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Health and Safety Hazards in Metalworking
June 01, 2009
The metalworking industry, like most other industries, presents common hazards and risks that need to be suitably managed. Some are relatively well known, and therefore managed, whilst others may be lurking in the background. This was confirmed in the Powertrain incident in 2004 in which a number of people suffered from respiratory ill-health. Industries like aerospace and automotive have additional hazards when using specialist processes such as Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM).
EDM is a process that involves an electrical discharge between two electrodes, namely the tool and work-piece. This process normally takes place within a non-conductive dielectric. The dielectrics used can take many forms and include hydrocarbon fluids like mineral oils to highly refined synthetics.
The hazards associated with such a process are not always recognised by employers and operatives can therefore be exposed to a number of potentially hazardous fumes in the form of aerosols and gases etc. Hazardous substances can also accumulate in the dielectric and present a risk through skin contact. Fines (small metal particles) can also present a risk to operatives and those involved in working with used metalworking fluids.
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) assessments often solely rely on the Material Safety Data Sheet to provide the hazardous properties and nature of the product and the Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) Regulations require manufacturers to consider how the product is to be used and identify any additional hazards stemming from that use.
However, these additional hazards may not always be communicated and therefore assessors involved in undertaking COSHH assessments may not realise the hazardous properties of a used dielectric. A used dielectric (depending on the type and to some extent the brand) may contain harmful compounds including aliphatics and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Exposure to such compounds may be through inhalation and skin contact.
Clearly there are a number of engineering controls that can be introduced to eliminate or control exposure and will normally include well designed local exhaust ventilation (LEV) supported by effective monitoring (personal breathing zone) and environmental (vicinity of the process).
The electrical discharge machining process can generate other hazards similar to that of welding. The fume (similar to welding fume) will contain compounds of the material being machined (and that of the tool (sometimes copper) and in the aerospace industry will include nickel, cobalt, chromium etc.
It is therefore essential that the hazards and the associated risks are suitably identified and subsequently managed to prevent the development of ill-health within these specialised environments. OMS consultants have the knowledge and experience of working within the aerospace manufacturing sector and can provide a free initial assessment of your working environment.
Posted by Stuart Hack - Consultant
EDM is a process that involves an electrical discharge between two electrodes, namely the tool and work-piece. This process normally takes place within a non-conductive dielectric. The dielectrics used can take many forms and include hydrocarbon fluids like mineral oils to highly refined synthetics.
The hazards associated with such a process are not always recognised by employers and operatives can therefore be exposed to a number of potentially hazardous fumes in the form of aerosols and gases etc. Hazardous substances can also accumulate in the dielectric and present a risk through skin contact. Fines (small metal particles) can also present a risk to operatives and those involved in working with used metalworking fluids.
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) assessments often solely rely on the Material Safety Data Sheet to provide the hazardous properties and nature of the product and the Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) Regulations require manufacturers to consider how the product is to be used and identify any additional hazards stemming from that use.
However, these additional hazards may not always be communicated and therefore assessors involved in undertaking COSHH assessments may not realise the hazardous properties of a used dielectric. A used dielectric (depending on the type and to some extent the brand) may contain harmful compounds including aliphatics and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Exposure to such compounds may be through inhalation and skin contact.
Clearly there are a number of engineering controls that can be introduced to eliminate or control exposure and will normally include well designed local exhaust ventilation (LEV) supported by effective monitoring (personal breathing zone) and environmental (vicinity of the process).
The electrical discharge machining process can generate other hazards similar to that of welding. The fume (similar to welding fume) will contain compounds of the material being machined (and that of the tool (sometimes copper) and in the aerospace industry will include nickel, cobalt, chromium etc.
It is therefore essential that the hazards and the associated risks are suitably identified and subsequently managed to prevent the development of ill-health within these specialised environments. OMS consultants have the knowledge and experience of working within the aerospace manufacturing sector and can provide a free initial assessment of your working environment.
Posted by Stuart Hack - Consultant
