The worlds’ most vital manufacturing material is steel, which allows us to build machines, structures and products built to last. This segment of the primary metals industry encompasses companies that manufacture steel tubes, pipes, steel wire, and metal shapes from acquired iron or steel.
Steel pipe ready for cooling
Steel wire
Steel being rolled
Here is a quick look at each of the core operations taking place across this industry:
Companies purchases iron or steel rods, bars or wire to produce wire. Very fine wires are used in many industries, such as tire wires, fences, and welding wires.
Steel Wire Manufacturing
Companies roll or draw shapes (except wire). Examples of these shapes include plate, sheet, strip, rod, and bar. Hot-rolled and Cold-rolled strips (Coils) are a key input for automobiles.
Rolling Hot Steel
Companies manufacture welded, riveted, or seamless pipe and tube. Steel pipes and tubes make up the 5th largest US exported item for the industry.
Steel Pipe Manufacturing
Across all three of the steel product manufacturing operations, there around 54,000 employees. Here is a quick rundown of the occupations most likely requiring personal protective equipment:
Click an occupation to expand and learn more.
Assemble finished products and parts. There are around 1,400 of these workers found in Steel Product Manufacturing. You will find this worker assembling bolts, using many different types of tools, and moving heavy parts. They construct finished products and the parts that go into them. Assemblers and Fabricators use alot of tools, machines, and most importanly need their hands protected.
Operate machines that saw, cut, shear, slit, punch, crimp, notch, bend, or straighten metal. Around 3,490 of this occupation works in Steel Product Manufacturing Industry. You will find these workers aligning metal parts and grinding out burrs or sharp edges. This makes cut resistant gloves a high priority for this worker. Common Job titles for this position are Die Setter, Press Operator, Machine Setter and Operator, Press Punch Operator.
Employment of Cutting & Press Machine Setters and Operators by State
Operate machines that extrude metal materials into tubes, wires, and bars. Around 3,790 of this occupation works in the Steel Product Manufacturing Industry. You will find these workers loading materials into machines. Common Job titles for this position are Extruder Operator, Wire Mill Remover, Extrusion Press Operator and Metal Inspector.
Operate machines to taper, shape and form metal. Around 6% of the workforce falls into this occupation, around 7,000 workers. You will find these workers removing dies, forging hammers and moving metal work pieces. Common Job titles for this position are Forger, Blacksmith, Hammer Operator, and Forge Presso Operators
Operate grinding tools that remove excess metal material or burrs. There are around 1,420 of these workers found in Steel Product Manufacturing. You will find these workers sharpening edges and corners, along with polishing metal. Common Job titles for this position are Deburrer, Finisher, Grinder, and Grinding Operator.
Employment of Grinding, Lapping, Polishing and Buffing Machine Tool Setters / Operators by State
Duties include supplying or holding materials, along with cleaning work areas and equipment. Around 1,010 of these workers are found in Steel Product Manufacturing. You will find these workers attaching cables, changing machine gears and handling a lot of material. All of these activities make gloves extremely important. Common Job titles for this position are Laborer, Press Helper, and Material Handler.
Worker activities include repairing, installing, and adjusting industrial machinery. There are around 1,870 of these workers found in Steel Product Manufacturing. You will find these workers cutting and welding metal to repair broken metal parts. Job titles for this position are Fixer, Industrial and Master Mechanic.
Inspect machined, fabricated or assembled parts. There are around 2,080 of these workers found in Steel Product Manufacturing. Half of these workers are found in foundries. You will find these workers inspecting equipment and structures. Common Job titles for this position are Quality Technician, Inspector, and Picker / Pacer.
Operate cutting and forming machines. There are around 5,900 of these workers found in the Steel Product Manufacturing industry. You will find these workers changing cutting tools, aligning parts, and inspecting metalwork pieces. Common Job titles for this position are CNC Machine setter, CNC machinist, and CNC Operator. Exposure to hazardous equipment is always a concern.
Machinists are the workers who utilize the machine and cutting tools. This occupation is highly skilled at operating machinery. There are around 1,130 of this occupation working acrss the Steel Product Manufacturing industry. You will find this worker operating machine tools to produce precision parts. Job titles for this position Gear Machinist, Machine Operator and Maintenance Machinist.
Employment of Machinists by State
These workers help move steel and other materials. There are around 5,380 of these workers in the Steel Product Manufacturing indusry. That is a large number of hands needing protected. You will find these workers operating conveyors, transporting materials, and operating machines. Common job titles are Laborer and Operator.
Operate machines designed to cut, shape and form metal. There are roughly 21,640 of these workers found in Steel Product Manufacturing. You will find these workers fabricating metal products, lifting heavy materials and working with their hands. Be sure to check out our Metal Fabrication industry educational page.
Operate machines to mill, plane, shape, and groove metal. There are around 660 of these workers found in Steel Product Manufacturing. You will find this worker eeding materials and mounting materials into production equipment. Common job titles for this occupation are Machine Operator and Miller.
Operate machines that plate, roll and flatten steel. There are around 2,940 of these workers found in the Steel Product Manufacturing ndustry. Common Job titles for this position are Rolling Mill Operator, Mill Operator and Roll Form Operator.
Use hand-welding, flame-cutting, hand soldering, and brazing equipment to weld/join metal components, fill holes, indentations, or seams of fabricated metal products. There are around 2,430 of these workers employed in the Steel Product Manufacturing industry. You will find these workers welding components in flat, vertical or overhead positions. Common Job titles for this position are Maintenance Welder, Mig Welder, and Welder/Fabricator
Operate welding, soldering or brazing machines that weld, braze, or heat treat metal products. There are around 2,680 of these workers found in Steel Product Manufacturing. You will find these workers adding material to work pieces, joining metal components, and annealing finished work pieces. Common Job titles for this position are Fabricator, Mig Welder, Spot Welder, Fitter-Welder, and Braze Operators.
PPE & safety gear is a definite need for the above occupations and workers. The BLS reports that Rolling/Drawing and Pipe manufacturing recordable injury cases are unfortunately well above the Primary Metal industry average.
Steel Product Manufacturing Industry | Recordable Cases per 100 Employees |
---|---|
Rolling and Drawing | 5.8 |
Iron and Steel Pipe and Tube Manufacturing | 5 |
All Primary Metal | 4.5 |
Workers within the steel product manufacturing industry experience over a 1,000 hand injuries each year. Within wire drawing operations, there is always the risk of lacerations from sharp cut ends. Working around parts and materials, chemical products, hot surfaces and around hand tools causes over 35% of all these injuries.
"Safety is like a lock, but you are the key."
The way to opening the door requires making sure the key is well protected. We breakdown all the steel products manufacturing hazards below and the best product to consider for each one. You are the key to successfully manufacturing products. Let us protect the key...
Find the right MCR Safety product that protects you against these common hazards.
Bending pipes and rolling machines can wreak havoc on your hands. We Protect People!
Manufacturing work involves many dangerous chemicals. Check out the chemical protection offered.
Learn More About Chemicals and Liquids ProtectionThere are over 1,800 industrial mechanics working around machines and oily parts. Add in the fact that 13% of all injuries involve machinery and impact gloves become must have safety gear.
Learn More About Crush and Impact Protection
Steel is sharp and gets hot. Our 9693 is extremely flexible and keeps your hands protected from heat up to 284 degrees. Need something with higher heat? Our 9470K protects up to 608 degrees.
Learn More About Cut and Heat ProtectionEyewear hazards and flying debris are everywhere in Steel Product Manufacturing. Welding alone is one of the leading causes of eyewear injuries every year. Do not worry; we have styles with 6X greater Anti-Fog technology, 3X greater scratch resistance and numerous welding styles.
Learn More About Impaired Vision Protection5,300 workers are moving material in Steel Manufacturing. With so much handling and transporting taking place, good gripping gloves are a definite need.
Moving machinery requires keeping your gloves clipped to your side. When you're handling metal, it is always a good idea keeping your back-of-hands protected too.
Learn More About Moving Parts and Handling Metal ProtectionMoving steel product requires gloves, glasses and garments.
Keep your hands free from oil, grit and grind. Our BNF and LFT gloves are suited for this environment.
Inspecting factory floors requires you staying visible.
Learn More About Overall Visibility ProtectionWhen welding pipes, safety gear is a necessity.
Learn More About Welding and Cutting ProtectionPremier welding gear is essential for Welders. There are roughly 5,000 of these workers in Steel Products Manufacturing. We’ve got you covered with one of the largest glove and garments on the market today.
Learn More About Welding Sparks ProtectionThe saying goes, "You don't know what you don't know". Let our 360 team help you know more abut PPE.
Learn More About Lack of Safety Knowledge ProtectionMCR Safety manufactures and supplies Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Simply put, WE PROTECT PEOPLE! We are known world-wide for our extensive product line depth surrounding gloves, glasses, and garments spanning across numerous industries. We offer the total package of safety gear encompassing industrial gloves, safety glasses, protective garments, welding gear, industrial boots, Flame Resistant (FR) gear, face shields, and much more. From a glove standpoint alone, MCR Safety manufacturers and supplies over 1,000 different style gloves. Here are some of the many reasons MCR Safety is your go to source for PPE:
MCR Safety is recognized as a global manufacturer stretching across six countries, with both distribution and manufacturing facilities. Our core competency and specialty is manufacturing and supplying protective gloves, glasses, and garments. The information shown and provided on MCR Safety’s website, its safety articles, industry resource pages, highlighted hazards and safety equipment should be used only as a general reference tool and guide. The end user is solely responsible for determining the suitability of any product selection for a particular application. MCR Safety makes no guarantee or warranty (expressed or implied) of our products’ performance or protection for particular applications.