05
Basic Safety for Machine Tools...
The following suggestions will enable you to observe good working
practices, keep yourself and fellow workers safe and maintain your
tools and equipment in good working order.
Good Working Practices/Safety
WARNING!!
!
KEEP TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT OUT
OF THE REACH OF YOUNG CHILDREN
BASIC SAFETY FOR MACHINE TOOLS
KNOW YOUR MACHINE TOOL
Read and understand the owner's manual and labels affixed to the tool. Learn its application and
limitations as well as specific potential hazards peculiar to the tool.
EARTH ALL TOOLS
All machines should be equipped with an approved cable. The green and yellow conductor in the
cable is the earth wire and should be connected appropriately.
NEVER
connect the green and yellow wire to a live terminal.
KEEP GUARDS IN PLACE
Keep all guards in place. They are there for your protection and do not interfere with the correct
operation of your machine.
REMOVE ADJUSTING KEYS AND WRENCHES
Form the habit of checking to see that keys and adjusting wrenches are removed from the machine
before turning it on.
KEEP WORK AREA CLEAN
Cluttered areas and benches invite accidents. Floors must not be slippery due to oil or sawdust. Make
sure you clean up any waste materials on completion of work.
AVOID DANGEROUS ENVIRONMENTS
Do not use power tools in damp or wet locations or expose them to rain. Keep work area well lit.
Provide adequate space surrounding the work area.
KEEP CHILDREN AWAY FROM WORK AREA UNLESS UNDER CLOSE SUPERVISION
All visitors should be kept a safe distance from work area. Children are naturally curious; therefore
ensure they are closely supervised when they are near the work area.
MAKE WORKSHOP TAMPER PROOF
Many machines have lockable switches that can be secured with a small padlock or have a removable
key. Please make use of them to prevent unauthorised operation of your machines.
DO NOT FORCE TOOL
It will do the job better and safer at the rate for which it was designed. Develop a patient approach to
the work, you will get better results in the finished product.
WEAR PROPER CLOTHING
Do not wear loose clothing, gloves, neckties or jewellery that can catch in moving parts of machinery.
Non-slip footwear with steel toecaps is recommended. Wear protective hair covering to contain long
hair. Roll up long sleeves to above the elbow.
SECURE WORK
Where applicable use clamps or a vice to hold work. This leaves both hands free to operate the tool
correctly and thus produces better results.
DIRECTION OF FEED
Feed work into a blade or cutter against the direction of rotation of the blade or cutter only. This will
reduce the danger of kick back which is a serious hazard. Similarly, when using a lathe feed the
cutting edge of the tool against the direction of rotation!
USE SAFETY GOGGLES AND FACE PROTECTION
Wear safety goggles (complying to relevant standards) at all times. Normal spectacles only have
impact resistant lenses and are NOT sufficient. Also use face or dust masks if the cutting operation is
dusty (connection of machine to a dust extractor is preferred). Always wear ear defenders for cutting,
sawing, planing or routing operations. Your hearing can be permanently damaged if exposed to high
noise levels for long periods of time.
