Safety First, Safety All The Time!

This page deals largely with general safety issues; another page deals with solvent safety:

Solvent Safety

The following text on safety was donated by Gary Preckshot:

The forces involved in metalworking machinery are far higher than most people expect. You can either be struck by shrapnel or pulled into a machine by being caught by a moving part. There are several rules that reduce these hazards:

• Don't wear loose clothes, ties, unsecured braids, or jewelry.
• Turn off machines and *WAIT* for rundown before approaching the working area. You'll spend a lot more time in an ER than you'll ever save by jumping in right away.
• Don't snap chips using a shop towel. Use a brush or air.
• Don't mess with long chips curling off a turning. If you get build up, stop the machine and remove the chips wearing leather gloves and using pliers.
• Keep power transmission belts of any kind isolated and guarded. Flat leather belts are especially hazardous because they tend to be unguarded on crowned cone pulleys.

If in doubt, add more clamps. If in doubt, chuck more deeply or use a collet. A turning that comes adrift can damage both the lathe and you. A workpiece that shifts can damage both the mill and you.

Stuff gets hot when cut. Let it cool before picking it up.

Metal cutting generally leaves a sharp burr. Break the edges with a file or a de-burring tool before you release the work for general handling.

Don't let kids, wives, husbands, girlfriends, or boyfriends close to metalworking operations without training or close supervision.

Chips are extremely sharp. Long, curled chips from lathe turnings are especially dangerous because kids, wives, husbands, girlfriends, or boyfriends see only how pretty they are. You can get a very deep cut by handling such chips with your hands. Have a system for removing and storing chips. Use it regularly.

Use eye protection - ALWAYS.

Beware of fascination. Metal cutting tools flash and glint as they spin. An unwary person may reach toward the pretty, shiny tool. This is no joke. It happens. Then you take a trip to the local ER.

Don't watch welding without adequate dark glass filters.

You can get a tan in 2 minutes and a burn in five on any exposed skin close to arc welding. It doesn't hurt for about 3 hours, but then it hurts for days. Cover up.

Don't play with air. Not only can it inject chips (by blowing them) into your body, but it can inject oily air as well. Sometimes right through the skin. Air is no joke.

In general, no horseplay in the shop. Banish anybody who can't understand this simple rule. This is one place where absolute dictatorship is better than democracy.

Take your time. You'll save on rework time, machine repair, and medical costs.