Safe foundry practice

"Safe foundry practice" by Travelers Insurance Companies is an industrial safety manual written in the early 20th century. It focuses on preventing accidents and improving efficiency in (primarily iron) foundries through proper personal protective equipment, machine guarding, safe molten-metal handling, disciplined crane and hoisting practices, and good housekeeping and illumination.

The opening of the manual begins with promotional matter for the insurer, then a preface framing the foundry as a complex mechanical-and-chemical workplace where teamwork, education, and a formal safety organization are essential. It notes that most injuries are burns and immediately prescribes practical protections—durable clothing, proper shoes and leggings, eye protection, gloves, and aprons—before detailing safe design, inspection, and handling of ladles, flasks, molds, and crucibles (including storage, drying, annealing, and correct use of tongs). It then outlines safe cupola tapping and charging, comprehensive safeguards and procedures for traveling cranes and hoisting gear (chains, hooks, and slings), guarding and dust control for tumbling barrels, mixers, sifters, molding machines, and grinders, and careful use of compressed air and sand-blasting enclosures. The section closes by stressing adequate lighting, ventilation, orderliness, and a well-organized foundry yard to reduce congestion and common hazards. (This is an automatically generated summary.)