Machine Shop Safety

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Machine shop safety practices should be followed at all machine shop manufacturing shops to prevent accidents and related lost productivity. Keep First-Aid safety section easily accesible. Make sure all machine guards are in place and door-interlocks are properly functioning. All operators must be clearly trained of the Emergency Stop Buttons so the machine can be stopped in case of an emergency. All operators must wear safety glasses, safety shoes, etc. Prevent loose clothing and long hair from getting into drive mechanisms. Machinery should not be operated under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Proper gloves should be worn to prevent injuries from hot and sharp metal chips coming from machining operations. Some people are allergic to coolants used in machine shops; hence wear proper gloves when handling coolants. When mixing coolants, be aware of splash off dangers -- prevent coolant from getting into your eyes. Eye-wash stations must be made available and be in properly operable condition.
Do not touch rotating parts or mechansims when in rotation. Do not operate spindles beyond their rated capacity. Chuck pressure and workpiece holding pressures must conform to manufacturers' specifications. Worn tools should be replaced promptly, since such tools are a cause for accidents. Do not bypass or jumper cables that are part of safety interlocks.
Always shut off main electric power prior to maintenance and servicing. Even after power is shut off, there may residual voltage; hence check with a multimeter and ensure no residual voltage exists prior to servicing. Proper "lock-out/tag out" procedures must be used to prevent accidental turning ON of electric power when maintenance is being performed.Check the ratings of replacement parts used such as fuses, for example, and ensure that they meet the original equipment ratings.
Work areas should be well-lit, dry and free of clutter. Clean up coolant spills and oily floors. Placing tools, measuring instruments, bar stock, cofee cups, magnetic clips etc on top of machines is not a good idea. Many machines have computer chips and other electronics and these get affected by such environment. Keep a separate tool-box and stand to keep tools, inserts, drills and other cutting tools and materials.