Sheet metal is used to produce a wide variety of items like automobile panels, rain gutters, restaurant equipment, road signs and heating ducts, fabricating. As a result, installing and maintaining these items can be a hazardous job.
Sheet metal workers are subject to frequent cuts, scrapes, burns and falls from scaffoldings or ladders. Many times, the sheet metal production process itself requires repetitive heavy lifting, bending and squatting, putting workers at risk for back, neck and muscle injuries. Knowing the proper safety procedures can help keep sheet metal production workers safe on the job.
Safety Equipment is everyone's Friend
While safety equipment may feel like a cumbersome, frivolous waste of time, safety gear is designed to prevent and limit injury should an accident occur. Accidents can happen in a matter of seconds.
During an accident, safety equipment must already be in place in order to be effective. Hard hats, gloves and safety glasses left in a truck or tool box are useless during an accident.
Sheet metal workers can be subject to flying debris and tiny shards of metal shavings, cuts from sharp metal edges, crushing injuries from presses and other sheet metal forming equipment, and burns from metal heated during production, installation or repair.
Many of these injuries have the potential to be life threatening unless safety equipment is worn when working around sheet metal.
Preventing Back Injury in Sheet Metal Workers
Back and neck injuries are one the most common causes of Worker's Compensation claims. A serious muscle injury can keep a sheet metal worker from the job for months while muscles, tendons, tissue and bones heal.
Learning to lift with the large, strong muscles of the legs instead of the muscles of the neck, back and arms is crucial to preventing back injuries. A 100 pound woman can easily pick up a 150 pound weight with proper body mechanics.
Heavy lifting requires lowering the body's center of gravity. Bending at the knees improves balance and provides a stable, lowered center. Lifting is only begun after the neck and back muscles are relaxed. Upper body muscles should not bear the weight of the object being moved; they should only be used to hold the object near the body.
If at all possible, sheet metal workers should plan and position their workstations and materials so that heavy items can be lifted from waist high in a standing position. Feet should be placed shoulder width apart, directly under the hips.
The body can also be positioned to take advantage pivoting movements that can reduce the chance of falls or improper body alignment during transfers of heavy objects. These lifting techniques can reduce muscle strain and prevent neck and back injuries in sheet metal workers.
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