Metalworking Health & Safety
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Safety Solutions for the Metal Industry
For over 100 years, 3M has designed solutions to aid the metalworking industry, from abrasive material to our recent innovations in welding safety. We are committed to working with you to drive your business forward.
From steel mills to aluminium smelters, from lead recycling to met-fab shops, 3M is here to support you in your efforts to build an effective culture of health and safety. Metal industries are faced with a wide range of hazards, and identifying those hazards and the right solutions to address them is not always easy. 3M can help to support you through this process and help you make correct decisions based on your needs.
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We aim to increase awareness and bring forward educational elements surrounding safety and health concerns with exposures to hazards such as arc radiation, loud noises and common weld fumes like Manganese and Hexavalent Chromium. Our goal is to provide relevant technical information, industry best practices, and potential product safety solutions.
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3M designs and manufactures PPE that aims to help protect you in a changing world. From smelting to casting, coke ovens to blast furnaces, our technology, experience and energy drive innovative solutions to help you manage your work environment so you can focus on the job at hand. We provide safety solutions that can help improve the comfort of personal protective equipment for everything from your eyes to ears and respiratory system.
Top Metal Fabrication & Production Applications
Metal fabrication is the building of metal structures by cutting, bending, and assembling processes, most commonly welding. It is a value-added process that 3M understands well. From abrasive discs and belts to industry leading welding protection - we are here to help.
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WeldingOur innovative welding helmets enable welding performance and help make the welder's job safer and more comfortable. 3M is the manufacturer of Speedglas Welding Helmets, and integrated Systems for eye, face and respiratory protection. 3M's knowledge and experience of welders' working conditions sparks our innovative development.
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Grinding, Cutting & FinishingYou sometimes only get one chance to grind down, and finish your metal parts the way you want them, getting it just right. It sets the bar for the rest of your work. 3M designs innovative safety products whether you're cutting, grinding, or finishing your work. Our aim is that 3M PPE products help ensure your project is a cut above the rest.
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FoundriesWorking with metals exposes your workers to hazards in many different forms like hot work and heat stress. Furnace work and foundries are particularly high risk. Melting and pouring processes have a high risk of molten metal splash injury. Metal splash can lead to severe contact burns, eye injuries or lead to ignition of inappropriate protective equipment. 3M Safety can help you understand the variations of Metalworking PPE available and what makes sense for the hazards you face.
See our Silica Regulation for Metal Industry Bulletin (PDF, 278.88 KB) -
Painting and finishingAfter the surfaces have been finished, the work can finally be painted and refined.
Understand hazards of industrial painting and solutions available
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Working at HeightWorking at height poses risk in every industry and can result in severe injuries or even death in the event of an accident. Common working at height applications in the metalworking industry, including working from mobile elevated work platforms, overhead cranes and gantries, step ladders and scaffolding, and roofs.
Trending Metalworking Hazards
Beyond the Sparks and flame
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Welding Fumes
As a welder, you usually know what to do to keep yourself safe from heat and sparks. But what about the potential risks in inhaling welding fumes? Do you know all the weld fume hazards? We'll give you some insights into a few you're likely up against.
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Exposure to NoiseA high level of noise exposure is the norm in many workplaces in the metalworking industry. 3M offers innovative and effective hearing protection and communication solutions.
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Eye InjuriesEye injuries are among the most common work accidents in metalworking causing considerable costs and downtime. Flying particles, generated during grinding or cutting, as well as dangerous UV and IR rays when welding, can potentially cause irreversible eye and face injuries.
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HeatHeat is one of the greatest problems at many metalworking workplaces – from metal production and further processing to finishing. 3M offers special heat protection product solutions for safe and efficient work.
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Falling Objects and Head ProtectionWorking in many different workplaces – for instance during maintenance work in installations and machinery – results in other hazard sources, such as falling objects. 3M offers head protection (bump caps or helmets) that protect your workforce effectively against potential injury.
Suggested MetFab Products
You're proud of your weld. We're proud you used our equipment to do it.
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Ask most experienced welders about the hazards of the job and eye protection usually comes at the top of their list. But at 3M, we take eye, face and respiratory protection extremely seriously.
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Our latest innovation in protective eyewear - SecureFit 400. Featuring 3M Pressure Diffusion Temple (PDT) Technology and 3M Scotchgard Anti-fog Coating. Providing a snug fit, and reduced fogging in hot environments.
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The 3M™ Rugged Comfort Quick Latch Half Facepiece Reusable Respirator 6500 Series helps provide respiratory protection in harsh, dirty environments against airborne contaminants when used with approved 3M cartridges and filters. This facepiece combines comfort, durability, and stability with a firm, lightly textured silicone faceseal and strong body construction.
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Prevent hand-to-ear contamination and encourage hearing protection with 3M™ E-A-R™ Ultrafit™ Earplugs. These earplugs are made of a pliable, soft polymer that can be washed so that the earplugs can be reused, cutting down costs and extending the product life.
Trending Metal Production Products
3M delivers consistent quality around the world helping you select the correct PPE for your steel workers, helping to ensure your metal operators are educated on the correct use of their safety equipment and raising awareness of how important fit and comfort are to the health and well being of your workforce.
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Now you can increase the utility of your 3M™ Versaflo™ M-407 Respiratory Helmet – by adding integrated protection for head, neck and shoulders against radiant heat, sparks and splashes.
Stay Ahead of Everyday Hazards at Industrial Workplaces
We know that workers engaged in painting, coating, welding and grinding activities and those working at heights or in confined spaces are exposed to a wide range of hazards. To know how you can benefit form 3M expertise read more here (PDF, 238.95 KB).
