The US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has issued some important information about 3D printing.
NIOSH, which is part of the CDC, attempts to ensure the health and safety of Americans. Safety is safety, however, and their advice generally is usable anywhere in the world.
In the case of 3D printing, there are some known hazards:
- Emissions from materials
- Emissions during printing operations
- Mechanical capture risk
- Burn risk
3D printer operators have known about those issues for many years, and competent operators take the right steps to mitigate them. However, novice operators and some businesses may not be aware of the risks, and that’s where NIOSH steps in. They explain:
“Rapidly expanding use of Additive Manufacturing (3D Printing) can expose workers to potential safety and health hazards. NIOSH conducts research and provides recommendations for workers to support the safe and responsible deployment of this technology.”
They explain that there are indeed hazards and have been undertaking research and field studies to determine the precise hazards for various scenarios.
In addition to their basic introductory page, they’ve also been developing a series of videos on AM Health and Safety. Here’s the first one:
Finally, they’ve also published downloadable graphics that can be affixed near 3D printer setups. These contain QR codes to lead you to their existing pages that detail 3D printer safety precautions and procedures. Note that some of this information has been around for a while, but the stickers will help lead 3D print novices to them.
It’s a small step, but these stickers just might help someone, somewhere.
Via CDC
