10 Must-Have PPE Items for the Foundry
Working on the foundry floor can be a dangerous job, especially if you don't have the proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
C.A. Lawton and The Lawton Standard Co. are committed to keeping our workers, our vendors and our visitors safe.
We asked C.A. Lawton-De Pere EHS (Environment, Health and Safety) Coordinator Jairo Ramirez for his top 10 items foundry floor workers should have and should wear.
1. Hard Hats
- Protects against falling objects and help prevent serious head injuries
- Heat-resistant options are ideal for foundry environments
2. Safety Glasses and Goggles
- Shields eyes from flying debris, molten metal splashes and dust.
- Glasses should come with side-shields for added protection
3. Face Shields
- Provides additional protection for the face against splashes and sparks
- Often used in conjunction with safety glasses
4. Heat-Resistant Gloves
- Protects hands from burns and heat exposure
- Made from materials like leather or aluminized fabric.
5. Flame-Resistant Clothing
- Includes jackets, shirts, coveralls and pants made from materials like treated cotton or aramid fibers.
- Protects against heat, flames and molten metal splashes.
6. Respirators
- Protects against inhalation of harmful dust, sand, fumes and gases.
- Types include N95 masks, half-face masks and full-face respirators.
7. Hearing Protection
- Foundries can be incredibly noisy places.
- Earplugs or Earmuffs protect against high noise levels and help prevent hearing loss.
8. Steel-toed Shoes with Metatarsal Guard
- Protects feet from heavy objects and provides stability on slippery surfaces.
- Heat-resistant soles are beneficial in foundry settings.
- Metatarsal Guards protect the tops of the feet from heavy falling objects, often integrated into steel-toed boots.
9. Chemical-Resistant Gloves
- Necessary for handling chemicals used in the foundry process.
- Protects against chemical burns and skin irritation.
10. High-Visibility Clothing
- Enhances visibility in low-light conditions, reducing the risk of accidents.
- Could include bright hard hats for visibility too.
Lawton is Committed to Safety and Quality
The C.A. Lawton Co. and The Lawton Standard Co. are committed to the safety of our employees, our guests and the communities we operate in.
C.A. Lawton is ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 certified. You can read more about these certifications here.
Learn more about our newly acquired ISO 45001 certification here.
All of Lawton Standard's foundries (5 iron and 1 steel) are ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certified. You can read more about Lawton's commitment to quality management systems, environmental systems and safety systems here.