Sheet metal working is a major global industry, but in order to protect workers, it is essential that the industry embraces proper safety regulation. To better understand the risks of sheet metal working and the impact of improper safety regulations, we take a look at some key facts and stats regarding sheet metal worker safety.
Facts About Sheet Metal Worker Safety
In Sheet Metal Fabrication, there are three key factors that create risk: heavy machinery, chemicals, and sharp metals. These factors each contribute to the main types of incidents:
Hearing loss due to the sound levels of machinery Burns and eyesight damage from welding Incidents Inhalations of chemicals Machine and tool injuries, most significantly to hands
Nearly all of the above can be significantly reduced with adherence to regulations, such as hearing protection, training, goggles, gloves and ventilation.
Stats For Sheet Metal Worker Safety
Looking at the raw data of stats can help us understand the scale of the risks and costs involved. These are some key statistics to be aware of:
There are over 130,000 large sheet metal workers in the US In 2019 alone in the US there were over 1100 non-fatal metalworking injuries In 2018 in the US there were 4.1 recordable, non-fatal cases per 100 metal workers The average cost of each recordable injury in sheet metal fabrication in the US is $80,000
As you can see, the safety risks of sheet metal working are by no means to be dismissed, but they can be drastically reduced with training, regulation, PPE and ventilation.
