Metal fabrication work isn’t for the faint-hearted. It can be a tough and dangerous job. However, implementing necessary fabrication safety measures is an easy way to decrease injuries and increase productivity.
Keep you and your employees safe by implementing the following safety measures.
Metal Fabrication Work Safety Measures
One of the best ways to learn how to make a work environment safer is by paying attention to the statistics. For example, knowing the most common metalworking injuries is the first step in preventing them in the future. These include cuts, abrasions, burns, strains, and eye injuries.
The fewer injuries you have to deal with in your shop, the quicker you’ll be able to complete projects and other orders.
1. Ensure Everyone is Well-Trained
First, start with a rigid training program for new employees. They may have completed all of their necessary courses and received all of the proper certifications, but every shop is unique.
Make sure they spend an adequate amount of time learning the ropes of their new work environment, shadowing seasoned fabricators, and understanding what the job entails.
2. Wear the Appropriate Protective Gear
One of the most essential fabrication work safety measures is making sure people are wearing all of the necessary protectives gear. Metal fabrication requires high-heat and high-pressure equipment. Without the proper protective gear, people can quickly get burned, cut, or worse.
This also includes making eye protection mandatory at all times. As eye injuries are one of the most common accidents in fabrication work, there’s no reason to risk it.
3. Use Equipment and Tools as Intended
Next, make sure everyone in the shop is using the machinery and tools as intended. Fabrication equipment is designed for specific purposes and specific materials. Using these tools for anything other than their intended purposes is a great way to damage expensive equipment or cause injuries in the workplace.
Additionally, make sure people are going the extra mile to ensure safety using their equipment. It may take an extra 10 minutes to secure safety clamps, but that’s better than a piece of metal being projected across the shop.
4. Stay Focused
Another common cause of injuries in a fabrication workshop is a simple lack of focus. Due to the nature of fabrication work, it requires your undivided attention. Being distracted while working with dangerous tools and machines could be a huge mistake.
Make sure your employees are staying on task and remaining focused. If you notice someone is distracted by anything (personal or professional reasons), address it immediately.
5. Encourage a Safe and Injury-Free Work Environment
Finally, people often need a little extra motivation to do things by the numbers. While cutting corners can seem like the right move to save time, it often leads to shoddy work or injuries.
Encourage your employees to stay safe and do things right by offering rewards at the end of each week or month if the workplace stays injury-free.
Be Prepared to Handle Accidents
No matter what protocols and policies you put into place, fabrication work is dangerous and will eventually lead to an injury. It may be a small cut or burn or something much more severe.
Regardless, being prepared to handle these situations is key to running a safe workshop. Make sure you have plenty of first aid gear on hand, including a defibrillator, just in case.
If your goal is to keep your workshop as safe and productive as possible, you need to make sure your equipment is up to par. Contact us if you’re looking for equipment repair or need any other products!