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Workshop Machinery and Using It Safely
Workshop Machinery and Using It Safely
BUSINESS · GLOBAL
Workshop Machinery and Using It Safely
Sheet metal and fabrication tools, guards and setup, protective equipment and maintenance
Workshop machinery does in seconds what takes an hour by hand, and it removes fingers in the same amount of time.
Set it up properly
Bolt or clamp a machine to a bench or a stand rated for it. A machine that shifts under load is dangerous and inaccurate, and most of the cheap-tool complaints come down to inadequate mounting.
Check it is level and that the working area around it is clear and lit.
Guards and stops
Never remove a guard because a job is quicker without it. Use push sticks, hold-downs and clamps rather than hands near the cutting point, and know where the emergency stop is before switching on.
Isolate the machine before changing blades, dies or bits — switching off is not the same as unplugging.
Sheet metal specifically
Cut edges are extremely sharp and burrs cut deeply. Wear cut-resistant gloves for handling and deburr edges before assembly.
Keep fingers clear of the clamping bar on a brake, and support long workpieces so they cannot swing.
Protective equipment
Eye protection always, hearing protection for anything loud, and a mask rated for the material. Silica dust from masonry and stone is a serious respiratory hazard that a paper mask does not stop.
No loose clothing, no gloves near rotating machinery, hair tied back and no jewellery.
Electrical
Use an RCD, check leads before use, and confirm the supply rating a machine needs before buying it.
Buying machinery online
Check the supply voltage and current, the stated capacity against what you actually work with, and whether spare parts and blades are available. A machine whose consumables are discontinued becomes scrap.
Read the manual before assembly, and check the machine carries the correct safety marking for your country.
Working alone
Tell someone you are in the workshop, keep a phone within reach and a first aid kit on the wall.
Setting up a workshop
Adequate lighting, a solid bench, a fire extinguisher suited to the materials and a clear floor. Extraction or at least ventilation for anything producing dust or fumes.
Keep the first aid kit stocked and the emergency number by the door, and know where the isolation switch is.
Noise
Machinery is loud enough to damage hearing over time, and the damage is cumulative and permanent. Wear protection even for short jobs.
Check the machine is rated for the duty cycle you need rather than occasional use.
Maintenance
Keep blades sharp, since a blunt tool requires force, and force is how injuries happen.
Work with someone else nearby where you can.
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