Foundry safety rates remain high.

Total recordable cases of injuries and illnesses in the manufacturing industry in the U.S. have dipped slightly for the past two years, according to data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The incidence rate for total cases peaked at 13.2 in 1990. It had fallen to 12.7 in 1991 and to 12.5 in 1992, the latest figure available. 1993 figures will not be published until late 1994.

Likewise, lost workday cases in manufacturing have dropped over the past two years. The lost workday incidence rate fell from a high of 5.8 in 1990 to 5.6 in 1991 and to 5.4 in 1992. The lost workdays severity figure for 1992 is scheduled to be published in March.

Nonferrous Foundries

The nonferrous foundry category (SIC Code 336) has experienced a similar downward trend over the past two years in total cases. All subcategories of that code have had the same results, except TABULAR DATA OMITTED that SIC Code 3369, nonferrous (not elsewhere classified) showed a higher incidence rate for total cases in 1992 than it did in 1991. The 1992 rate is still lower than the 1990 rate in that foundry category.

While the lost workday cases incidence rate has fallen in each of the last two years for non ferrous foundries overall, the individual subcategories show results that are more up and down. The trend in all nonferrous subcategories is down over the two years, again except for SIC code 3369, which rose slightly after dropping comfortably in 1991.

Ferrous Foundries

Unfortunately, the trend in total cases for ferrous foundries (SIC Code 332) is up for the past two years. The total cases incidence rate for both gray iron (SIC Code 3321) and for steel (SIC Code 3325) have been going up in each of the last two years.

Malleable iron (SIC Code 3322) showed a strong lower rate in 1991 but then jumped again in 1992. Steel investment (SIC Code 3324) is down over the two years. The 1991 figure for this category is not available because the data did not meet the Bureau of Labor Statistics standards for publication.

The lost workday cases incidence rate for ferrous foundries and each subcategory are lower in 1992 than they were in 1990. However, iron foundries experienced a rate decrease from 1990-1991, but then increased from 1991 to 1992. Steel foundries' rates have fallen for both years.

While the short-term trends in foundry incidence rates are encouraging, the industry has a long way to go in improving the safety and health of foundry work.

There are several foundries that have managed, at one time or another, to have years with no recordable lost time cases. Therefore, there should be no reason why foundries cannot match, or better, the rates for all manufacturing.