Hi I am wondering if someone with machinery knowledge can help me please? We have 5 lathes, very old. A couple have lathe shields and the others have chuck guards. The chuck guards are not fit for purpose (too small for all applications) and the lathe screens are always pushed to the side, unless the operator uses them to protect against the splashes from the fluids. My question is the following; * what standards do the chuck guards need to meet? * do the lathe screen need to be interlocked? I am currently making recommendations on bringing the machinery up to date and compliant but I am struggling ! Can anyone offer advice? We also have a milling machine - I have been told that if this is guarded it cannot be used!! any help here would be appreciated also! it currently has no guarding at all. All help appreciated! :-) Thank you

Useful reference = HSG129 Free pdf from HSE web.

Hi Thanks for the feedback. I have recently been looking at the course at the HSL, I think this will help me in this area. I have conducted the risk assessment and a PUWER assessment and identified that we need guarding - I was just wanting help and advice from someone that has installed guarding on these machines as I am being told that the machines can not be used with them. I know they can but I was wanting the best solutions along with some evidence to back up my thinking. I will take a look at the British standard. thanks again for the feedback, I really appreciate it. :-)

My main customer has an old milling machine. I advised them some years ago to fit an adjustable interlocked guard, something like this one, http://www.clearmachines...ort%20mill_thumb_256.JPG Yes, there was an excuse not to: can't do the work/jobs Then last year an HSE inspector issued an Improvement Order (discussed on another thread) Interlocked guard was purchased and fitted. Actually I wasn't completely satisfied with its effectiveness as it doesn't provide 360deg protection, but anyway the inspector was happy As for the 'tricky jobs', not once have the fitters had to remove the guard to do a job. Drilling holes in bulky items, they just found another safe way to do it.

Thank you all. Does anybody have a copy of the British Standard relating to guarding? Thanks again

Hi They are so expensive. As mentioned above by Ian Bell - the standard I am looking for is PD 5304:2014 Guidance on safe use of machinery. Thank you

You don't need t buy PD5304. Assuming we are talking just 'bog standard' machine tools - just follow the link I posted to a specialist company - they well send a sales rep out and advise you accordingly what type of guard your require. As previous, no excuse for not providing adequate guards for normal machine tools. Any excuse that the machine can't be used is just rubbish.