Posted By Doug Kelly Francis Good luck in your new career and hope you enjoy the ride!! You will find lots of industry specific free download info via the following link: http://www.hse.gov.uk/PUBNS/founindx.htm

Posted By Chris Jerman Francis, I spent almost 20 years in steel, Iron and aluminium founding, secondary smelting, and primary production predominantly as a safety manager. I sat on the Alfed Safety Committee and Chaired the AARMA National Safety Committee. Prior to that I spent 5 years in fettling and finishing. I'd be delighted to help in any way that I can. Probably best not to clog the forum with chat, so I'll leave it to you. Happy to spend the time. I'm just delighted to hear that there is still a foundry left somewhere. Chris

Posted By Chris Jerman Sadly, Merv, your observations were not isolated. Being burned was always seen as 'par for the course'. There is a very difficult balance though in this most extreme environment of protection and wear ability / usability. I'm pleased to say that much of the work that I was involved with was in the development of much better PPE - and before someone asks, no it's virtually impossible to deal with molten metal in a batch foundry without the potential for exposure. I wish it were. What is usually the last defence for others is often the only defence on founding. One of the foundries that engaged me had a fatality where someone was engulfed in a magnesium flash fire. In this instances PPE didn't really help at all. What we had to strike was the balance between less effective PPE that the guys would wear and the ultimate PPE that would have had them dropping from heat exhaustion. At least in your new role you are not facing new problems. There are many experienced people out there who have been where you are headed. For technical resources, contact your local branch of the Institute of British Foundrymen. To add to Merv's list - noise from knock-outs, vibration from fettling operations, silica and quartzite from sand reclamation, fumes from core sand moulding, manual handling, heat, metal fume fever. Hmm. I remember why I left now. C

Posted By Rochelle Eames Hi there Just to add to the above, if the Foundry uses robots like the on I used to work in, make sure all employees know not to enter the cage when it is in operation or if they assume that it is locked off and tagged out for maitenance. One of our workers nearly ended up looking like the tin man out of the Wizard of Oz!