Tips For Sheet Metal Workers To Avoid Injury

By Author: Stuart Small
Total Articles: 916
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Working with sheet metal is risky. At any times workers can be injured and some times the injury can be vigorous. So it is important for a worker to get preparation and to follow instruction to be safe.

What can Make Workers Hurt?

In the working process of sheet metal there are certain things in the job that can lead workers to fatigue, discomfort, or pain. These processes include—

Producing exert force to perform a task or to use a tool.
Positions of working such as bending, kneeling, stooping, twisting, and overhead reaching.
Working in the same position for a long time with little or without any movement.
Pressure from a hard surface or edge on any part of the body.
Temperature of the working place, very hot or very cold.
Sitting on, standing on, or holding a vibrating equipment or tool.
Using hand, wrist, elbow, or shoulder postures awkwardly.
Stressful working situation.

Prepare Yourself for Work

Before start working, prepare yourself like an athlete. Warm up by walking, marching in place, or moving your arms in circles. Stretch ...
... your arms slowly and hold each stretch 3-5 seconds. Do it for a few minutes before and during your workday. Always keep yourself physically ready for returning to work if you are out off work.

Ways of Knowing Your Problem

There are some symptoms that will make you sure that you are facing a problem. Be aware about the symptoms. You will feel the symptoms in your back, hands, shoulders, knees, neck, fingers and arms.

The symptoms are—

Constant fatigue
Cold hands
Swelling
Numbness
Tingling
Lack of energy
Changes in skin color
Weakness
Loss of sensation
Aching, burning, or shooting pain

If you experience any of the symptoms immediately stop working, change your working position, and change your tool. If you don’t feel better, take the following steps,

Report your supervisor about your symptoms immediately.
Try to identify the cause of problem with the help of your supervisor.
Follow the ergonomics and Injury and Illness Prevention program of your company.
Try to apply the ways to do your job.

Safe Work Practices

To avoid injury safe work practices is a must. Most of the times the workers aren’t aware about the safe working practices. Most of the times the workers bend their waist while using a hand tool and it results in causing hand fatigue.

Awkward arm postures can be caused due to kneeling while working. It puts pressure on the knees and cause pain and discomfort.
Sometimes workers have to work overhead. If they do these types of work for longer periods, it may lead them to lower back, arm, shoulder, and neck injuries.

While using an angled tool or repositioning a material it is important to keep the wrest straight. A straight wrest provide better grip strength. In this position hands will not fatigue as easily.

Here some tips for safe work practices—

Work in a comfortable posture. It will make your work easier.
Use a stable “work bench” while working as it will allow you to stand upright while keeping your arms close to your side.
Use sharp cutting tools. It will reduce the force required to cut metals.
Avoid using a hand tool for a lot of cutting. Instead, use a power saw.
Stand as close as to the work area.
Lighter weight tools are advice able to use.
Wear “working dress” and take protection for your eye, hand and ear.

Author About:

Stuart Small from Stevens Rowsell Sheet Metal Engineering writes about Sheet Metal Workers. For more information about Sheet Metal Workers visit www.stevensrowsell.com