Despite downward trends in recent years, incidence rates for lost-time injuries remain elevated among metal fabrication workers. In 2011, there were 133.1 lost-time injuries per 10,000 employees of fabricated metal product manufacturing firms (North American Industry Classification System [NAICS] code 332) compared to 105.2 per 10,000 for U.S. private industry as a whole [1]. Incidence rates for specific types of injuries were also elevated among metal fabrication workers. Amputations occurred at a higher rate in metal fabrication than in general industry (2.6 per 10,000 versus 0.6 per 10,000), as did eye injuries (8.8 per 10,000 versus 2.4 per 10,000) and injuries of the upper extremities (59.0 per 10,000 versus 33.1 per 10,000) [1]. These disparate figures indicate a need for improved safety practices.
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