Injuries Commonly Obtained From Improper Metal Fabrication

Given the kind of material that metals are, sustaining injuries when handling them is very likely if proper safety precautions are not observed. Employees who are working in metal fabrication industries are expected to be more cautious in their day-to-day tasks so that they can better protect themselves from various metalwork related injuries.

But the problem stems from the fact that some metal workers tend to be too confident in what they do - if they have been on the job for quite some time now, the risks and various safety precautions can possibly be taken for granted. This makes them more susceptible to the different metalwork related hazard which, needless to say, no one wants.

That’s why it’s important to promote awareness of these risks so that they can be avoided better and that workplace safety is observed. Read on to understand what the typical injuries are and how you can avoid them.

Injuries obtained from improper handling of material

The handling of materials, as simple as it may sound, can result in a mere sprain or other musculoskeletal-related injuries if it isn’t done properly. But in worse scenarios, this can result in complications such as an injury in the intervertebral disc. Injuries sustained from improper handling of material may be commonly due to the improper lifting of heavy objects - in this case, metal.

But apart from improper lifting, there are other factors that sometimes cause these types of injuries. To be more specific, exposure to vibrations and awkward positioning over extended periods of time can result into the same type of energy.

It’s important that metalworkers are familiar with the different ways that metals are handled and lifted, they avoid exposing themselves to vibrations over long periods of time, and that they observe proper posture when they are working so that chronic injuries such as repetitive strain injury, occupational overuse syndrome, to name a few, can be avoided.

Injuries from improper use of hand tools

In most metal workshops, various hand equipment is being used to get things done. But these pose another set of hazards that can lead to serious injuries in the metal fabrication process. Just like the injuries sustained from improper handling of materials, improper hand tool usage can also lead to a variety of musculoskeletal injuries which can impair and damage the functionality and structure of one’s hand.

These injuries can potentially result in various chronic disorders such as wrist tendonitis or an inflammation of the wrist tendons, carpal tunnel syndrome which causes numbness or weakness in the hand, and more.

Welders, for example, are prone to a variety of health and safety hazards such as handling extremely heavy equipment, exhibiting awkward posture, prolonged exposure to the bright light emitted by the welding arc, and more. Since welders are gripping an electrode holder, the chances of them inhaling the dangerous fumes from the welding process are high. This can cause a series of pulmonary problems which can be avoided if the room they are working in are well ventilated.

Injuries sustained through the lack of protective equipment

In most metal fabrication workshops, access to certain areas and rooms are often limited to promote safety. These can span from a physical barrier that can be placed and removed when necessary, all the way to an automatic sensor that detects whenever someone is close to a dangerous area or equipment.

If these measures are not in place, various functionalities that are meant for metals can be inflicted upon human flesh, such as an entrapment of a worker’s fingers into a metal cutter.

When it comes to metal handling, it is important to be aware of the various hazards present so that they can be avoided, such as injuries that a metal worker can get from improper handling of various metal materials, not observing the proper use of various hand tools or equipment, and injuries that arise from the lack of protective equipment or guards. Additionally, it’s also best if metalworkers go through different safety courses and various training.

Hence, a consideration to be made would be the ”Workplace Safety and Health in Metalwork (MSOC)" course. It’ll help metal workers get a better grasp at their line of work and the potential risks that are present – bolstering safety, awareness, and productivity altogether.