Shop Safety rules

[Tinkerer58]

Mobile phone is always on my person but how do I dial the numbers after all my fingers are chopped off on the machine. LOL

Talking about someone keeping a check on you when working, about 3 years ago I was modifying my trailer and making ramps out of 'I' beams. I was working away in the back yard using the angle grinder on a nice summers day at about 38 Deg C (100F) and the wife came out and said what is that smell?? Then I turned around and the the lawn was well alight behind me, quickly got the hose and put out the fire. Good thing was she was there and I don't have a very good sense of smell so didn't notice (even though I was blessed with a big honker, that was a waste LOL).
The other up side was I didn't have to mow the grass for half the back yard for at least 2 months. It just goes to show danger is everywhere and you need to be on your toes all the time and really consider everything that can go wrong. That is not being pesimistic it's being a realist, SAFETY is paramount for you and everyone around you, SO THINK BEFORE YOU DO ANYTHING, anything that can go wrong WILL, when you least expect it.

 

[gus]

Way back in the 90s,an Industrial Nurse came in and made a lot of noise that every thing was wrong on the production floor.The floor was very dirty,cobwebs in the corners, workers worked bare handed with no gloves,lathes had no guards over the chuck and tool posts.etc. Luckily the 100 ton China Power Press had a giant front guard down.
My supervisor was a bit upset. Just last week a regular Labour Inspector just came in and gave us 99.9 full marks for good practice and now this Industrial Nurse popped from no where to berate us. Called Labour Inspector to ask about this Industrial Nurse.
Advice was Safety Checks not her job.Ha ha ha. That was her last visit.

 

[wildun]

Just one more observation I would like to make before I leave is that if you look at manually operated lathe and mill operations and imagine them as new innovations in today's society and environment, - do you think that we would be allowed to introduce them? - not a chance!
So, I think that we home machinists are the privileged few who are allowed to actually think for ourselves and make our own decisions regarding safety, so let's lie low and savour the moment! - just like rock climbers, people on mobility scooters, etc.
I think it will soon become mandatory to wear a thumb guard and mouth guard when playing tiddleywinks.
Quite a few years ago, some up and coming politician decided that all motorcyclists should have rollover cages fitted to their machines - yea, right!.
Will.

 

[Cogsy]

about 3 years ago I was modifying my trailer and making ramps out of 'I' beams. I was working away in the back yard using the angle grinder on a nice summers day at about 38 Deg C (100F) and the wife came out and said what is that smell??

Here in Perth, the 2011 Roleystone bushfires were caused by an off-duty cop with an angle grinder, working on his trailer. The result - 71 houses completely destroyed and many damaged. He got off the charges on a technicality (WA Police Union provided the best lawyer money can buy). Turned out the paperwork for the 'total fire ban' wasn't filed correctly.

The moral of the story, be very careful with hot work, and Tinkerer - you were very lucky that day...

 

[HeadsfortheShed]

Hi all, first, just loved reading all these anecdotes. How true the words less pace more ace, are. However there is one important bit of kit which in my experience has caused more pain to me and others but not noted here. It is called an angle grinder here in good old Blightey. People in fabricating/welding shops will certainly be aware of the versatility of this popular hand tool. For ages I was plagued by inflamed extremely sore eyes usually encountered at two o'clock in the morning. This inevitably ended in a trip to the eye hospital to have a filament of steel removed from my eye ball. I couldn't understand what the cause was. I was using approved goggles and visors whenever I used the grinders so what was going on? Then one day the old light bulb light up as I realized it was the filaments from the grinder landing in my hair and on my sweat dampened face, which upon showering at home where washed into my eyes. A few hours of rem sleep and presto a deeply lodged almost invisible filament embedded in my eye. I never found a satisfactory answer to this problem without expensive fan assisted filtered head gear. Your thoughts...

 

[goldstar31]

I have several 'incidents' worthy of note.

I was boat building- outside. It was November almost into Scotland. I had the standing wood planer out- and my brain was frozen. I put my left hand into the rotating barrel as I fed the wood in. Comment- I'll never eat mince again.

Happily, I had presence of mind to drip blood all over the house, wrap the hand in a white dress shirt and get into the car and change gear- English car- with two fingers. Got into the A&E and was met by a consultant plastic surgeon who planed a bit more off my arm- this time.
You've probably heard of plastic surgery and maybe the work that the late Sir Archiw McIndoe did for those poor aircrew who were burned in their Lancaster bombers. Well, I was the surgeons last case before he left for East Grinstead where all this had happened. Lucky me- I have a left hand which sort of works.
My next effort was that I was working on an ancient Morris Minor with gas bottles. It haf been earlier botched and botched. 'Auntie Mary' had been around a bit. I was wearing tinted goggles in bright sunshine and failed to notice that the door sill was alight. Someone had put a piece of wood in to stiffen the sill. Need I say more?

The next was me with a Surface grinder. I was doing a lathe saddle which was worn badly. I had some steel wool where the sparks were going- they ignited the steel wool.Interesting!

There was another time. I'd cast some alloy from old bits of car gear boxes. I was at night schools- making a pulley out of them.
I'd cleaned up a bit of rusty metal earlier and the turnings lay in the lathe tray. The supervisor passed,
looked into the lathe tray and quipped 'Norman, you'd be a fine man in a political organisation' I made a ferrite bomb!

So back to bombs? Well, we had a bombing raid. I was about 10. Things were getting a bit rough outside our Anderson air raid shelter and my father hoisted me out into a scene where machine gun bullets were bouncing about in the dog fight between the Heinkel and our nightfighter. The Heinkel dropped its bombs- presumably to lighten its load etc and the incendiaries were lighting up the area. There were 7 big bangs and Dad and I went out to help put out the fires with our garden spades. It was quite a night. Went to school next morning and when school ended we went off to see the unexploded bomb. German rubbish! So there was the thing sticking its fin out in a field with a few stakes around it to keep out the cows. So we kids were happy and off home to whatever tea there was in the war. And then the dud bomb exploded as we left the field!

Cheers

Norman

 

[Bentwings]

As a home machinist the rules we follow are up to us they are not likely posted and not even written on paper. They are in our mind or heart . There are no stupid rules because it is your shop and do things your way. But we need to work safe if we are always getting hurt the hobby is no longer fun. so here is a written set of rules to follow or use as a guide . Again it is your shop you work in so pick what works for you but above all work safely.

Machine Shop Safety

Safety Glasses
EVERYONE MUST WEAR SAFETY GLASSES IN THE SHOP AT ALL TIMES.
Even when you're not working on a machine, you must wear safety glasses Even hand tools can make chips.
Wear Hearing Protection as required (If you have to raise your voice to speak to someone 3 ft away hearing protection should be worn).
Clothes and Hair
Check your clothes and hair before you walk into the shop.
IF YOU HAVE LONG HAIR OR A LONG BEARD, TIE IT UP.
If your hair is caught in spinning machinery, it will be pulled out if you're lucky. If you're unlucky, you will be pulled into the machine.
NO LOOSE CLOTHING.
Roll up sleeves. Neckties, scarves, loose sleeves, etc. are prohibited
NO GLOVES ON OR AROUND MACHINERY
REMOVE ALL JEWELRY
WEAR APPROPRIATE SHOES
No open toed sandals. Wear shoes that give a sure footing. If you are working with heavy objects, steel toes are recommended.
Safe Conduct in the Shop
Be aware of what's going on around you. Pets and family members may move things or enter the shop at any time.
Keep Machinery Area Clear. Do not put unneeded items on or around machines.
Keep Walkways Clear. Remove tripping hazards, and clean spills up immediately.
Concentrate on what you're doing.
Don't hurry. If you catch yourself rushing, slow down.
Don't rush speeds and feeds. You'll end up damaging your part, the tools, and maybe the machine or yourself
Listen to the machine. If something doesn't sound right, turn the machine off.
Don't attempt to measure a part that's moving.
Don't let someone else talk you into doing something dangerous.
If someone speaks to you while youre running a machine, keep your eyes on your machine and not on the person.
If you get tired or are feeling ill, turn machine off, take a break.
Machining
IF YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO SOMETHING, ASK read find out.
BEFORE YOU START THE MACHINE:
Read the Manual
Study the machine. Know which parts move, which are stationary, and which are sharp.
Double check that your work piece and tool are securely held.
Remove chuck keys and wrenches.
Use no rags on machinery while it is in operation and/or in use.
Do not place any tools or other metal objects on machine ways.
Do not clear chips from machines with bare hands. Use pliers or a chip brush.
DO NOT LEAVE MACHINES RUNNING UNATTENDED!

CLEAN UP MACHINES AFTER YOU USE THEM!
A dirty machine is unsafe and uncomfortable to work on. Do NOT use compressed air to blow machines clean! This endangers people's eyes and can force dirt into machine bearings.
TURN POWER OFF TO MACHINE WHILE CLEANING/MAINTAINING!
When working alone keep a clear path to the telephone and have it as close at hand as practical and safe.
Do Not operate Machinery after or while consuming Alcoholic beverages.
Cease hot operations 30 minutes prior leaving the shop area unattended. ie welding, brazing, heavy grinding, smoking etc.
Store flammables in a safe place
Keep a fire extinguisher handy inspect regularly.
Chemical safety
Keep all solvents cutting oils and other chemicals in proper storage containers.
keep all chemicals in clearly marked containers.
Keep food and chemicals separated.
Do not use food ovens for chemicals or chemical ovens for food.
( If you use an old oven from the kitchen for chemicals it is now a chemical oven!
Wash hands before eating drinking smoking or using the bathroom (and after).
Grinders :Wear double eye protection.
Keep all guards in place
Keep tool rest adjusted 1/8 " from wheel
DO NOT grind aluminum or brass
DO NOT Grind on side of wheel.
Do not stand in line with spinning wheel
Wear a dust respirator Metal and Wheel dust can be harmful if inhaled.
First aid Kit:
Have one
Mark its location
Inspect /restock regularly
)

Place machines and lighting on separate circuits if possible
if a machine trips a breaker you will not be left in the dark.
It is your shop you are responsible for your safety.



Tin

that’s the best set of rules I’ve seen. Nice job. I’m not even supposed to be in the shop so I follow everything notes plus my own. I wear safety glasses all day long bifocal at that. Knife specific never cut toward yourself or anyone else . Cut so slips can’t hurt yourself. A life is like a loaded gun use it for cutting but think before you act. Don’t eat with your knife. Be careful with sharp tools . Even a dull drill can injure you. End mills are very sharp . Watch where you walk or move around sit in things made to be sat upon . Be careful of pets in the shop. They can be startled. A100 pound dog can throw a pretty good block a big cat can realy do damage if messed with both are hunters so may go after mice and bugs treat every machine as if it was out to get you. It may be. Don’t touch rotating things never ever touch moving things with your hands. Hot chips can stick in your shoes and snag carpet causing falls.
I’ve got stories for every one of these additions.
learn about battery fires. Some metals burn, magnesium . Know where exits are at all times.
byron

 

[Bentwings]

Here is why I noted pets in the shop. About 2AM I’m busy working on my giant scale Corsair sitting on my chair sanding fine details . MyK9 German Shepherd 100 pounds. Is curled up on his nice dog bed. Watching me out of the corner of one eyehole watching the rest of the shop. Suddenly he jumps up knocking my over his front foot goes right through the near perfect fuselage he smashes into my work table breaking a leg off and dumping everything on the floor. He tears into boxes in the corner scratching at some then then I hear a-quick snap of mouth and he comes calmly back dropping a dead mouse at my feet . He gathers in his dog circle and curls up chin on paws like nothing happened. My big Corsair had it first battle damage before it ever flew. So be careful if you have pets in the shop they don’t know the shop rules. Cats like to chase things too hot chips o tangled strings might mean a trip to the vet.
Byron