Rank: Forum user 
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Just wondering if anyone has experience of trying to guard metal working centre lathes. These lathes are around 40 years old and guarding them is somewhat tricky.
The HSE paid us a visit and raised the issue. They didnt raise an improvement notice but raised important and worthwhile questions about guarding on many of our machines - most of which are 40 or more years old.
The lathes are used to machine shafts and impellers, however only the chuck is guarded, there is no guarding of other rotating parts. Due to the type of machine the user 'needs' to be able to see the job as many of the controls are manually operated - this makes guarding difficult.
Does anyone have any ideas?
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Rank: Forum user
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Only 40 years old? Yours are like new compared to ours then!
Yes it's a major challenge, but there are a number of specialist companies out there who retro fit guarding to old machines and bring them up to PUWER98 standard.
Most of the guarding hardware seems to be made in Italy, and it seems that all the UK guarding companies seem to source from the same Italian supplier, so overall not much difference in the end result.
One company that could help you is TDT machine guarding, Unit 20 Woodside Park, Rugby Tel. 01788 565451. We're about to have some work done by them as they seemed a reasonable price.
Don't worry about not being able to see the job - they can fit compliant (i.e. shatterproof) windows in the guards to enable operator visibility.
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Rank: Forum user
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Hi, I'm not an expert in this, but we also have an old lathe in our workshop. I would suggest adequately controlling access to the area to ensure only trained operators, PPE to prevent material being ejected causing injury and trip devices to stop movement on entanglement.
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Rank: Super forum user
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bazzab,
I'm a consultant and I have a constant battlle with some of my customers with old lathes and milling machines. They have some guarding on the old machines but they are little more than 'screens' which protect the operator from swarf and lubricant spray and the operator can still look over the top to observe his job. If a rotating tool (> 1000rpm) were to break then the trajectory of bits of metal is not predictable.
The risk assessments I've done conclude in some cases that the the machine is not sufficiently guarded to allow the operator to approach it while it is running. This requires a safe system of work to be in place. But every time I return to observe the operators they are standing too close, watching the work.
I've told the owner that an inspector making the same observations would likely issue an improvement order, maybe even a prohibition.
Some of the machines are CNC, in that there is some electronic programming, but without interlocks. So, access to danger parts is not prevented. PUWER regs expect effective and suitable measures be taken to prevent contact with the dangerous parts of the machinery!
The operators press a 'programme hold' button and go behind the screens/guards to adjust lube or check a measurement with a steel ruler. Have to say I am not sure that is a safe system of work as the machine is not isolated.
JohnW
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