Basic Safety for Machine Tools...
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Good Working Practices/Safety
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.
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 3 core cable. The green and yellow conductor in the
cable is the earth wire.
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
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 CHILD-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 frees both hands to operate 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.
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