{"id":9667,"date":"2023-02-06T08:31:07","date_gmt":"2023-02-06T16:31:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/products\/fusion-360\/blog\/?p=9667"},"modified":"2023-02-06T08:31:39","modified_gmt":"2023-02-06T16:31:39","slug":"work-smart-safe-machine-shop","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/products\/fusion-360\/blog\/work-smart-safe-machine-shop\/","title":{"rendered":"Machine Shop Safety 101: How to Work Smart & Safe"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Working in your first machine shop? Need a machine shop safety refresher? This guide has you covered.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remember learning to drive a car for the first time? Absolutely everything was new and overwhelming. Now you barely even think about it. This is the same journey you\u2019ll go through when working on your first CNC machine. There\u2019s the whir of machines and chips flying; it\u2019s all new and exciting \u2014 and hazardous if you aren\u2019t prepared. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are some machine shop safety guidelines to start your career off on the right foot as a safe and smart CNC machinist. Of course, you should always follow your own shop\u2019s protocols as well.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

Why is machine safety important?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n

Machines are not smart, they\u2019re dumb. That $250k DMG Mori might have the most advanced multi-axis system around, but at the end of the day, it relies on a human to operate it and stop it. That means you, and only you, are the first and last line of defense should anything go wrong. If your arm or hair gets caught in a spindle, that machine won\u2019t suddenly stop. It\u2019s going to keep doing what it does, machining away.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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It just keeps going and going. Image courtesy of LeadersHub.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Why bring up such an obvious point? Because it\u2019s really easy to go into autopilot mode on a machine shop floor. After a few years, you\u2019ll likely have your groove down and know how everything works like the back of your hand. But the minute you let your guard down is the minute that something can go wrong. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a car, you can get in an accident and walk out of the mess without a scratch. There\u2019s that extra layer of protection between you and the roughness of the road. But on something like a motorcycle, or a high-performance milling machine, that buffer of protection is so much smaller. CNC machines might be safer with all of their enclosed parts, but you still need your awareness fully and completely in the present moment. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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So how can you maintain your awareness? By working with a Safety First mentality. Now hold on; we\u2019re not here to rattle off a list of shoulds and should nots. That\u2019s for your company\u2019s safety coordinator to do. If they require you to stick safety glass on every moving part of your machines, then know they have your best interests at heart. Instead of hard and fast rules, we\u2019re going to focus on practical recommendations and questions that you can use as a guide. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Safety makes this man smile. Image courtesy of Profit Guide.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n

Know your environment<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n

A high-performance CNC machine or engine lathe requires complete and uninterrupted attention. So is the immediate environment that your machine is located in. You\u2019ll be working with new people, tools, and machines at all hours of the day. Here are a few questions to ask yourself as you move through your work shift: <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

Where are your hands? <\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n

Know what your hands are doing at all times. It\u2019s easy to slip into a thought and suddenly lose track of your physical process. Are you tightening a bolt? What happens if the wrench slips? Are you going to slam your arm into a pile of sharp chips, a tool, or even just the sharp corner of a workbench?<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

Where are your feet?<\/strong><\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n

One of the most common accidents on a machine shop floor is slipping. Do you have a strong center of gravity as you lift that heavy load? Are your feet away from any moving parts that could catch them? <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

Where are your manners?<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n

Everyone working on a machine shop floor is likely (hopefully) in a deep state of concentration as they machine their parts. We always recommend not interrupting a coworker when they\u2019re working on a machine; even the slightest distraction can lead to a costly mistake. And before grabbing a coworker\u2019s tool, ask if you can borrow it. If your request is declined, don\u2019t take it personally, we all have different relationships with our tools. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Image courtesy of Wood Working Talk.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n

Know your gear<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n

The gear you wear is your first and only line of defense if something goes wrong on the shop floor. Did some sharp steel chips just go flying across the room? Safety glasses will save your eyes. Or maybe you have some nasty coolant you need to handle that leaves some intense skin irritation. Latex gloves suddenly become your new best friend. This is the gear, or personal protection equipment, that we always recommend wearing, whether your boss requires it or not and whether it\u2019s your 10th day or 10th year in the shop:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

Eye protection<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n

We always recommend rocking safety glasses that have side shields to keep any flying debris clear of your eyes. Remember, CNC machines slice through metal like butter, but those chips come off sharp. Even on manual machines, coolant and chips can fly, and the last place you want them is in your eyes. Safety glasses also come in handy if you work with hand-cutting tools that can suddenly break or shatter if used incorrectly. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"safety
Image courtesy of 3M.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n

Ear protection<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n

Do your ears a favor and consider keeping a pair of ear muffs on as your machine runs full steam head. If the muffs are too bulky, then opt for earplugs. Or maybe double up and use both for extra protection. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

Foot protection<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n
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Image courtesy of Amazon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Sharp chips tend to end up on the floor, no matter how careful you are, so close-toed shoes are a must to keep your toes free of cuts and deeper lacerations. We always recommend sporting a pair of solid leather shoes. If you will be carrying around heavy objects, steel-toed shoes are even better, as they\u2019ll protect your toes from being crushed in the case of an accidental drop. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Leather
Image courtesy of Gemplers.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n

Lung protection<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n

If you\u2019re working on a grinder that doesn’t have a vacuum, then we absolutely recommend wearing a respirator to keep abrasive dust out of your lungs. Metals like zinc will reach temperatures above their boiling point when ground, which releases toxic fumes. Even operating some CNC machines like waterjets will create small metal particles that don\u2019t belong in your lungs. Inhaling these can lead to serious health issues. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Respirator\"
Image courtesy of 3M.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n

Hand protection<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n

This is one of the trickiest pieces of equipment to recommend. Gloves and their usefulness is very much situation specific. For example, let\u2019s say you grab a steel plate with some leather gloves on. In this situation, they did their job of keeping your hands safe from sharp edges. But what if you wore the same pair of leather gloves while running a machine, and they get caught on the spindle? Not good. On the other hand, latex gloves can keep your hands free of coolant with no risk of catching on the tool and sucking you in. Analyze each situation you find yourself in and ask, will these gloves do more harm or good? <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Leather work gloves are what many of us think of first, but they can often cause more harm than good. Consider latex gloves instead. Image courtesy of eBay.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n

Leave the bling behind<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n

Yeah, you like to look good, but that Haas machine already looks sharp enough. Remember that every item on your body, from jewelry to your hair, needs to be kept away from any moving parts. Keep these recommendations in mind before heading off to work:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n