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Bantam lathe risk assessment

This follows the template from the HSE's risk management site

What are the hazards?	Who might be harmed and how?	What are you already doing?	Do you need to do anything else to control this risk?	Action by who?	Action by when?	Done
Entanglement. Long hair, dangling jewellery, loose clothing, gloves or rags can become entangled with rotating parts, rapidly dragging the user onto them before the machine can be stopped. Application of cutting oil using a brush also presents an entanglement risk. Chance of serious injury or death.	Lathe users and others nearby.	Loose clothing should not be worn, or should be covered with an appropriately secured apron. Sleeves should be rolled up. Long hair is to be tied back. Loose jewellery and rings should be removed. Gloves should not be worn when the machine is in operation. Rags should not be used to e.g. clear chips while the machine is operating. Cutting fluid should ideally be applied before performing a cut. The chuck guard should be lowered when running the lathe.	Adding an interlock to the chuck guard would help mitigate the risk of entanglement in the chuck, however this is an additional precaution not a substitute for the existing rules.	TBD	TBD	TBD
Flying parts. Workpieces and tools can be ejected from the lathe if correct procedures are not followed regarding setup and operations. Chuck keys are a particular hazard due to their mass and the speed with which they can be ejected if left in the chuck when the machine is started up. Unbalanced workpieces require careful and secure clamping as they will experience significant outward loading when rotated at speed. Items that fall onto the chuck while it is rotating may be ejected at speed.	Lathe users and others in the workshop	The lathe should not be started until the user has confirmed the workpiece and tool is properly secured, the chuck key is removed, and the work area / machine ways are completely clear. The chuck guard should be lowered when running the lathe. The headstock should not be used to store parts / tools as these can fall into the spinning machinery.	Use of self-ejecting chuck keys would help mitigate the risk of flying chuck keys. The chuck key should have a designated storage location it is returned to after use. Training on proper workpiece clamping and the dangers of turning unbalanced workpieces is recommended. An interlock on the chuck guard would prevent keys being left in the chuck.	TBD	TBD	TBD
Contact with moving machinery. Operating the lathe involves working in close proximity to machinery and workpieces rotating at high speed. Even if no entanglement occurs serious injury can result if there is contact with rotating parts.	Lathe users and others nearby	Never touch rotating machinery or workpieces. The system retains a lot of inertia even at low speed due to its mass: never attempt to stop rotation after turning off the machine by grabbing the chuck or workpiece. Take care to keep well clear of rotating parts, especially when performing operations near the chuck. A chuck guard helps mitigate the risk of contacting the chuck.	Interlocking the chuck guard if this is not already the case.	TBD	TBD	TBD
Contact with swarf. Swarf is waste material generated during cutting. Swarf is typically very sharp and often hot when first formed and may cause cuts and burns if handled incorrectly. Cutting some materials will eject swarf at high speed and in several directions: there is a risk of serious injury if it becomes lodged in the eye for example. Long ribbons of swarf can create risks associated with entanglement if attempts are made to clear them incorrectly during cutting. Some materials create an extremely fine swarf (brass for example) which may be a respiratory risk.	Lathe users and others nearby	Swarf ribbons, especially from harder materials such as steels, should be handled with tools rather than by hand to avoid cuts and burns. Needlenose pliers are suitable for this. Smaller chips should be cleaned up with a brush or shop vacuum. Swarf ribbons should not be cleared while the lathe is operating due to the risk of entanglement. Safety glasses should be worn when using the lathe to protect the eyes. Where appropriate a suitable mask can be used to protect against fine dust like swarf.	Suitable tools for managing swarf should be provided close to the lathe to make correct procedure the path of least resistance. Training should be provided in choosing machine settings to optimise swarf form and avoid creation of long swarf ribbons.	TBD	TBD	TBD
Trapping and pinching. Movement of machinery under power feed or while screw-cutting can create trapping, pinching and crushing hazards between parts of the lathe, tool, or workpiece.	Lathe users and those in close proximity (e.g. people being trained on the lathe)	Keep well clear of moving components when operating power feeds or screw-cutting. Do not lean on the lathe or e.g. stand up against the carriage. While operating the machine only touch the controls (motor control switches, hand wheels etc.) to avoid placing hands in hazardous locations.	Further guarding could be used to reduce risk, e.g. roller blind type guards. But this is probably overkill and training in proper tool use is probably more useful.	TBD	TBD	TBD
Hot components. Tools, workpieces, the chuck and tailstock tailstock, waste material and cutting fluids can all become hot during operations. This can lead to burns if the hot components are touched or grabbed.	Lathe users	Take care when releasing work from the lathe to ensure it has cooled sufficiently to be touched. Remember that work separated from the stock (e.g. during parting off) will be hot and should not be caught in the hand as it separates or immediately retrieved. Practice testing the temperature of objects gently instead of immediately grabbing with a strong grip.	Addition of a coolant system would help mitigate this as well as improving lathe performance and machining quality.	TBD	TDB	TBD
Sharp components.
Heavy components
Accidental machine starting / incorrect settings / poor knowledge of machine controls
Electric shock
Noise
Slips and trips
Chemical exposure. Liquids, fumes
Fire
Working in limited space
Equipment damage / collision
Defective equipment
Lone working