Safety and Health

The Ontario government is investing over $62.9 million in two of the province’s foundational skilled trades programs to help young people explore life-long careers in a growing industry.

Star Cutter Co. has promoted Bradley Cooper from service manager to plant manager, responsible for optimizing the day-to-day operations of the Elk Rapids, Michigan, facility.

The Occupational Health & Safety Administration (OSHA) recently issued new enforcement guidance that will make “penalties more effective in stopping employers from repeatedly exposing workers to life-threatening hazards.” Here is some guidance.

Star Cutter facilities received 2023 Going PRO Talent Funds from the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity-Workforce Development (LEO-WD) through the Michigan Works! agency.

Do you have safety resolutions for the new year? If so, we have some advice for you.

Counterfeiting is a challenging problem for bearing manufacturers. Laser marking is one way to overcome this problem.

Metal scrap processing and fluid recycling equipment can answer essential hazardous waste questions.

During a vacuum processing cycle various chemical reactions can occur in a vacuum furnace that can cause a “metallurgical meltdown,” according to the authors of a new paper on the subject.

Eriez’ new white paper, “Six Ways to Attack Metal Contamination to Improve Product Purity and Avoid Recalls,” covers best practices processing plants should implement to achieve the highest product purity and avoid costly tramp metal damage.

The metal machining, fabrciation and finishing industries must meet EPA and local wastewater requirements for effluent. Under the Clean Water Act, the EPA has identified 65 pollutants and classes of pollutants as “toxic pollutants,” of which 126 specific substances have been designated “priority” toxic pollutants. Failing to meet these requirements can result in severe fines that quickly escalate.

Vision Engineering Inc., a manufacturer of optical and digital inspection and non-contact measurement systems based in New Milford, Connecticut, in June launched a microscope trade-in program for North America. Set up for a trade-in on any microscope, the program in return offers participants a 25% discount on Mantis eyepiece-less microscopes until Aug. 31.

FLORENCE, Kentucky – In response to a neighboring company’s request for collaboration, machine tool manufacturer Mazak Corp. provided much-needed materials and production capacity for the development of a UV-C LED surface disinfection system.

A few weeks ago, Emag LLC started examining workplace safety regarding the pandemic and quickly came up with a long list of new safety measures to avoid spreading the virus. Over the past couple of weeks, our employees have been working hard to implement these measures, making us confident that all workplaces now are designed so the spread of infection at the company is almost impossible. Strict hygiene rules are being upheld throughout the company, and the minimum 2 m (6 ft.) social distancing measures are followed. However, there was one area that the team struggled to find a safe solution for: door handles.

Exact Metrology Inc., a comprehensive metrology services provider, shares safety tips for metrology workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. These tips are courtesy of Jason Kleinhenz, marketing and training manager.

Guards on grinding machines are particularly important for ensuring operator safety. Grinding wheels seldom burst, but when they do, there is a great risk of serious injury to the machine operator. Recent studies suggest, however, that the enclosures commonly used in gear grinding machines, for example, could be overdesigned at present. Investigations conducted by the VDW (Verein Deutscher Werkzeugmaschinenfabriken – German Machine Tool Builders' Association) and the Institute of Machine Tools and Factory Management (IWF) at TU Berlin reveal that it is possible to use safety guards which are up to 70% thinner, depending on the width of the grinding wheel. These findings are leading to changes in ISO standardization.

Factory work used to be dirty, dangerous and bleak. Technology has changed that, creating a manufacturing sector that looks radically different.

ATV and InnovationQuarter’s investment in IMSystems will help further accelerate the development of their technology in robotics. IMSystems’ Archimedes Drive takes a leap forward in transmission systems. In contrast to conventional gears, which rely on cogs with fragile teeth to produce torque, IMSystems came up with a design that harnesses traction.

Although the NFPA 652 deadline to complete a Dust Hazard Analysis (DHA) has been moved to October of 2020 because of the limited supply of qualified auditors, you should not delay getting started. Your people and facility may be at high risk now, and the NFPA standards states, “The owner/operator shall demonstrate reasonable progress in each of the 5 years." Dust collection systems are one of the most critical elements to be included in a dust hazard analysis because they are a leading cause of combustible dust incidents. According to FM Global statistics, more than half of all dust explosions originate in the dust collector. An unprotected dust collector can reach high pressures that can fragment the housing and send a pressure wave, heat, flames, and dangerous projectiles into the workplace.

Has your workplace received low safety grade scores because it has a poor program or, worse, no written safety program in place at all? Having an expert safety manager is optimal. For companies that do not have the resources, there are outstanding online programs, such as those offered by Occupational Health & Safety and the National Safety Council, that provide excellent free and paid content and classes for Occupational Safety and Health Administration 30-hour training, first aid, CPR and more.

Precision Micro announces that Karl Hollis, previously technical sales manager, will be appointed to director of engineering as of April 1, 2019.

I recently read an article discussing how the Environmental Protection Agency will now allow asbestos-containing products to be manufactured and sold in the United States on “a case-by-case” basis, apparently reversing parts of the organization’s 1963 Clean Air Act and the 1989 Asbestos Ban and Phase-Out Rule. While that’s good news for the mesothelioma attorneys you see every night on TV, it’s bad news for American workers, a number of whom will soon be tasked with mining and processing the dangerous material once known as “the magic mineral” for its heat, electrical and chemical resistance.

At the facility where I spent the bulk of my machining career, we had two components to the operation: the surface refinery where I worked and the underground portion where the ore was mined before being sent up to the refinery. The mine was 1,570 feet deep, so it wasn’t just a simple jaunt when folks were in a bind. In addition, there were restrictions on who entered the mine, and the hazard training required for both the underground (MSHA) portion and the methane presence in the mine atmosphere. This mine generated about 2½ million cubic feet of methane on a daily basis.

Research studies show that an ergonomically designed work place doesn’t only increase motivation and improve concentration but also reduces the drop in performance. This is why ergonomics play a decisive role when planning new industrial work places.

Implementing a safety management system is no small task. Because safety is highly cross-functional, you will need buy-in and support from the full business, as well as dedicated time and resources to develop a plan.

John Dauber and Kevin Tucker of Camfil APC, Jonesboro, Ark., have written a white paper about airborne mists emitted during machining processes, which pose numerous risks to human health and safety. It is important to understand the regulations that limit these emissions, as well as the various technologies available to achieve compliance with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and other regulatory agencies. This paper discusses what you can do about mist collection issues in your facility, how to evaluate which type of collection system is most suitable for your application and how to establish an overall safety program that will best protect employees and equipment.

To reduce training time and improve worker safety in the high-risk environment of industrial manufacturing, Tobii Pro Insight conducts eye-tracking studies. For example, the Stockholm, Sweden-headquartered company reported that its research consultants conducted an eye-tracking study at the metal foundry of H&H Castings Inc., York, Pa., and the attention-based study revealed unique insights that will contribute to quicker onboarding of new workers, new efficiencies in its operations, new training guidelines and reductions in the risk of accidents.

A smart floor eliminates missing information, reinforces standards and keeps people safe. A smart floor answers questions. Marking floors is one of the fastest, easiest ways to direct behavior and create visual communication in a work environment. Floor markings not only communicate what is supposed to happen but reinforce existing standards in the workplace. Floor marking products, such as floor decals, A-frame signs, floor marking tape and floor symbols, promote safety and improve efficiency, saving time and money and reducing injuries. By utilizing these types of products, a facility can become a safer, more productive workplace.

For a wide range of facilities that manufacture, process, blend, convey, repackage, generate or handle items that could be categorized as combustible dusts or particulate solids, new NFPA standards and even the first deadline to conduct a dust-hazard analysis are now on the books, adding to the responsibilities of owners and operators of such facilities.

Recognizing that the future of American manufacturing lies with today's youth, Rockford Systems LLC launched its "Selfie for Safety" campaign to help raise student awareness of the importance of machine safeguarding and to help fund the upgrading of safety equipment in the machine shops of several high schools in Rockford, Ill., where the company's headquarters is located.

A 57-year-old maintenance worker was crushed fatally by a 4,000 pound machine part while performing maintenance inside of a sand core machine at a Warrensburg, Mont. aluminum foundry.

 Gear Motions, a leading precision gear manufacturer, has named Paul Andruszko vice president of its Buffalo, N.Y., operations, which includes its Oliver/Pro-Gear and Niagara Gear divisions. Andruszko has more than three decades of experience in the gear industry, and most recently served as general manager of the company’s Niagara Gear division.

The American Board of Industrial Hygiene (ABIH), Lansing, Mich., issued a reminder to workers and industry of the potential for exposure to microbial pathogens in metalworking fluids following a story in the Belfast Telegraph about metalworkers at a local shipyard who were diagnosed with pneumococcal disease. The workers are believed to have been exposed to aerosols containing the bacteria.  

U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), vice chair of the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee, released a new report detailing the revitalization in U.S. manufacturing. The report shows over 500,000 have been added jobs since February 2010, up 38% since 2009 and exceeding the industry's pre-recession peak for exports.

MSC Industrial Supply Co. has added more than 3,000 personal protective equipment (PPE) and facility safety products to its safety portfolio. The goal is to make it easier for safety professionals to find, buy and correctly use the highest quality safety solutions from one supplier. With more than 500 brands represented, MSC customers have access to thousands of safety products. In addition, MSC offers specialized support and certified safety training. The company's safety technical team is available to answer questions and offer product recommendations based on each customer's specific criteria.  

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration launched two new Web resources to assist companies with keeping their workers safe from exposure to hazardous chemicals. While many chemicals are suspected of being harmful, OSHA's exposure standards are out-of-date and inadequately protective for the small number of chemicals that are regulated in the workplace. The first resource OSHA has created is a toolkit to identify safer chemicals that can be used in place of more hazardous ones.