Scrap metal recycling is great for the environment and is also a great way for you to earn some extra cash and declutter at the same time.
However, remember that scrap metal can injure you or be dangerous to your health if care is not taken to handle it properly. The process can be injurious for people working with scrap metal and can cause strains or sprains, fractures, bruises, and cuts. Attention needs to be paid at all stages of scrap metal handling including extraction of the metal, sorting, storing, and transportation. This article discusses the best practices that you can adopt when handling scrap metal recycling projects.
Scrap Metal Extraction
Metals might be embedded in various appliances in different areas which might require unscrewing a layer with a screwdriver, using plies to take out small parts, and sharp or pointed objects to reach corners. Moreover, in some cases, you might also need some strong chemicals to clean the metal. Each of these things exposes you to potential injury. Take a look at these tips to stay safe during this process.
• Metal parts can be sharp, especially when extracting metal from appliances of small machines make sure that you are wearing thick rubber gloves so that you can prevent any cuts and scrapes from happening. You might have to pry open the layers and some of the edges can cut into your skin which is why it is important to take proper care. There are plenty of glove brands to choose from in Sydney when recycling scrap metal.
• You need to protect your eyes from shards of metal mistakenly getting into your eyes. Make sure you wear safety goggles for this purpose.
• If you are scrapping out metal your arms and legs must be covered to protect against abrasions and cuts. Your tools might mistakenly slip or some metal pieces may fall off on your body which is why jeans and full-sleeved tops are ideal.
Scrap Metal Sorting
Sorting out metals is important if you are looking to get good value for your scrap metal in Sydney. However, just as important is to ensure that you are following best practices when carrying out this process in scrap metal recycling. When sorting metal make sure:
That you
• Carefully clear out enough space for your metal parts. You can use large trays or baskets. Label these clearly.
• Wearing gloves at this stage is also very important because manually sorting out metal pieces will expose you to cuts and scrapes.
• Make sure that you wear thick-soled rubber boots so that you don’t mistakenly step on sharp metal parts.
• Keep a magnet handy to sift out ferrous metals from non-ferrous materials
• Make sure that you have thick-lined bags used for carrying and transporting the metal scraps as these can be heavy as well as sharp and can tear through the bags and injure you
• Keep a first aid kit handy to be prepared for any incident
Scrap Metal Transportation
Transporting metal involves carrying the sorted metals into vehicles that will carry the metal to the scrap metal recycling company in Sydney. Make sure that you:
• Distribute the metal in bags in such a way that they are easy to carry. Carrying heavy bags can strain your muscles or cause injuries in your arms and back. Having a smaller load will make it more manageable to carry the bags to the vehicle. Try to carry the bag on your back, and if your bag has straps, use both straps to carry the load evenly. Assuming the correct posture is important to prevent any long-term musculoskeletal disorders, so make sure that whatever you do, you do it within limits without straining your body too hard and for too long.
• Make sure you are wearing gloves, and that your arms and legs are fully covered even during this process because parts can tear out of the bag or might poke you from within.
• Make sure that the bags are properly placed in the car, especially if it is a car that you will be personally driving. Make sure that there are no bags on the passenger seat and that all bags in the car are secured in place because loosely placed bags can roll around when there are bumps or sudden brakes. A heavy bag filled with sharp, hard objects can cause serious harm if it hits you with force. Therefore, take special care to secure the bags in the vehicle.
• If you are visiting a scrap metal recycling facility in Sydney you should carry a helmet with you. This is because you might need to walk through the facility to trade in your bit and this walk will expose you to falling metal objects or parts that have the potential to badly injure you. Wear the helmet before entering the facility to protect yourself against unforeseen injuries.
Takeaway
Recycling scrap metal can be injurious to health, especially for people new to this, as they may not be aware of the potential hazards. Moreover, if you are scrapping items for metal at home, you might not even have the proper tools needed for extraction.
You must be properly prepared for all the recycling processes. While the tips shared above might seem to be simple enough, handling metals can be challenging. The dirt, rust, grime, and the sheer effort involved can tire you out and you might not want to make the extra effort to take the precautions. But trust us, as professionals of scrap metal recycling in Sydney, at Scrap Merchant Sydney we know the ins and outs of handling metals, and it is highly inadvisable to handle even the smallest scrap metal part without proper safety equipment.
Following our advice for scrap metal extraction, handling and transportation will be beneficial to you and will save you from injuries.
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