Basic Tips for Induction Furnace Safety

Induction furnaces have the potential to make melting metals in industrial settings safer than ever. However, proper precautions must be taken to avoid injuries, damage, or loss of product.

Safety precautions regarding melting technology are various and extensive. Here is a basic, beginner’s guideline to best safety procedures and practices when using a melting furnace:

1. 1. Ensure All Employees are Properly TrainedTraining is a key step in preventing workplace accidents. It is the employer’s responsibility to make sure that only qualified workers handle melting furnaces, and that trainings are up-to-date and thorough. Induction furnace manufacturers often produce their own safety guides and user manuals for various melting furnace equipment. Make sure that your workers have total access to all necessary documents for reference.
   2. Ensure All Workers Have Proper Gear 

      Even if your workers are properly trained and experienced with induction melting, accidents still happen. Luckily, there are ways to minimize damage in the case of an emergency or malfunction, such as a molten metal splash. One of the biggest ways to reduce the likelihood of an injury is to require employees to wear proper safety gear at all times and to strictly enforce protective equipment regulations.Personal protective gear that can save lives includes, but is not limited to:

      • Safety hoods
      • face shields
      • Flame resistant aluminized coats, leggings, and gloves
      • Laceless Safety Boots
      • Secondary protective clothing, like natural-fiber coveralls and flame retardant washable undergarments

    

    

   Use Reminders to Prevent Common Safety Mistakes

   Finally, though there are many potential safety hazards involved with using induction melting furnaces, some problems are more common and more dangerous than others. As an extra precaution, consider posting additional warning signs and safety reminders in a clear, easy-to-see location lest workers forget the basics. Be sure to regularly remind workers of dangerously common issues, such as bridging, cold charges, and molten metal splash. Hanging reminders, like the one below, might just save a life.

   Use brief, easy-to-read guides like this one for quick danger reminders:

   WARNING:Common Causes of Molten Metal Splash. AVOID:
   

   1. Wet or moist charge material
   2. Dropping heavy metals into molten baths
      
   3. Moisture or wetness on tools and additives
      
   4. Centrifugally cast or sealed scrap and scrap rolls
      

   
   In 2017, worldwide crude steel production totaled 1.69 billion tonnes, a 3.9% increase from the previous year. With more steel melting comes more opportunities for injury and mistakes. By posting short, easy-to-read warnings like this for common safety slip-ups, and by following these general safety tips, your team can prevent injuries and even deaths. Beginner’s safety can save your stuff, save your team, and help everyone get the job done right.