4 Occupational Risks When Metalworks Are not Handled Properly

Metalworks like welding come with a bunch of occupational risks and hazards that can be incurred if various safety precautions are not observed. As such, basic construction training is always necessary.

Most people are aware of common metalwork hazards such as eye injuries or cuts and abrasions. However, there are some safety hazards that tend to get overlooked but are just as prone to happen as the aforementioned ones.

To avoid these, it's best that metal workers are aware of these risks so that they can act accordingly to prevent these risks from happening.

Air contamination

There are two ways that metals contaminate the air–emission of harmful fumes through welding and rouge metallic sawdust. Welding is a type of metalwork that gives off gases that bear negative implications for the worker's overall health. Short-term exposure to these harmful gases can make the worker feel nauseated or dizzy. They can also experience some irritation in their eyes, nose and throat. If the exposure is prolonged, it can lead to a variety of serious conditions such as lung cancer. 

Metallic sawdust that contaminates the air and gets inhaled can also expose the worker to a series of lung complications such as Siderosis which is more commonly referred to as Welder's disease. To avoid these, make sure that your workers are handling metals in a well-ventilated area so that harmful gases don't build up to dangerous levels. Also, check the labels of the consumable welding products because these usually contain vital safety information that workers can follow.

Fire hazards from flammable materials

When a metal worker is welding, he or she needs to have ample space because welding arc splatters can sometimes go as far as 35 feet. If ample welding clearance is not observed and there are a lot of flammable materials such as dust surrounding the welding environment; the chance for an explosion is increased.

To ensure this does not happen, make sure that the welding space is thoroughly checked for any combustible materials before proceeding to weld. If there are flammable items present within the area, remove them so that the welding sparks would not start a fire.

Accidental electrocution

Given that metals are big conductors for electric energy, the risks for electrocution is raised when it comes to metalwork. Workers who are not aware of this risk can easily touch live electrical components which can lead to serious burns or an electric shock.

To make sure that this does not happen, be sure that your workers have insulated equipment before handling metals that are potentially electric. Also, see to it that they are working in an area insulated by either plywood or rubber mats. 

Burns from hot metal

Just as metals are conductors of electricity, they are also good conductors of thermal energy. In a metal workshop, there is probably some heat going on somewhere for a variety of purposes. If your worker is not careful, he or she can accidentally touch a piece of metal that has been exposed to extreme heat levels. It doesn't even necessarily have to be fire since exposure to direct sunlight is enough to make a metal sheet hot enough to cause some serious burns. 

In this scenario, providing your metal workers with high-quality insulated gloves goes a long way with regards to protecting them from burning their fingers when handling metals at high temperatures. This will also give them some level of protection from getting a cut from handling thinner metals.

Metalworks require the proper skills and knowledge not just to assure that the job gets done effectively, but also to make sure that various equipment and tools are handled safely. As such, taking up safety courses play a huge role in bolstering employee well-being when a worker is equipped with the right skills and knowledge.

Hence, one can consider encouraging a worker to take up the ”Workplace Safety and Health in Metalwork (MSOC)" course. If metal workers are aware of the various hazards present in metalwork, they can better protect themselves from getting serious health complications from inhaling contaminated air, setting an entire metal workshop on fire, getting accidentally electrocuted, or burning their skin.