The forces involved in metalworking machinery are far higher than most people expect. You can either be struck by shrapnel or pulled into a machine by being caught by a moving part. There are several rules that reduce these hazards:
• Don't wear loose clothes, ties, unsecured braids, or jewelry.
• Turn off machines and *WAIT* for rundown before approaching the working area.
• 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.
• Don't snap chips using a shop towel. Use a brush or air.
• Don't mess with long chips curling off a turning. If you get build up, stop the machine and remove the chips wearing leather gloves and using pliers.
• Be aware of what's going on around you. Be careful not to bump into someone who is working with a machine or is standing near a machine which is in operation. Concentrate on what you're doing. If you get tired, leave.
• 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 itself.
• Listen to the machine. If something doesn't sound right, turn the machine off.
• Don't let someone else talk you into doing something dangerous.
• Don't attempt to measure a part that's moving.
• Stuff gets hot when cut. Let it cool before picking it up.
• Metal cutting generally leaves a sharp burr. Break the edges with a file or a de-burring tool before you release the work for general handling.
• Chips are extremely sharp. Long, curled chips from lathe turnings are especially dangerous because they look very pretty. You can get a very deep cut by handling such chips with your hands. Have a system for removing and storing chips. Use it regularly.
• Use eye protection - ALWAYS.
• Beware of fascination. Metal cutting tools flash and glint as they spin. An unwary person may reach toward the pretty, shiny tool.
• Don't play with compressed air. Not only can it inject chips (by blowing them) into your body, but it can inject oily air as well. Sometimes right through the skin!
• In general, there will be ZERO TOLERANCE for horseplay in the lab. Anybody who gets involved in behavior that is detrimental to our overall safety will lose lab privileges and would therefore receive zero on his/her lab portion of the course.