SAFETY PRECAUTIONS WHILE WORKING IN MACHINE SHOP

The following safety precautions or guidelines are generally adopted for every metal cutting or machining shop. They must be strictly followed for safety. Specific safety guidelines for some of the machine processes like lathe, drilling, shaping, planning slotting, grinding, milling, and finishing operations are described below:

• Use the correct tools and work holding devices recommended for the process.
• Hold the work piece and tool securely on the machine.
• Clamp the tool correctly. An overhanging tool may cause catastrophic failure of the tool, work piece or the machine tool.
• Do not try to remove chips from the machine with bare hands. Never use compressed air from mouth, use brush.
• Do not touch a job-piece with bare hands while doing inspection or removing it from the machine. Use gloves always.
• Operate the machine at recommended operating conditions based on work material and tool material combination and other cutting conditions specified.
• Use recommended coolant depending upon work-tool material combination.
• During machining ductile materials, use chip breakers and chip guards.
• Re-sharp the tools immediately when it starts producing rough surfaces on the job-piece or produces chatter.
• Never run the machines at speed higher than recommended. It may produce vibrations & chatter and may damage job-piece, tool, or both.
• Provide sufficient approach and over travel distances wherever necessary.
• In case of power failures, switch off the machine and retrieve tool from the work piece.
• Always wear goggles to protect eyes from flying chips.
• Machines are governed by the old clinch garbage input-output. The skill of the operator is often the limiting factor for the machining operation.
• Stop machine before attempting to clean, removing tool or work piece.