FACTS

1. Die setters set up, maintain, and operate presses and cutting machines used to form and cut metal, plastic, and other materials into shapes for manufacturing.
2. Die setters often install impressions and gripping dies, align and bolt equipment, and test machines to verify their conformance to die setups. Despite the job title, die setters do not work exclusively with conventional die-cutting machines.
3. Pinch points in machinery can catch or crush body parts while setting the die plates, inserting product blanks, or removing scraps.
4. All pinch points of any machine and the cutting edges of all power-driven tools shall be properly guarded or provided with a device to prevent accidental contact with workers.
5. Safety devices such as emergency stops, sensors, or operator restraints can prevent accidents. Workers should wear tight fitting clothing and secure jewelry and long hair.
6. Machinery may eject flying particles, finished products, or scraps during processing and injure workers. Machined products must be caught in baskets or trays that are guarded with mesh or other barriers. Barriers should function properly and remain in place during operation. When the product or scrap tray is emptied, it must be immediately replaced, or the machinery should be temporarily tagged out of service.

STATS

• There are over 10,349 Die Setters currently employed in the United States.
• 162 severe of die setter injuries were reported to OSHA, 113 of those required hospitalization and 52 involved amputation injuries.
• While there have not been many studies related to job and die setters in particular, there have been several studies conducted on workers in metal product factories and similar settings. For example, a 2019 Medical Journal study analyzed the data concerning asbestos-related deaths in die setting workers that occurred in 2019. Researchers found that die setting workers were 87% more likely to die of mesothelioma than members of the general population.
• A Sheet Metal Occupational Health Institute Trust study found that 32% of die setting workers in the sheet metal industry in 2019 had specific lung abnormalities that were consistent with occupational lung disorders.