Health & Safety

A significant feature of the surface engineering industry is the diversity of the technology.

Most of the companies in the UK industry operate in the sub-contract sector; i.e. offering processing techniques to the original equipment manufacturer (OEM). The majority are small companies employing less than 50 people and specialize in specific processes. A number of larger companies have their own 'in-house' processes finishing their own manufactured components.

HSE's contact with the industry is mainly through the Surface Engineering Association's Health Safety and Environment Committee which, for over 10 years, has co-ordinated the interests and activities of all those involved with health and safety in the industry.

The HSE's website repots that the industry has significantly higher accident rates (for fatal, major and 3-day injuries) than manufacturing as a whole. Indeed, whilst accident rates for manufacturing have dropped over the last 6 year period, in Surface Engineering industries they have increased. For example, the major injury rate for surface engineering has increased from 270 (per 100,000 employees) in 1996/7 to 445 in 2002/3 whereas the manufacturing industry rates have fallen from 206 to 196 over the same period.

The main causes of injuries are

• Manual handling - e.g. through lifting/carrying heavy and/or awkward objects and account for 1/3 of all 3-day injuries.
• Struck by - e.g. falling objects; moving vehicles
• Slips and trips - e.g. on uneven floors or due to poor housekeeping; failure to promptly clear up spillages
• Contact with a harmful substance (which has also caused the greatest number of fatalities over the period)
• Falls from height - eg from ladder, elevated walkways.
• Contact with moving machinery - e.g. movement of jig transporters

Over the past 6 years these causes have accounted for over 85% of all reported injuries.

Evidence suggests that the main causes of ill health are:-

• Musculoskeletal (e.g. back) injuries - e.g. lifting/carrying heavy and/or awkward objects
• Dermatitis - e.g. use of irritant and allergic chemicals (nickel, powder coatings, chromium etc)
• Work-related asthma- e.g. use of two-pack (isocyanate) paints
• Vibration white finger - e.g. from polishing mops, hand-held grinders