Improper use of metalwork machinery is a frequent cause of workplace amputations, manual handling and crush injuries, and fractures to the fingers, hands and arms.
While this guidance has not been updated to reflect current work health and safety legislation (the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 and regulations), it may still contain relevant information and practices to keep workers and others healthy and safe.
Please read this guidance in conjunction with all relevant industry standards that apply to you as a PCBU. This guidance will be progressively reviewed and either updated, replaced with other guidance, or revoked.
We have produced guidance for working safely with the following metalwork machinery.
CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machining centre
This fact sheet provides guidance on the safe use of CNC machines. It also highlights non-mechanical hazards such as handling of liquid coolant and slips, trips or falls, and good practice when undertaking maintenance, cleaning or repairs.
CNC (Computer Numerical Control) turret punch
This fact sheet provides guidance on how to safely load and unload materials and operate the machinery. It also highlights non-mechanical hazards such as noise and slips, trips and falls, and good practice when undertaking maintenance, cleaning or repairs.
Fixed hand-held grinders
This fact sheet provides guidance on how avoid entanglement or projectiles. It also highlights non-mechanical hazards such as electrical currents, noise, sparks and hot metal, fumes and toxic dust, slips, trips and falls, and good practice when undertaking maintenance, cleaning or repairs.
Please note: The size of your grinder determines the type of control switch allowed. The Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 (HSWA) requires that hand-held abrasive grinders have a constant pressure control switch. However, the standard AS/NZS 60745.2.3 allows smaller grinders (no greater than 100mm) to have a lock-on switch, as long as two different actions are needed to lock the switch.
For good practice:
- Grinders over 100mm must not have a lock on switch (use hold-to-run instead)
- Grinders under 100mm may have a lock-on switch, provided different actions lock the switch.
Metal cutting shears
This fact sheet provides guidance on how to safely load and unload the machinery and make cuts. It also highlights non-mechanical hazards such as noise, leaking hydraulic hoses, slips, trips and falls, and good practice when undertaking maintenance, cleaning or repairs.
Metal turning lathes
This fact sheet provides guidance on how to safely load and unload the machinery, secure the workpiece and make cuts. It also highlights non-mechanical hazards such as contact with liquid coolant, leaking hydraulic hoses, and good practice when undertaking maintenance, cleaning or repairs.
Metalworking guillotines (squaring or power shear)
This fact sheet provides guidance on how to safely load and unload guillotines and collect cut-offs, as well as guide and control cuts. It also highlights other non-mechanical hazards such as noise, leaking hydraulic oil, slips, trips and falls, and good practice when undertaking maintenance, cleaning or repairs.
Power presses
This fact sheet provides guidance on how to safely use mechanical power presses when inserting the workpiece and starting operation. It also highlights non-mechanical hazards such as noise and slips, trips and falls, and good practice when undertaking maintenance, cleaning or repairs.
Press brakes (brake presses, brakes)
This fact sheet provides guidance on how to safely insert the workpiece and bend sheet and plate metal. It also highlights non-mechanical hazards such as noise and leaking hydraulic oil, and good practice when undertaking maintenance, cleaning or repairs.
Punch and shear machines
This fact sheet provides guidance on how to safely perform functions such as shearing, punching, notching or bending, through correct loading and unloading and operating of machines. It also highlights non-mechanical hazards such as noise, slips, trips and falls, and contact or impact from unexpected movement, and good practice when undertaking maintenance, cleaning or repairs.
Three roll bending machines
This fact sheet provides guidance on how to safely roll sheet metal, including feeding sheet metal through the rollers and loading and unloading the machinery. It also highlights non-mechanical hazards such as noise and slips, trips and falls, and good practice when undertaking maintenance, cleaning or repairs.
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