Safety

[R S Nelson]

I went into the shop last night to work on my current project and noticed the chuck key sitting in the chuck of my lathe. I've got to have a 'chat' with my son, who I'm pleased to say is happily using my tools, but sometimes makes mistakes. My fault for not having addressed the matter with him sooner.

He recently snagged his hand on a sharp cutter, although the mill was not in motion. But since I need to have a 'session' with him on shop safety, what are the most important items to cover. Eye protection? Loose clothing? What would you recommend?

[spope14]

I have a series of safety regulations I use for my machine tools class I teach. These are the rules of the road as written and enforced by the one and only dictator of safety - me.

I have researched these via OHSA, books on machining, experience, and any way possible.

Eleven sheets, I can send them via e-mail as word documents if you wish, and you can look them over as you choose. E-mail me or reply here if you wish them.

As for the most iomportant things:

1. Eye protection at all times, even when the machine is NOT running (clean-up, other things that happen)

2. never reach across or through a cutter, even when it not in motion.

3. ALWAYS KEEP CHUCK KEYS IN YOUR HAND WHEN USING. PICK IT UP, USE IT, REPLACE IT BACK WHERE YOU GOT IT, RELEASE. One of my friends saw a guy killed by a chuck key.

4. Clothes not loose, sleeves rolled up, no jewelery or rings, no long hair.

There are several, this is a very small start.

Have that chat today, do not wait, or he will only be counting the nine rules of safety on his fingers.

[bdarin]

I try never to start a machine unless I can see all my fingers and where my hands are. Especially with the radial arm saw.

[BrianH]

Here's a big one for me....

Almost EVERYTHING in a machine shop is SHARP!

Cutters are sharp, chips are sharp, saw blades are sharp, caliper jaws are sharp, and they'll ALL get you.

Drill him on one of my biggest pet peves:

Deburr EVERYTHING. Esp. after you saw. DON'T PUT MATERIAL BACK WITHOUT DEBURRING IT!!!!

Someone put a plate up on a rack without deburring it; got me on the finger and that one bled for two days.

That's probably the one thing that'll get him the most. If you learn early, hopefully it won't go past a minor cut.

[lynnl]

Make your chat a quiz:
Ask him where the most important safety device in the shop is located. (If he says anything other than "...between his ears.." have him try again. In an environment with sharp, hard, fast moving objects there are no unimportant or less important considerations ,ie eyes, hands, chuck key thru the brain, etc.. It's unforgiving. Mom & Dad's love can't undo a fraction of a second's carelessness.

[Rotate]

Get one of those chuck keys with spring loaded pin for both the lathe and the drill chuck. No matter what rules you have, you'll one day make a mistake so find ways to protect yourself from your own stupidity.

Albert

[Thrud]

I would ask SPope for his rules by email, print them out, put them up on the walls, and BOTH of you go over them.

If you are distracted due to fatigue, drugs, booze or any other reason that you cannot give 100% of your attention to you should stay away from the power tools!

Never, Ever, blow things off with an airgun - this is all too common and results in more eye injuries than almost any other cause.

Treat cuts or wounds immediately by removing foreign objects with sterilised tweezers and then wash and apply disinfectant and bandage. I know a guy who nearly died from a small metal sliver and almost lost his arm because of infection. See a doctor if it is anything remotely serious asap.

Use gloves to handle sharp tools and metal stock but remove them before operating your mill, lathe, shaper, or other power tool (use common sense).

Always clamp work properly to prevent movement.

Turn your chuck/tool manually to make sure you have proper clearances for the chuck/tool and work - this is especiallly important when working close to the jaws of the chuck or a vise.

Always let the machine spin down before attempting adjustment or removal.

If more than one person is working in the shop at the same time use lockouts on switches to prevent energising equipment while working on them - only one person at a time should use a particular machine - this averts disaster if one person is not finished setting up and another starts messing with it. Padlocks can prevent unauthorised use of the machine if you are unfinished with an operation and not present in your shop.

Use the big head, not the little one when working in the shop!

[bspooh]

Always maintain a little element of FEAR in all the machines that you may run...too much confidence can get dangerous...

If something doesn't look right, then don't do it....Pay attention to sound..If it doesn't sound right, then stop...something may be wrong..

Always keep the machine power off when doing any chucking or dialing in....If your lathe has a handle on the left and right of the apron to turn the chuck on,,, then remove the handle to the left, because your knee may hit it when you don't want it to...


brent

[metal mite]

Put a lock on the door, or the power supply.
Take the time to teach him safe procedures.
Only let him work supervised until he's familiar with the machines and dangers involved.
mite

[Georgeo]

Brent said to "always keep a little element of fear". He's so right. I'm new to metal working, but I've been working wood for 50 years or so (started young), and I'm still just a little uneasy at the 10" table saw, so I'm super careful. Result, I still have 10 fingers and no major scars.
George