Is the workforce ready? A look at operational health and safety in additive manufacturing

Purpose

AM is a rapidly growing and developing industry. As a novel industry, it has been acknowledged that there is a need for research done in the area of occupational health and safety (OHS). This study considers the perspective of the AM technology users and how they receive and implement safety information and what are the gaps and development needs in the area.

Methodology

The study was conducted in two steps. First, a comprehensive survey on general OHS topics among international AM professionals was carried out. Second, a focus group interview was conducted with Finnish survey participants. This longitudinal mixed-methods research allowed the collection of OHS information over five years. Data from the survey and focus group interviews were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively.

Findings

The results of both survey and focus group interviews indicated that AM technology users have realized they have knowledge gaps in AM safety, especially concerning comprehensive external training. The focus group interviews highlighted a strong culture of self-directed learning and feeling that research on safety of additive manufacturing remains fragmented. Together, this conveys a strong notion that further global research and education on AM-related OHS are necessary to provide better safety guidance to all AM users, including those in industrial, hobbyist, and office. However, to achieve sustainable and safe growth in the AM field, concerted efforts from manufacturers, industry professionals, and regulatory bodies are essential.

Originality

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is pioneering study to gain insight into how AM technology users themselves view OHS issues.