Document Z4gnjwaJmEzmL06g22wYy63XL

tures, and burns can occur dunng the manual handling of scrap metals, pig iron, and similar matenals Some of the precautions that can be taken to prevent materials handling accidents in clude 1. Instructing workers m the safe methods of manual and mechanical handling of ma terial 2 Providing personal protective equipment --eye protection, face shields, leather mitts or gloves, preferably studded with steel (unless hot metal is to be handled), hand pads, aprons, safety shoes, and other items --to be worn as required 3 Planning the sequence and method of han dling materials to eliminate unnecessary handling 4 Safeguarding mechanical devices and set ting up inspection procedures to assure their proper maintenance 5 Keeping good order at storage piles and bins, and piling materials properly 6 Keeping ground and floor surfaces level so that men handling materials will have good footing 7 Installing side stakes or side boards on tramway or railroad cars to prevent ma terials from falling off Many foundries have replaced hand meth ods with materials handling machinery and thus reduced exposure to manual hazards However, the machinery usually mvolves hazards of its own For instance, lifting mag nets are dangerous if swung over areas where men are at work A break in the magnet cir cuit could cause the magnet to release its load without warning or pieces dangling from the magnet could be jarred loose In no case, of course, should suspended loads be earned over workmen s heads. Handling sand, coal, and coke Certain hazards in the handling of materials such as sand, coal, and coke can be remedied as follows 1 Falls through hoppers while unloading bot tom dump-type railroad cars can be pre vented by requiring the use of safety belts and lifelines Men should never do this work alone Observers should always be on the scene and should be prepared to effect rescues in emergencies 2 Using hopper car door safety ratchet wrenches can keep doors from swinging and striking workers 3 Hand and foot injuries can be prevented by using safety car movers instead of ordinary pinch bars to spot cars by hand (Where a locomotive is available, it should, of course, be used ) 4 By using warning targets, derails, and red lanterns at night, and by locking switches, workers can keep cars they are workmg on from being moved. 5 Prohibiting the undermining of piles and avoiding overhangs can reduce the danger of cave-ins of loose material 6 Electric shock can be prevented by ground ing portable belt conveyor loaders. Some foundries have eliminated double handling by having the raw materials put directly from the cars, storage piles, or bins into unit charging trays or boxes, which are taken to the point of use and dumped mechan ically Trays or boxes to be earned overhead must be properly trimmed. Ladles Ladles for distributing molten metal or res ervoir and mixing ladles, which are mounted on stationary supports or trucks or handled by overhead crane or monorail and which have a capacity of not more than 2000 pounds may be of the hand-shank type and should be pro vided with a manually operated safety lock (Fig 33-2) Shanks should be made from solid material, and shields should be installed on them. Ladles which have a capacity over 2000 pounds should be of the gear-operated type. Such ladles and those which are mechanically or electrically operated should be equipped with an automatic safety lock or brake to pre vent overturning or uncontrolled sway. Suitable covers should be provided on porta ble ladles The run or lip on hand or bull ladles should be built up above the top of the metal shell 905