Metal Fabrication Safety Best Practices

Metal fabrication involves the implementation of various manufacturing processes such as bending, cutting, grinding, brazing and welding. These and other fabrication techniques can pose safety risks, especially if employees do not receive proper training or do not adhere to best practices.

The failure to take steps to remove hazards from your workplace can also lead to OSHA violations that can result in financial penalties, or in extreme cases, criminal prosecution. While many metal fabrication operations believe they are doing everything possible to promote a safe work environment, overlooking even one area can have severe consequences.

Metal Fabrication Workshop Safety Tips

The following tips can help to minimize the risk of injuries and ensure your business complies with OSHA requirements for fabrication shops:

• Set a tone for safety at the top:

  If your company’s leadership doesn’t demonstrate a “safety-first” mindset, you can’t expect your workforce to make safety a high priority. The metal fabrication shops with the best health and safety records are often the ones where a safety-conscious mentality trickles down from the top and permeates the entire organization.

• Develop OSHA-specific training programs:

  The OSHA requirements for fabrication shops encompass areas such as the implementation of machine guarding, safe equipment use, wearing appropriate protective gear, working with hazardous materials and executing fabrication techniques involving welding, brazing and cutting. Use these safety procedures and regulations as a basis for your company’s training efforts.

• Establish the appropriate balance between safety and productivity:

  Working too quickly or pushing workers to meet a tight project deadline can cause them to cut corners and increase their risk of injury. Training your team to focus on the task at hand can prevent them from getting hurt. It will also improve the quality of their work, which will lead to increased customer satisfaction.

• Incorporate safety into strategic planning:

  Your short- and long-term planning sessions should include the implementation of practices and methods that focus on establishing and maintaining workplace safety. Examples include regular safety audits, monthly safety meetings and the creation of comprehensive accident investigation protocols to determine their cause and take appropriate corrective measures.