Occupational Hazard Datasheets - Structural steel worker

International Hazard Datasheets on Occupation

Structural steel worker

What is a Hazard Datasheet on Occupation?

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This datasheet is one of the International Datasheets on Occupations. It is intended for those professionally concerned with health and safety at work: occupational physicians and nurses, safety engineers, hygienists, education and Information specialists, inspectors, employers' representatives, workers' representatives, safety officers and other competent persons.

This datasheet lists, in a standard format, different hazards to which persons practising this occupation may be exposed in the course of their normal work. This datasheet is a source of information rather than advice. With the knowledge of what causes injuries and diseases, is easier to design and implement suitable measures towards prevention.

This datasheet consists of four pages:

Page 1: Information on the most relevant hazards related to the occupation.
Page 2: A more detailed and systematized presentation on the different hazards related to the job with indicators for preventive measures (marked and explained on the third page).
Page 3: Suggestions for preventive measures for selected hazards.
Page 4: Specialized information, relevant primarily to occupational safety and health professionals and including information such as a brief job description, a list of tasks, notes and references.

Who is a structural steel worker?

A structural steel worker is a metal worker who is engaged in building metal structures, esp. in high-rise buildings, where he joins together steel beams, columns and surfaces, and creates a metal skeleton. Structural steel workers could also perform other tasks involving metal construction building sites, including work on air conditioning systems, ironwork fixing, and the like.

What is dangerous about this job?

Hazard of falling down from considerable heights, while joining metal components of a building; and/or when the work is done while standing on a ladder or at an elevated surface
Being hit by falling objects (falls of heavy loads on the feet or on other parts of the body
Eye injury, as a result of flying metal splinters, while working with a chisel and hammer, or when doing sharpening, cutting or welding works
Back and spinal column injury caused by lifting and moving heavy loads
Exposure to very high noise levels
Electrocution, as a result of touching live electric wires, or while working with portable power tools the isolation of which is defective.

Hazards related to this job

Specific preventive measures can be seen by clicking on the respective in the third column of the table.

Accident hazards	Hazard of falling down from considerable heights, while joining metal components of a building; and/or when the work is done while standing on a ladder or at an elevated surface
	Being hit by falling objects (falls of heavy loads on the feet or on other parts of the body
	Stepping on, colliding or hitting an object (falling objects aren’t included here)
	Slips, trips and falls, esp. where there is an oil spill
	Injuries and cuts caused by sharp objects, broken glass, knives and other sharp tools
	Over-exertion, or strained movements (Potential injury of back and spinal column as a result of lifting and moving heavy loads)
	Eye injury, as a result of flying metal splinters, while working with a chisel and hammer, or when doing sharpening, cutting or welding works
	Exposure to, and/or contact with electric current
	Exposure/contact with extreme temperatures
	Injuries caused as a result of working on scaffolding, including their installation, work done while standing on top of them, falling from them, and the like; or as a result of being hit by a cable of a hoist and/or by the loads carried by it
Physical hazards	Exposure to very high noise levels (including ultra and infra sound)
	Cold or heat load
	Hand and arm vibrations influencing various body organs and systems
	Eye injury caused by UV radiation emitted during welding operations
	Exposure to various environmental factors, including extreme heat or cold, high moisture, increased or decreased air pressure, and the like
Chemical hazards	Dermatitis and allergic skin diseases, caused by exposure to organic solvents and their vapors (e.g. - washing various parts and components with trichloroethylene; dipping hands in kerosene and gasoline…)
Chemical hazards	Difficulty in breathing resulting from exposure to organic solvents, or when working in confined places lacking oxygen or having reduced oxygen content, or due to exposure to various other chemicals
Biological hazards	Respiratory infections caused by work outdoors, in a cold and windy atmosphere
Biological hazards	Contracting various diseases, such as dermatitis caused by touching birds secretions, or due to contact with parasites residing in birds nests; by mosquito bites; by other insects and pests
Ergonomic, psychosocial and organizational factors	Back pains and other musculoskeletal problems caused by over-exertion, inconvenient work position (including prolonged work in a squatting position, working in a bent posture, overstraining in order to reach something above, …) and from wrong work postures while lifting or moving heavy loads; the carrying of loads may result in back pains and injury of the discs separating the spinal column vertebrae
	Injury as a result of repetitive movements or excessive effort
	Psychosocial factors relevant to the type or place of workplace, such as human relations, work organization, being exposed to violence or crime at the workplace, shift work, and similar problems

Preventive measures

	Use only a ladder that is in a good condition; it should be placed in a safe manner that will prevent slipping; wear isolating safety shoes with non slip soles; ladders and scaffolding must be well tied, and the worker should be harnessed into them and also to other firm harnessing points, depending upon work needs and conditions
	Use personal protection equipment, fit for the specific type of work (it may include a crash helmet, safety shoes with a protective cup or shoes with non-slip soles, work gloves, safety goggles, welding masks, respirators, gas masks, ear-plugs); if necessary – use a safety-screen that protects against ricochets and sparks
	Adopt safe techniques for raising and lowering loads; use lifting aids when necessary
	Do not use defective portable power tools or those with improper isolation
	Work clothes should be fitted to the climatic conditions of the workplace (such as proper clothing and headcover that constitute good protection against bad weather)
	All the components of the scaffolding must be examined with regard to their safety, prior to the beginning of work; use correct equipment for fall prevention (safety belts, harnesses, fall protection nets, canvas sheets, protective railings) when standing on the scaffolding
	Elimination of injuries resulting from hand-arm vibrations requires adoption of the relevant medical, technical and administrative procedures (see ISO 1986)
	Avoid direct contact between your skin and/or other body organs with allergenic materials, acids and strong bases
	In severe cases, consult with an occupational psychologist.

Specialized information

Synonyms	Bridge worker; house-smith; iron erector; ironworker; steel erector; structural-iron erector; structural-steel erector

Definitions and/or description	Structural steel erector performs any combination of following duties to raise, place, and unite girders, columns, and other structural-steel members to form completed structures or structure frameworks, working as member of crew: Sets up hoisting equipment for raising and placing structural-steel members. Fastens steel members to cable of hoist, using chain, cable, or rope. Signals worker operating hoisting equipment to lift and place steel member. Guides member, using tab line (rope) or rides on member in order to guide it into position. Pulls, pushes, or pries steel members into approximate position while member is supported by hoisting device. Forces members into final position, using turnbuckles, crowbars, jacks, and hand-tools. Aligns rivet holes in member with corresponding holes in previously placed member by driving drift pins or handle of wrench through holes. Verifies vertical and horizontal alignment of members, using plumb bob and level. Bolts aligned members to keep them in position until they can be permanently riveted, bolted, or welded in place. Catches hot rivets tossed by RIVET HEATER (heat treating) in bucket and inserts rivets in holes, using tongs. Bucks (holds) rivets while RIVETER, PNEUMATIC (any industry) uses air-hammer to form heads on rivets. Cuts and welds steel members to make alterations, using oxyacetylene welding equipment. May specialize in erecting or repairing specific types of structures and be designated Bridge-Maintenance Worker (construction); Chimney Builder, Reinforced Concrete (construction); Scaffold Builder, Metal (construction); Structural-Steel-Equipment Erector (construction) [DOT].

Related and specific occupations	Buildings tinsmith; metal-bridges installer; riveter; scaffolding installer (metal); welder.

Tasks	Adjusting; aligning; assisting; bending; bolting; boring; brazing; brushing; building (struts); catching; checking (hoists, cables,…); cleaning; climbing; combining; cutting; dismantling; drilling; driving; erecting; fastening; filing; fixing; forming (rivets heads); greasing; guiding; hammering; handling; harnessing; hoisting; inserting; installing; joining; lifting; maintaining; manufacturing; measuring; operating; painting; placing; polishing; prying; pulling; pushing; raising; reading (blueprints); removing; repairing; riding (on members); riveting; screwing; setting-up; sharpening; signaling; sitting (on steel-beams; spraying; straightening; tapping; tying; verifying; welding; wrenching.

Primary equipment used	Bolts; chisels; cutters; drills; ladders; hammers; levels; manual and power tools; plumb; saws; screwdrivers; stretching-accessories; tongs; welding and brazing equipment; wrenches, and the like.

Workplaces where the occupation is common	Building, contracting and construction companies.

Notes	Structural steel workers may also install scaffolding and carry out work while standing on the scaffolding; sometimes the work is done at heights exceeding 100 meters – such a height could cause a feeling of instability and loss of balance. It is recommended to consult the hazard datasheet of “scaffolding-installer”

References	1. Encyclopaedia of Occupational Health and Safety, 4th Ed., ILO, Geneva, 1998. 2. Encyclopaedia of Occupational Health and Safety, 3rd Ed., ILO, Geneva, 1983. 3. Occupational Disease - a Guide to their Prevention. DHEW- NIOSH Pub. 77-181,1977 4. U.S. Dept. of Labor: Dictionary of Occupational Titles, 4th. Ed., 1991 5. King, W.R. and Hudson, R.: Construction Hazard and Safety Handbook, Butterworth, London, 1985 6. Kirk-Othmer, Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, 4th. Ed., 1992.

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This datasheet was authored by a group of experts headed by prof. Donagi from the Israel Institute for Occupational Safety and Hygiene

Updated by VM. Approved by AS. Last update: 20.04.2009.