Hello all, 

First post here, hopefully get some solid real world advice on a matter relating to the monitoring of metal working fluid. 

I've recently taken on a role in a bespoke engineering firm and we have a small machine shop and the metal working fluid monitoring could be more diciplined. We have 2 CNC machines that are used almost daily and i want to make sure we are monitoring as per the UKLA guidance. However, we a number of older manual machines that are used on a ad-hoc (short notice basis) depending on project demands - sometimes it could be several months between uses.  

I don't want to be in a situation where we are dipsliding and disposing of fluid unecessarily (environmental waste/handling risk) as bacterial growth is happening when the machines are not in use (and may not be used for the forseeable). However, I don't want the operators to be using machines where we do not have control or awarness of the condition of the fluid.

So how are others in a similar position tackling this kind of situation?

My only suggestion is we undetake the monitoring of the fluid as per the guidance, but only change/clean the fluid prior to any work using these machines. 

Cheers in adavance,