WORKSAFE Victoria has released a new compliance code for foundry work to provide practical guidance to employers on how they can meet their duties under safety legislation.
The compliance code covers foundry work, predominantly work involving casting molten metal into a mould. Both manual static and automatic casting are covered. The typical process includes preparing a mould casting, melting and pouring metal into the mould, and removing and finishing the casting.
The work environment can be diverse and hazardous. The workplace safety authority says foundries can present a range of risks including explosion and burns from molten metal, exposure to gases, vapours, fumes and dusts, corrosive chemicals, eye injuries heat stress and fatigue, falls, and both non-mechanical and mechanical hazards from machines.
The code includes risk controls for each of the hazards, which are recommendations or examples of how a threat can be met.
If the listed risk controls are not appropriate to the particular circumstances in a foundry, the employer or duty holder must implement equally effective controls using a guide within the code.