can also be completed through inspection hatches, reducing the time required to get faulty machinery back up and running. When you’re trying to complete an urgent order and running all lines flat out, faster repair times could make all the difference.
  • Reduced Labour Costs – With faster repairs and maintenance inspections, you’ll be able to reduce your labour costs too. For companies that are operating in highly competitive markets, this benefit alone makes inspection door access hatches a must-have.
  • Extended Service Life for Production Machinery – When your maintenance team can perform regular inspections without interrupting the working day, they will be better able to care for your machinery, thereby extending its service life.

There’s no doubt that inspection door access hatches can have a major impact on workplace productivity and overall efficiency.

Choosing the Right Inspection Hatch for Your Industry

While there’s no doubt that well-placed inspection hatches will benefit your organisation and its employees, the benefits you enjoy will be somewhat reduced if the wrong type of hatches are chosen. With this in mind, we recommend that you consider the following factors before making any purchases.

  • Materials – Inspection hatches are made from various materials, including steel, aluminium and polycarbonate. It’s crucial to choose the right material for each application.
  • Size and Design – The size and design of each inspection hatch you install need to be carefully considered. A door that’s too small or designed in a way that makes it difficult to open when a production line is running will be of little use to your maintenance team.
  • Special Features – If you need an airtight inspection hatch or one that can withstand unusually high temperatures, don’t forget to mention these requirements when sourcing quotes.

Choose the right inspection hatches, and you’ll enjoy all the benefits they offer. Choose the wrong ones, and you’ll soon need to replace them, wasting money in the process.

Final Thoughts

Well-designed, well-specified inspection door access hatches should be installed in all modern manufacturing and industrial facilities as the benefits they offer are significant. If you need to install inspection hatches in your facility in Australia, contact Bend Tech Group to discuss your requirements. We have a range of high-quality models which can be customised to meet your specific needs.