Commonly Occurring Metal Fabrication Mishaps and How to Avoid Them?

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Commonly Occurring Metal Fabrication Mishaps and
How to Avoid Them?
Working around metal fabrication tools can prove
to be dangerous sometimes. A little carelessness
can lead to major accidents. Especially when it
comes to tools like English wheels, it becomes
very difficult to manage if you do not know how
to use them in the right way. If you are an
amateur, you must follow some basic rules. But
before discussing the safety measures to follow,
we will talk about some of the most commonly
faced metal fabrication injuries.
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Common Mishaps Here are some of the mishaps that
can happen if you do not follow safety
measures Intervertebral disc injuries Not
handling material in the right way is one of the
biggest causes of injuries as it leads to
causing musculoskeletal problems, minor sprains
and intervertebral disc injuries. This happens
when you do not follow the right lifting
procedures, overlook the established protocols
and work for several hours at a
stretch. Musculoskeletal problems Different
types of tools are used for metal fabrication
projects. Sometimes, the tools used for these
projects have improper design whereas some of
them do not undergo proper maintenance. If you
use these tools for more than established hours
and utilize them in an improperly designed work
area, mishaps are sure to happen. For eg. Using
a welding machine for several hours can cause
musculoskeletal problems. Also, if the
ventilation at workplace is poor, it can expose
the welder to carbon monoxide or other toxic
substances.
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Hand injuries There are times when a workers
finger gets trapped in a machine. Sometimes, it
also results into losing a finger or hands. The
workshop areas for metal fabrication projects are
constructed in such a way that accidents can be
avoided. For this purpose, different types of
barriers are used. A guarding barrier also helps
to keep such injuries at bay. Safety
Measures Above mentioned are some of the
commonly occurring mishaps. Now let us take a
look at the safety measures you can take to
avoid them Undergo safety training Safety
training is must for each and every individual
involved in metal fabrication projects. Training
sessions for handling the equipment,
understanding occupational hazards and getting
acquainted with working conditions is must for
the personnel. The training session should also
involve providing information about safety
protocol to follow in order to avoid accidents.
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Check the working condition of tools It is very
important to examine the tools for malfunctioning
and make sure that they are working properly.
This is especially meant for manual tools. There
are times when the edges of pair of shears are
blunt, making it difficult for workers to cut a
metal sheet. When using a laser cutting machine,
it is also important to ensure that the laser
spare parts are in proper working condition.
Always use parts from well known brands, for
example, Mitsubishi laser parts. Maintaining the
right kind of security with large machinery is
also very important. Although this kind of
machinery is installed by the manufacturer, you
must be well acquainted with its features and use
it in a right way. Take precautionary
measures Some precautionary measures must be
followed if you want an injury free metal
fabrication project. For eg, The workers who are
responsible for pushing and pulling metal sheets
in the machine should not wear loose clothes or
accessories. This is because the sheet metal
becomes very hot and there are chances of
clothes getting trapped or burnt. Protective
gloves should also be worn while handling the
sheet metal.
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Wear safety gear If your workers are handling
sheet metal fabrication tools, they must wear
safety gear including goggles, gloves, hard hats
and safety shoes. Also neck and back must be
supported properly. This is because if there is
a back injury, it can last for several years. So
make sure you protect yourself from these
potential injuries. Follow the above mentioned
tips and they will definitely help you.
Remember, safety comes first!
About The Author Steve M Glassner is the General
manager of Alternative Parts Inc, the leading
manufacturer and distributor of various Amada
machine parts including LVD Strippit laser spare
parts and consumables. Steve is a Machine Tools
industry enthusiast and frequently writes about
various aspects of the industry.