Sheet Metal Fabrication Safety

Working in sheet metal fabrication is an involved and dangerous job. It requires constant use of and exposure to heavy-duty machinery and sharp, heavy and fast-moving pieces of metal. To ensure good health and prevent any injuries or death, there are plenty of safety measures you should take when dealing with the fabrication of sheet metal.

Clothing and Safety Gear

• As with any job involving large pieces of machinery, proper clothing is a must. Sheet metal fabrication involves large machines that pull slabs of metal through, and as such it could be easy to get caught in the moving parts if you aren't careful. Don't wear any jewelry or overly loose clothing, as this could get stuck in the machinery and inadvertently pull you through. Also, safety goggles and heavy-duty gloves are a must. Sheet metal fabrication involves plenty of cutting and welding of metal, which can often throw sparks or scraps around the shop. Protecting your eyes from flying debris coming off the machinery needs to be a top priority. And as the metal is cut and fabricated at different stages, it can become both incredibly sharp and hot. Wearing the proper heat- and cut-resistant gloves will ensure that you keep all your fingers and avoid any burns on the newly cut pieces of metal flying off the machines.

Be in Good Shape

• Naturally, sheet metal of any size is heavy. Fabrication of these pieces requires a great deal of physical strength and good technique in various areas of physicality. You will constantly need to take care to properly lift large pieces of metal, using your legs and not your back and maintaining good posture when doing so. An industrial-grade pair of worker's boots is invaluable in these situations, as dropping a heavy piece of sheet metal can cause severe injury to your feet if they're unprotected.

  Don't try and force yourself into lifting something that is simply too heavy. To adhere to proper safety measures, all metal fabrication shops should have some form of mechanical lifting device on hand for those pieces of metal and equipment that simply can't be lifted by a human alone. When in doubt, use these devices. They are designed to support far more weight than you can, and you'll only be risking your safety if you attempt certain jobs without some machine assistance.

Take Care of Your Tools

• Occasionally the finishing stages of sheet metal fabrication require the use of handheld and hand-operated tools as opposed to large automated pieces of machinery. Usually these tools will come in the form of metal shears or grinders, used for finishing the edges of individual sheets of metal. For your utmost safety, these tools should always be kept in pristine condition and used properly. Dull metal shears can cause harmful jagged cuts in the metal and send pieces flying. They can also cause considerable difficulty in completing a cut, and struggling with the tool will only create a dangerous situation for you and those around you in the shop. Make sure any shears are sharpened and not worn out or rusted, and that all metal grinders and other finishing tools are in good condition and working order.

  Also, be sure to use gloves at all times and that they allow you to firmly grip the tools while still affording you the mobility to work them as you need, without clumsily adjusting the tool in your grip every few minutes.