Metalforming Machinery Safety
by Mark Robins | 3 April 2023 12:00 am
Are you being as safe as you could be when using metalforming equipment?
There are many different types of metalforming equipment from cutting, shearing, welding, bending, folding, stamping, punching, grinding, assembling, etc., all of which come with their own set of safety considerations. What follows are some common scenarios and pieces of metalforming equipment as well as what your company or safety department could implement beyond basic OSHA requirements to be proactive when fabricating metal.
Shop and Working Environment
One of the biggest safety factors for any business that works with forming metal is the workspace. As opposed to field labor, conducting work in an organized, controlled shop environment out of the elements not only produces better quality work, but also safer staff. The layout of your shop is also important. Leave plenty of space in between pieces of machinery for materials and walking. Try to keep pieces of equipment that are used together or in succession, next to each other. This will keep the shop organized and prevent injury by not having to move materials as much. When material does have to be moved; however, try to use material carts instead of lifting and carrying items when possible. The key is ease of movement and less muscle strain.
Lasers, Brake Presses, CNC Machines, Rollers, Shears
Large pieces of cutting and bending equipment are some of the most common pieces of metalforming equipment. Along with standard equipment maintenance and inspections, make sure everything is well calibrated and sensors are working properly. Emergency stops are a great start to making metalforming equipment safer, but for added safety benefits, invest in things like foot pedal controls, auto shut-off mechanisms and automated machine delays. Common safety additions are light curtains, pressure sensor mats, or a combination of the two.
Got some old equipment? It might be time to make the move from manual equipment to automatic. You can reduce back and muscle strains by making a switch from a hand brake to a brake with automatic lower folding beams, for example. Technology has come a long way in the construction and fabrication industries, and every day there are new software updates or accessory pieces that can make business run faster and safer. Equipment add-ons we have found to be beneficial are adding an overhead crane to our 5-axis cutting machine and an automation table for our laser. If your metalforming shop has extremely large pieces of equipment that handle heavy or bulky pieces of metal, these two things will be a game-changer.
Grinders, Drills, Saws and Other Handheld Tools
Nearly everyone uses drills and other hand tools in metalforming. When it comes time to replace or purchase new equipment, invest in tools with ergonomic grips and consider factors like size, weight and features when making your purchasing decisions. Operators should inspect all their tools before each use and look for cuts, signs of significant drop damage, and also ensure factory pieces like guards, have not been broken, altered or removed.
Metal Painting and Finishing
When we think about safety, our minds immediately think about the safety of people, but there are systems in place that can also simultaneously help the environment. Another common part of metalforming is the process of adding a finish, whether it’s a chemical-assisted patina, paint, anodization or coating.
With these processes come the use of a lot of chemicals and a lot of water. If you are working with paints and patina finishes on your metalforming then you may want to consider getting a water recycler. This piece of equipment collects the water that was used to wash off chemicals, cleans it and recycles it to be used again for future rinse baths.
This is not only safer for the environment, but safer for people since it reduces the risks of chemical spills, breathing hazards and chemical-related injuries that come with collecting, transporting and disposing of large volumes of chemical liquids.
Aaron Erickson, Rachel Brorson and Greg Anderson are all on the Maplewood, Minn.-based MG McGrath Inc. safety team. To learn more, visit mgmcgrath.com[1].
- mgmcgrath.com: http://mgmcgrath.com/
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