A 12-article engineering series covering hand exposure across the full aluminium production process — from the potroom at 950°C to the finishing line at ambient temperature. Based on direct plant observation and the PSC handbook Hand Exposure in Aluminium Plants, First Edition 2026.
Each article covers one department or production area. Each is independently readable and includes hazard cards, engineering controls, FAQ schema, and links to adjacent articles.
The engineering objective across all 12 articles is the same: redesign the task interface so that the worker's hand is not in the hazard zone during normal task performance. This is distinct from mitigating the consequence of contact — it prevents contact from occurring by changing the geometry of the task.
The last 300 mm of reach — the distance where the hand enters the hazard zone — is where every engineering control in this series is focused. Whether the hazard is a potroom cell at 950°C, a rolling mill nip, or a coil sling insertion, the intervention point is the final 300 mm of approach.
Hot process boundary limits apply to direct contact with active molten metal, active process equipment, and high-temperature surfaces. Cold rolling and finishing line tools serve a different function — laceration prevention at ambient temperature. The correct tool for each task is determined by the task type, not by a single product specification.
PSC can review the task, equipment condition, component geometry, working distance, and temperature before suggesting an appropriate engineering interface — across any department covered in this series.