Operating metalworking machinery can be somewhat dangerous. The machinery has to work with incredible levels of force in order to shape and form metal materials. Due to this, it is critical that everyone to know the appropriate safety tips to take when they operate metalworking machinery. This can go a long way toward preventing accidents on the worksite, as well as keeping all employees safe. Here are a few of the top safety tips for operating metalworking machinery.
Appropriate Training
An employee that doesn’t know how to operate a machine safely should never operate the machine. It is crucial to ensure that your workers are trained thoroughly and have the knowledge necessary to operate metalworking machinery. Never let an employee operate the machinery prior to obtaining the appropriate training. You should also hold regular training sessions to ensure that they remain up-to-date regarding any changes with the machinery.
Non-Slip Surfaces
Slips and falls can lead to substantial issues. When working in a room full of metalworking machinery, it is even more important to prevent slips as much as possible. These machines should be surrounded by non-slip surfaces to help to minimize the likelihood of accidents and injuries occurring on the working site. It is similarly important to ensure that employees wear solid, slip-resistant shoes while working. This can go a long way toward protecting the health of employees and minimizing devastating accidents. Similarly, ensure that any spills or potential hazards are cleaned off the floor as soon as possible in order to prevent them from leading to accidents.
Regular Inspections
You need to regularly inspect your metalworking machines. This will help you to identify issues in the early stages, before they can lead to damage to your employees. In addition, regularly inspecting the machines and resolving their issues can go a long way toward preventing breakdowns, which will require repairs and will likely halt your operations. It is important to ensure that issues are repaired as soon as you find them to restore the machinery to its previous condition. It is similarly important to ensure that your metalworking machinery obtains regular maintenance. Not only will this maintenance prolong the lifetime of your machinery, but it will ensure that problems can be identified early on.
Improve Communication
Clear communication can go a long way toward preventing accidents on the worksite. It is important to ensure that employees have clear, concise ways to communicate with each other. It is also important to ensure that all employees are aware of the expectations for their job, as well as the right processes to follow to enhance their safety.
Anchor Stationary Equipment
All stationary components of metalworking machinery need to be anchored firmly to the floor. Ensure that bolts and other fastening methods are not weak or rusted. When you fail to anchor this equipment to the floor, there is the possibility of it falling on someone. The damage by this can be compounded exponentially when the machine is currently running. It is incredibly important to firmly anchor this equipment to the ground to prevent substantial issues from arising. Have the anchored surfaces inspected regularly to ensure that the bolts are all still in great condition and functioning effectively.
Keep Hands Away from Moving Parts
Never put your hands near moving parts of the machinery. Even if you think you are being careful, it is possible that you have misjudged the timing or may become entangled in the machinery. Keep all body parts safely away from any moving components of the machinery. Similarly, you should not put your hands near blades on machines that are designed to cut metal. Don’t make adjustments while the machine is in operation. Ensure that you wait for the machinery to stop completely before you adjust anything.
Don’t Wear Loose Clothing
Don’t allow employees to wear loose clothing while operating metalworking machinery. This includes a large array of things, such as scarves, necklaces, and other articles. These can potentially be caught in the machines. It is also important to ensure that any employees with long hair keep their hair tied back. This helps to prevent the possibility of hair becoming entangled. Don’t wear rings, watches, or other jewelry on the hands while operating metalworking machinery.
Ensure that Everyone Knows how to Turn Machinery Off
Though you should never allow employees to operate machinery that they haven’t been trained on, it is important that every employee knows how to turn the machinery off in an emergency. You don’t want to put an employee’s life at risk because another employee didn’t know how to turn off the machine. Take the effort to ensure that each employee knows how to shut down the machinery when an emergency arises.
Wear Protective Equipment
It is important to ensure that you wear all of the required protective equipment when operating metalworking machinery. Though the right equipment will fluctuate based on the specific machine, it is likely that at least goggles or safety glasses will be necessary. Other machines may require gloves, protective face wear, or other equipment.
Don’t Leave Metalworking Machinery Unattended
Metalworking machinery should never be left unattended while in operation. Substantial issues can arise when the machine is left to work alone. The smallest shift can lead to a cascade of disastrous effects. It is important to ensure that someone is supervising the machine at all times while it is running.
Operating metalworking machinery can go a long way toward improving productivity and enhancing efficiency. Though these machines can provide incredible benefits to businesses, it is incredibly important to ensure that employees operate the machinery while following safe practices. Following these safety tips can substantially aid in reducing the likelihood of significant issues and accidents occurring on the work site. Here at Sanson Machinery, we offer a broad array of machinery-related services to ensure that your machines continue to operate safely and effectively. To learn more about safe practices for operating your metalworking machines, or to obtain repair or maintenance services, contact our experts at Sanson Machinery today!