CNC: Making Your Manufacturing Facility Work For You

3 Safety Hazards That Can Lead To Injury During Metal Fabrication

by Pamela Hill

If you work in the industrial field and are looking to add metal fabrication to your list of acquired skills, your first course of action should be to educate yourself on proper fabrication safety. Fabrication can be an incredibly efficient method for molding your materials just how you like, but if you don't know what you're doing, serious injury could occur. Here are three potential safety hazards that you need to watch out for if you are going to go into the fabrication business.

Poor Ventilation

During the fabrication process, it's possible for the welder to come into contact with an unhealthy amount of carbon dioxide or other substances, as the process will naturally create some dangerous fumes. This could cause lung issues or even cause the welder to pass out in the middle of the work session, potentially falling on top of the grinder or other dangerous parts. It is critical that you always work in a room that is well-ventilated. If you don't have any windows to open, you need to buy a ventilation system at your local home improvement store.

Poor Guarding

Any piece of fabrication equipment will have some safety guards installed over the especially dangerous parts. These guards should remain intact on the machinery at all times when it is not in use. If you are going to add this equipment to an existing shop, you need to make the fabrication area off-limits to anyone who is not properly trained on how to remove and reinstall the safety guards.

Material Kickback

Due to the nature of fabrication, you will need to take steps to protect your body as well. In particular, every single person working at a fabrication station needs to have a pair of safety goggles on at all times. The material being used during fabrication can often fly off or "kick back" when it is pressed down to a grinder or other moving components. For this reason, it's also a good idea to always wear sturdy work boots and long sleeve clothing to protect your skin.

Even if you are adept at working in other industrial or manufacturing areas, special caution should be taken when beginning fabrication work. If you are not ready or do not have the resources to make a full commitment to fabrication safety, it might be best to delay your plans and hire a fabrication company for your next project instead. Reach out to a local fabrication company today for more information.

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