A guide to workers’ comp benefits for foundry workers in Georgia who suffer on-the-job injuries, illnesses, or diseases
If you work in a foundry, you know the job is tough—high heat, heavy equipment, and toxic fumes all pose serious risks. Unfortunately, when injuries happen, getting the right support isn’t always easy. Georgia workers’ compensation is designed to help after a work-related illness, disease, or injury, but sometimes, obstacles can get in the way.
In this article, we’ll discuss the top hazards and injuries for foundry workers in our state, provide guidance on getting Georgia workers’ compensation benefits, and outline when you should seek the help of an experienced workers’ compensation attorney if you hit any bumps during the claims process.
If you’ve been hurt on the job in Georgia or made sick because of your job duties, here’s what you need to know to protect yourself and get the compensation you deserve.
Have additional questions or want help determining how much compensation you’re owed after a serious injury at work? Gerber & Elkins can help! Reach out to our Atlanta work injury lawyers to schedule a free consultation.
What’s a foundry worker?
Workers in a foundry are involved in the metal casting process, shaping molten metal into various products that are used primarily in the automotive, construction, and manufacturing industries. These jobs are often physically demanding and require working in extreme heat, handling heavy materials, and following strict safety protocols.
Below are some key roles and job duties in a foundry:
- Furnace operators. These workers run the furnaces that melt metal—like steel, iron, or aluminum—into a liquid. They control the heat, add the right mix of materials, and make sure the metal’s ready to pour without blowing up or burning out.
- Coremakers. These workers focus on making the insides of the molds—called cores—that help create hollow spots or tricky shapes in the final piece. Think of it like sculpting the empty spaces so the metal fits just right.
- Pourers. Once the metal’s melted, pourers take over. They move it—usually in big buckets called ladles—and carefully dump it into the molds. It’s a sweaty job that needs steady hands, since spilling molten metal can lead to severe injuries.
- Finishers. After the metal cools and hardens, finishers and metal chasers clean it up. They knock off extra bits, grind down rough spots, and polish it so it looks good and fits where it’s supposed to. They might use tools like grinders or sandblasters.
- Molders. They’re the ones who shape the melted metal. They make molds—usually out of sand or metal—that are like hollow templates. Then they pour the liquid metal into those molds and let it cool into the shape of whatever part they’re making, like a pipe or an engine block.
- Patternmakers. These are the planners. They build the original designs—often out of wood or plastic—that the molds are based on. It’s like making the blueprint for what the metal will turn into.
- Maintenance workers. Foundries have tons of heavy machines, so these folks keep everything running. They fix broken furnaces, unclog pipes, and oil up gears so the whole place doesn’t grind to a halt.
- Inspectors. They check the finished parts to make sure they’re not cracked, warped, or otherwise defective. If something’s off, they send it back to be fixed or scrapped.
- Metallurgists. These experts in the science of metals study how different metals behave under heat and pressure so they can develop and improve metal alloys, optimize casting processes, and ensure the quality and strength of finished products through material testing and analysis.
Foundry workers are critical in producing durable metal components for machinery, vehicles, and infrastructure, with about 1,750 foundries in the U.S., according to the American Foundry Society (AFS).
In the news: Foundry worker dies in fire at Caterpillar’s Mapleton foundry
As reported by 25 News, on June 7, 2024, the Peoria County Coroner identified a worker who had died in a fire at Caterpillar’s Mapleton Foundry as Daulton Simmers, aged 28. The incident occurred on June 6, around 3:00 a.m., when Simmers suffered fatal thermal burns from a molten metal spill during a transfer operation.
This tragedy marks the third fatality at the Mapleton, Illinois, facility in less than 3 years, following the deaths of Steven Dierkes in 2022 and Scott Adams in 2021. Investigations by the Peoria County Sheriff’s Department and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) are ongoing. Caterpillar has expressed condolences and is cooperating with authorities.
What are the occupational hazards in foundry work?
Working in metal casting or at a foundry can be dangerous. In 2023, the incidence rate of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses in foundries was 5.3 cases per 100 full-time equivalent workers, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
That’s about double the average injury rate for workers in all industries.
Some of the most common hazards when working in a foundry include:
- Molten metal exposure. Splashes, spills, and explosions can cause severe fires and severe scalds and burns.
- Respiratory hazards. Inhalation of metal fumes, silica dust, and chemical byproducts can lead to lung diseases like silicosis, asbestosis, and metal fume fever (an illness that resembles the flu).
- Crush injuries. Handling heavy molds, castings, and equipment increases the risk of fractures, amputations, head injuries, spinal cord injuries, and even fatal crushing accidents caused by internal damage.
- Heat stress. High temperatures combined with physical labor can cause dehydration, heat exhaustion, or heat stroke.
- Electrical hazards. Faulty equipment, high-voltage machinery, and electromagnetic fields can result in shocks, electrocution, or interference with medical implants.
- Hearing damage. Foundries produce constant loud noise from grinding, molding, and casting, leading to permanent hearing loss or tinnitus without proper protection like earplugs and earmuffs.
- Eye injuries. Intense infrared and ultraviolet radiation from molten metal and welding can cause retinal burns, cataracts, or even vision loss.
- Chemical exposure. Contact with binding agents, resins, and cleaning solvents used in mold-making and finishing can cause skin irritation, chemical burns, and even long-term toxic effects like cancer.
Wearing personal protective equipment (PPE), such as heat-resistant clothing, gloves, safety glasses, ear protection, and hard hats, can protect workers against many of these hazards.
What Are Georgia Workers’ Rights to PPE in the Workplace?
Learn about your right to personal protective equipment at work in Georgia and what to do if your employer refuses to provide it.
Can foundry workers get workers’ comp in Georgia?
Yes, foundry workers in Georgia can receive workers’ compensation if they suffer a job-related injury, disease, or illness. State law requires employers with 3 or more employees (not independent contractors) to carry workers’ compensation insurance.
To qualify for benefits, workers must be able to show that their job duties or work environment directly caused their injury or condition.
Through workers’ comp, injured foundry workers are entitled to benefits such as:
- Medical benefits for all required treatment, medication, equipment, and supplies to aid in recovery
- Wage replacement benefits to help support the worker financially during their recovery if they’re unable to work or can only work part-time or in a limited capacity
- Vocational training to acquire new skills or education for a new job if they can no longer perform their previous job duties
In cases where a work-related injury or illness leads to death, dependents may receive workers’ comp death benefits, which cover funeral expenses and provide up to two-thirds of the worker’s weekly wages to help support their family.
Please note that while you have to prove your injury or condition is a direct result of your job, you do not have to prove that it was your employer’s fault to get benefits. In fact, in most instances, workers are eligible to receive workers’ comp benefits even if the accident that caused the injury was their fault.
Common Mistakes: What NOT to Do When Injured at Work
Avoid these missteps to increase your chances of having your Georgia workers’ compensation claim approved.
How do I file a claim for workers’ comp in Georgia?
Foundry workers and other eligible employees need to follow these steps to file a successful workers’ comp claim in Georgia:
- Seek medical attention. Immediately obtain medical treatment for your injury, disease, or illness. Prompt medical care provides essential documentation for your claim. Except for emergencies, you will need to be treated by an employer-approved doctor, so check with your employer to get a list of approved providers.
- Notify your employer. Report your injury or illness to your employer within 30 days of the incident or diagnosis of the occupational disease. If you miss this deadline, you may not be eligible for benefits.
- File a claim. Complete Form WC-14, “Notice of Claim,” and submit it to the Georgia State Board of Workers’ Compensation. This form must be filed within 1 year of the injury date or diagnosis of the disease.
If you face any obstacles during the process, contact a local Atlanta workers’ compensation lawyer who can assist with negotiating fair benefits or appealing a denied claim to ensure you get the compensation you’re entitled to under Georgia law.
Injured working in a foundry in Georgia? Contact Gerber & Elkins for help!
If you’ve suffered a serious or catastrophic work-related injury or illness as a foundry worker in Georgia, the skilled Atlanta workers’ compensation attorneys at Gerber & Elkins can help you get the benefits you deserve.
Our team has over 100 years of combined experience fighting for the rights of injured workers in Georgia and ensuring they’re not taken advantage of by employers or insurers who are focused on their bottom lines. We understand the obstacles foundry workers face when filing a claim and will work hard to ensure you’re treated fairly and get maximum compensation for your injury.
Contact Gerber & Elkins Workers’ Compensation Attorneys today for a free consultation to learn how we can help with your work injury claim.
References
American Foundry Society. (2020, May). U.S. METALCASTING INDUSTRY IMPACT ON U.S. JOBS & THE ECONOMY | American Foundry Society. Afsinc.org. https://www.afsinc.org/us-metalcasting-industry-impact-us-jobs-economy
Howell, J., Packowitz, H., & Estill, S. (2024, June 7). UPDATE: Coroner identifies man killed at Caterpillar’s Mapleton Foundry. https://www.25newsnow.com; 25 News Now. https://www.25newsnow.com/2024/06/07/coroner-identifies-man-killed-caterpillar-mapleton-foundry/
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2024, November 8). TABLE 1. Incidence rates of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses by industry and case types, 2023. Bureau of Labor Statistics. https://www.bls.gov/web/osh/table-1-industry-rates-national.htm
