Posted By Steve Elliott
I have been asked to assess the risks from the use of magnetic drills. I am not that familiar with them - are there any additional risks over and above the 'obvious' ones?
Any help or direction to help will be appreciated.

Posted By John Murgatroyd
You don't need to use drills, you can use "cutters" over 12mm and they are much stronger and pose less risk of any gloves being dragged-in. You are not really supposed to use gloves anyway !
Back to the machine itself. The risks of use are: the power being lost when it is in a position other than horizontal (chains or staps to hold it to the work in that case are provided with each machine) The machine comes with a guard, usually not attached. It should ALWAYS be used with the guard attached and in the down postion. Cutting fluid: You can purchase proper fluid for the rota-bore cutters, it is much better than the usual soluable oil and less irritating. You can also buy a vegetable-based cutting fluid. The machines are highly reliable and the usual life is in the thousands of hours, unless they get dropped. The rota-bore cutters (less spiral so less risk of clothing becoming attached) have a life of hundreds of cuts, with the decent cutting fluid. As with everything else in life, give it to a moron to use and all bets are off !