Workplace safety is one of the most critical considerations for any metalworking operation.
Between machinery, hazardous materials, and foot traffic, shops contain many obstacles. Allowing metal scrap and spent fluids to pile up only makes it worse—and dangerous—especially if removal is done manually.
Here’s how to improve on-site waste stream processing to promote employee safety, retention, and attraction.
Optimize the Workspace
It’s easy for fabrication shops to become unorganized with daily production goals often taking priority over waste stream management, but a littered workplace isn’t inviting or safe for current or prospective employees. Making the best use of the available space is important to keeping the area clean and optimized for safe and efficient workflows.
A compact chip processing system consolidates several processes into one space-saving unit. This forklift-portable, skid-mounted system maximizes operational space and efficiency by providing solid-liquid separation and fluid reclamation, while also creating dry chips in a single turnkey system. This clears the work area of individual metal scrap processing components that would require additional floor space. It also increases metal scrap value and can reduce new fluid purchases. Watch this video to learn more about how a compact, metal scrap processing system can benefit smaller shops with medium volumes of flowable chips.
Automate Metal Scrap Transfer Management
Relying on forklifts to move scrap is hazardous. Manually shoveling or sweeping the scrap away is inefficient and can lead to strains and other bodily injuries. This is where automated conveyor systems are useful in keeping the work area free of clutter.
Conveyers can automate the transfer of metal scrap away from work zones and to storage containers, eliminating the need for employees to manually handle the material. This also frees up floor space and creates a tidy method to store valuable scrap.
Minimize Health Hazards with Proper Fluid Management
Reducing or eliminating workplace hazards is critical for employee wellbeing and goes a long way in improving production and raising morale. In metalworking operations, accumulating scrap isn’t the only concern, however. Used metalworking fluids that pool on the floor not only increase the risk for slips and falls, but overexposure to foul-smelling, contaminated cutting fluids can cause skin irritations, trigger asthma and lead to other respiratory problems.
Automated fluid recycling systems can prevent these dangers by eliminating contaminants. They also reduce waste fluids and the associated burden to store and haul away the hazardous liquids. These systems will help keep the workplace safe, while significantly lowering hazardous waste disposal costs.
By automating processes for metal scrap processing and fluid recycling, the shop can operate safely. For more information about how to keep your metalworking operation clear of clutter and spent cutting fluids to maximize safety and keep new and current employees safe, visit PRAB.com.