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ACCIDENTS AT LATHES BY USING EMERY CLOTH
DANGER: Any strips of Emery Cloth there is a Danger of Trapping
.
HAZARDS
A high proportion of all accidents at metalworking lathes involve the use of Emery Cloth and result in injuries such as broken
occasionally amputated fingers. Emery Cloth is used to deburr, polish or size a wide range of cylindrical, tapered and
threaded metal components while they are rotating in lathes. Most accidents happen when each end of a strip of Emery Cloth
is held in separate hands and passed around the back of the component being linished. If the Cloth is wrapped around the
fingers and/or becomes snagged on the component while it is tightly gripped, then a serious injury is the likely result.
PRECAUTIONS
Emery cloth should NEVER be used at CNC lathes. Employers should assess the need to use emery cloth on components in
a lathe.
Such operations may not be necessary if:
(a) the finish being sought is only cosmetic. For such finishes the component may be held in one hand and polished by
Emery Cloth held in the other. Alternatively a linishing belt or machine be used.
(b) a sizing operation can be successfully performed either by turning or by further operations machine. In a dedicated
polishing, linishing or grinding machine.
DANGER: Emery Cloth should never be held loose in the hand.