Metal Fabrication
Safety

In metal fabrication, worker safety is paramount due to risks including conductive heat, sharp edges, and flying debris like sparks or metal shavings. We provide specialized PPE that ensures protection against these hazards while offering comfort, durability, and performance to keep workers safe and productive.

Keeping Workers in the Metal Fabrication Industry Safe

Keeping workers safe in the metal fabrication industry is critical due to the numerous hazards present. Workers face risks from sharp edges on metal sheets, intense heat from welding, cutting and grinding, and exposure to flying debris and harmful fumes. These dangers require the use of specialized personal protective equipment (PPE) to reduce the risk of injury and ensure worker safety. Read more »

Specialized PPE plays a key role in mitigating these dangers. Protective gloves and sleeves safeguard against cuts and burns, while flame-resistant clothing shields workers from heat and molten metal. Face shields, safety goggles and respirators protect against flying debris and harmful fabrication fumes, ensuring eye and respiratory safety. Hearing protection is essential to prevent hearing damage, and slip-resistant footwear reduces the risk of slips and falls in cluttered or hazardous areas.

By investing in high-quality, task-specific PPE, employers can reduce injuries, boost productivity and create a safer workplace. Prioritizing safety in metal fabrication is not just about compliance, it’s about fostering a culture of care and responsibility that protects workers and contributes to long-term success.

Metal Stamping: A win for Production, a Challenge for Workplace Safety

Safety Managers know there’s a direct correlation between the effectiveness of PPE and its comfort. Metal stamping uses high-speed, high-force machines with many rotating components and moving parts that pose high risks to workers. Hazardous noise levels, slip risks from machine oil and lubricants, and injuries from machine entanglement due to bulky or ill-fitting PPE are only some of the problems that Safety Managers work to solve.

Introducing the G-TEK® PARADOX™

Your team needs PPE that makes them feel confident in their work. Our innovative 21-gauge glove is your solution for comfortable, secure protection that workers in metal stamping feel confident wearing. Ultra-lightweight, breathable, and flexible without compromising on cut and abrasion resistance or secure grip, Paradox™ offers the fit and protection that Safety Managers count on to help lower the risks of machine entanglement. It’s also silicone-free, touchscreen-compatible, and crafted with recycled yarn technology to help you meet sustainability goals.

Safety and comfort shouldn’t be a compromise.

Learn More

Looking for a complete safety solution for your team?

Check out our picks for a complete head-to-toe safety outfit in metal stamping or contact Jim Wilson to have a conversation about putting together a custom solution for your facility.

Hand Protection

G-Tek® Paradox™

Seamless Knit PolyKor® Blended Glove with Black Foam Nitrile Coated Grip on Palm & Fingers with Reinforced Thumb Crotch - 21 Gauge - Touchscreen Compatible

16-371

Arm Protection

Kut Gard®

ATA Technology HPPE Blend, 13G Knit Sleeve

20-S13ATA/PE7

Safety Eyewear

Zenon Ultra-Lyte™

Rimless Safety Glasses with Clear Temple, Clear Lens and Anti-Scratch / Fogless® 3Sixty™ Coating

250-14-0520

Head Protection

HardCap A1+™

Baseball Style Bump Cap with HDPE Protective Liner and Adjustable Back - Short Brim

282-ABS150

Hearing Protection

Mega Bullet™ BioSoft™

Disposable Bio-Based Corded Foam Ear Plug with BioSoft™ Technology - NRR 32

BSF-30

Workwear Top

Bisley®

Long Sleeve Ripstop Work Shirt with X-Airflow™ Ventilation

400M6490

Workwear Pants

Bisley®

Stretch Ripstop Vented Work Pants with X-Airflow™ Ventilation

411M6150

Footwear

PUMA® Safety

Iconic Suede Navy LOW Composite Toe Impact Resistant Toe Cap, Electrical Hazard protection, Slip Resistant, Safety Shoes

640025-300

ASK THE EXPERT image of expert Jim Wilson

ASK THE EXPERT Jim Wilson - Director of Product Sales

Jim has 35+ years in Industrial Distribution and PPE Safety. As a product sales leader at PIP, he guides a team in Hand & Arm, Above the Neck, and Workwear protection. He has worked across industries like Oil & Gas, Aerospace, and Automotive, delivering executive presentations and onsite assessments. With global experience, he partners with top PPE manufacturers to design products, improve efficiencies, and build partnerships.

As one of 150 PIP safety experts, Jim helps standardize PPE to reduce costs, prevent injuries, and boost productivity.

Metal Fabrication Industry Hazards
- Sharp Edges & Cuts - sharp edges from metal sheets, pipes, and components
- Heat and Burns - extreme heat during welding, cutting or grinding processes
- Molten Metal - handling or working near molten metal presents a risk of splashes and burns
- Flying Debris - grinding, cutting or welding can send sparks, metal shards and hot particles, flying posing eye and skin injury risks
- Fumes and Gases - welding and other metalworking processes can release harmful fumes and gases, including carbon monoxide, zinc oxide, and welding fumes, leading to respiratory issues
- Falls - slippery or cluttered work environments, along with working at heights
- Repetitive Motion Injuries (RMIs) - musculoskeletal injuries from repetitive movements and lifting heavy materials
- Noise - loud environment from cutting, welding and other metalworking equipment can cause hearing damage over time
Industry Standards
OSHA 29 CFR 1910:
OSHA's general industry standards require employers to assess workplace hazards and provide suitable PPE at no cost to employees. Specific sections cover various PPE types:
- Subpart I:
  - 1910.132: General requirements for PPE
  - 1910.133: Eye and face protection
  - 1910.134: Respiratory protection
  - 1910.135: Head protection
  - 1910.136: Foot protection
  - 1910.137: Electrical protective equipment
  - 1910.138: Hand protection
- Subpart G:
  - 1910.95: Occupational Noise Exposure - Hearing Protection
- Subpart Z:
  - 1910.1200: Hazard Communication (HazCom) - Chemical Protection
ANSI Standards:
- ANSI/ISEA Z87.1: Standard for eye and face protection
- ANSI/ISEA Z89.1: Standard for industrial head protection (hard hats)
- ANSI/ISEA 105: Guidelines for hand protection, including glove selection based on cut resistance, chemical resistance, and dexterity
EN 388: European standard for hand protection

ISO 45001: Occupational health and safety management systems for improving worker safety, which includes PPE provisions

NFPA 2112: Standards for flame-resistant garments used in manufacturing settings involving flammable materials

ASTM F2413: standard specification for performance requirements for protective (safety) footwear, and outlines the criteria to provide protection against workplace hazards such as impact, compression, puncture, and electrical risks