What are the risk levels for working with molten metals?

What are the risk levels for working with molten metals?

The levels of risk for work with molten metals can be categorized as follows:

Level 0: This level involves relatively low-risk activities such as welding and flame cutting, where the main hazard is sparks. Workers may be exposed to minimal amounts of molten metal.
Level 1: This level involves molten metal splashes that occur from small spillages or similar incidents. Workers may come into contact with small splashes of molten metal.
Level 2: This level involves a cloud of molten metal droplets resulting from events like a small water/molten metal explosion. Workers may be exposed to a significant amount of molten metal droplets.
Level 3: This level involves localized impact from a large eruption or explosion. In these situations, protective clothing may not provide complete protection, but it can help reduce the severity of injuries. Workers may be exposed to a significant amount of molten metal.

Clothing used for protection in these scenarios is typically tested according to the BS EN ISO 11612 standard. This standard categorizes fabrics into three performance levels, which align with the aforementioned levels (Level 1, 2, and 3). The tables provided outline the minimum and maximum thresholds for molten aluminum splash (Table 1) and molten iron splash (Table 2) that the fabrics should be able to withstand during testing.

It is important to note that the performance levels mentioned are based on test conditions and may not directly reflect the variability of molten metal exposure in real incidents. A comprehensive assessment should be conducted to determine the appropriate level of protection required for workers, taking into account the specific circumstances and potential hazards involved.