Some of the most important jobs in a variety of vital industries here in Indiana and Illinois are undertaken by professionals trained to work with specific kinds of heavy machinery. A special kind of expertise is required for this kind of work, and often it brings with it a high risk of severe injury or death even to the most experienced of machinists.
Industrial machinists are known to work in one of the deadliest jobs in this country.
What is an Industrial Machinist?
Industrial machinist is a broad term that describes three different lines of work: (1) industrial machinery mechanics; (2) machinery maintenance workers; and (3) millwrights. The Bureau of Labor Statistics explains:
1] Industrial machinery mechanics, also called maintenance machinists, keep machines in working order by detecting and correcting errors before the machine or the products it produces are damaged …. Examples of machines they may work with are robotic welding arms, automobile assembly line conveyor belts, and hydraulic lifts. After diagnosing a problem, the industrial machinery mechanic may take the equipment apart to repair or replace the necessary parts. Once a repair is made, mechanics test a machine to ensure that it is operating correctly. In addition to working with hand tools, mechanics commonly use lathes, grinders, and drill presses. Many also are required to weld.
2] Machinery maintenance workers do basic maintenance and repairs on machines. They clean and lubricate machinery, perform basic diagnostic tests, check the performance of the machine, and test damaged machine parts to determine whether major repairs are necessary.… They perform minor repairs, generally leaving major repairs to industrial machinery mechanics. Maintenance workers use a variety of tools to do repairs and preventive maintenance. For example, they may use a screwdriver or socket wrenches to adjust a motor’s alignment, or they might use a hoist to lift a heavy printing press off the ground.
3] Millwrights install, maintain, and disassemble industrial machines. Putting together a machine can take a few days or several weeks. Millwrights perform repairs that include replacing worn or defective parts of machines. They also may be involved in taking apart the entire machine, a common situation when a manufacturing plant needs to clear floor space for new machinery. In taking apart a machine, millwrights carefully disassemble, categorize, and package each part of the machine. Millwrights use a variety of hand tools, such as hammers and levels, as well as equipment for welding, brazing, and cutting. They also use measuring tools, such as micrometers, measuring tapes, lasers, and other precision-measuring devices. On large projects, they commonly use cranes and trucks. When millwrights and managers determine the best place for a machine, millwrights use forklifts, hoists, winches, cranes, and other equipment to bring the parts to the desired location.
Read: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Industrial Machinery Mechanics, Machinery Maintenance Workers, and Millwrights.
Heavy machinery is a critical component of both residential and commercial construction industry in our part of the country. It is also necessary in the steel mills and factories of Indiana and Illinois, as well as in warehouses and power plants.
Industry Employers for Industrial Machinists
Wherever heavy, sophisticated, or complex machinery is needed within an industry, there will be a need for industrial machinists to be on the job. According to the BLS, the largest employers of industrial machinery mechanics, machinery maintenance workers, and millwrights are (1) manufacturing; (2) wholesale trade; (2) commercial / industrial repair and maintenance; and (4) construction.
Each industry has its own particular needs for heavy machinery, which must be installed, maintained, and repaired by the industrial machinist. In both Indiana and Illinois, two of the biggest contributors to our local economies are our local steel mills and our construction industry.
Construction Industry
All sorts of heavy machinery can be found on a residential or commercial construction site. Heavy machinery within the construction industry needing the machinist’s expertise includes:
- Excavators;
- Backhoes;
- Dragline Excavators;
- Bulldozers;
- Graders;
- Wheel Tractor Scrapers;
- Trenchers;
- Loaders;
- Tower Cranes;
- Pavers;
- Compactors;
- Telehandlers;
- Feller Bunchers;
- Dump Trucks;
- Pile Boring Machines; and
- Pile Driving Machines.
Steel Industry
A wide variety of complicated heavy machinery is required in any steel manufacturing plant, including:
- Rolling mills made up of a roughing mill train, intermediate mill trains, and finishing mill train with continually operating drives;
- Quench boxes where very hot steel is cooled down with water; and other necessary steel industry heavy machinery, such as:
- Continuous Casting Machines (CCMs),
- straightening machines,
- loopers,
- girders,
- boilers,
- reboilers,
- exhausts,
- heat recovery units,
- pumps,
- pipelines, and
- cranes.
Risk of Serious Injury or Death Facing Industrial Machinist
At any of these industrial job sites, the risk of serious injury or death faces the industrial machinist from a variety of sources. The accident victim can be hurt in a collision between various forms of machinery or equipment; he or she can be crushed within components of the machinery; he may be burned or electrocuted; and he or she may be fatally injured by falling objects or from a fall itself on the job site.
TBI, Spinal Cord Injury, Amputation, Death
For the industrial machinist in Indiana or Illinois, permanent bodily injury can result. The machinist may face the consequences of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) or spinal cord injury with permanent disabilities.
Amputations of one or more limbs are another severe possibility facing the machinist who is involved in a severe on-the-job work accident.
Finally, the sad truth is that all too often industrial machinists will not be able to survive their work injuries and will perish as a result of their on-the-job accident involving heavy machinery.
Both Indiana and Illinois offer avenues for justice to the industrial machinist and his or her loved ones who must deal with the aftermath of a serious or fatal work accident involving heavy machinery. These incidents must be investigated to determine the exact causes of the event, and industrial experts may be needed to study and confirm the reasons for the tragedy.
Workers’ compensation laws, as well as negligence, product liability, and wrongful death claims may establish legal liability with the employer, other companies involved in the project (e.g., contractors), product manufacturers, suppliers, and others.
For more, please read:
- Amputation Injuries from On-the-Job Work Accidents in Indiana or Illinois
- Industrial Accidents in Indiana and Illinois: Serious Injury or Death on the Job
- Steel Mill Workers in Indiana and Illinois: Rising Production and Greater Danger of Injury or Death
- Steel Mill Workers: Risk of Injury on the Job: Equipment, Working Conditions
- Construction Worker Injury Behavior Study: Higher Risk of Accident
- Legal Protection for Construction Workers from High Risk and Danger of Serious Injury or Death on the Job
- Work Accidents: Dangers of Serious or Fatal Injuries on the Job Because Safety Costs Too Much.
Industrial machinists provide vital and essential services to all of us in Indiana and Illinois. The dangers they face should be minimal; however, today’s realities remain that these workers are at high risk of severe injury or death each day they are on the job. Please be careful out there!
