WORKSAFE Victoria has released information on preventing injuries and fatalities around manual lathes.
Manual lathes are also known as engine or centre lathes. They are commonly-used tools for performing various tasks like cutting, sanding, knurling and shaping.
Manual lathes have been associated with two recent fatalities in Victoria. Both fatalities occurred when the operator’s clothing became entangled in the lathe chuck assembly, resulting in the operator being pulled into the machine.
Injuries from entanglement have included scalping, severe bruising, lacerations, broken bones and amputation.
Other incidents have included loose objects becoming projectiles when left in or around moving parts of the machine. A common cause would be turning the machine on without removing the chuck key.
Other hazards associated with lathe machines include the high speed rotating shaft, chuck, chuck assembly or work pieces with protruding parts or catch points.
According to WorkSafe Victoria, it is not reasonably practicable to retrofit guards to a lathe due to the nature of the task being performed.
However, workers and employers may reduce the risk of entanglement or being hit by a projectile by eliminating all catch points associated with chuck assembly.
This may be done by ensuring the chuck assembly is free of notches, raised points and other catch points, replacing coupling bolts that stick out with those that sit flush, and inspecting the work piece for potential catch point risks.
Regardless of the presence or type of guard fitted to a lathe, workers should reduce the hazards by not wearing loose clothing and jewellery, and trying back long hair. Personal protective equipment such as eye protection is also recommended.
Lathes should also have an emergency stop button within easy reach of the operator, and chucks and couplings should be inspected for wear, damage and catch points before each use.
Additionally a manual lathe should never be left running while unattended.
The purchase or retrofitting of manual lathes with interlocked guards can eliminate or reduce the risk of entanglement or being hit by projectiles when operating the machine.
Guarding selected for a lathe is dependent upon the tasks that are performed on that machine. It is important that guards do not prevent the operator from completing the shaping task in a safe manner, and they do not obscure the operator’s view.
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