Safety and quality at the foundry
Heat, heavy items and quality assurance
On a foundry, you work with molten metal, high temperatures, and heavy workpieces. This makes safety a very central part of the profession and it applies every single day.
§Heat and liquid metal
The greatest risk is contact with liquid metal and hot surfaces. Always use the right protective equipment, keep distance from the melt and be aware that even small amounts of moisture can react violently with hot metal.
§Personal protective equipment
On a foundry, you use protection against heat, splashing, and dust. This typically includes heat-resistant clothing, face and eye protection, and respiratory protection where the air may contain dust or smoke. Always follow the rules that apply to your workplace.
§Heavy lifting and transport
Cast items can be heavy and moulds need to be moved. Use lifting equipment correctly and avoid lifting incorrectly. Many injuries do not happen at the melt but during handling of heavy parts.
§Quality assurance
Quality is about the workpiece meeting the requirements: correct measurements, no material defects and a surface suitable for the purpose. Therefore you plan and quality assure the casting processes and test the finished workpieces.
| Quality considerations | What it's about |
|---|---|
| Target | The item having the right dimensions |
| Material | That the metal is flawless without internal weaknesses |
| Surface | The post-treatment fitting the purpose |
| Planlægning | That the process is controlled so the result is uniform |
“On a foundry, safety and quality are two sides of the same coin. Well-controlled work is both safer and produces better workpieces.”