A worker sustained serious injuries to their forearm and wrist after becoming entangled in the rotating chuck of a lathe. The operator was wearing gloves, which contributed to the entanglement.
Rotating machinery—such as lathes—poses a significant risk of entanglement, especially when operators wear loose clothing, jewellery or gloves. This incident underscores the importance of strictly adhering to safe operating procedures and engineering controls when working with high-inertia rotating equipment.
The safety devices fitted to the lathe were:
- a foot-operated brake;
- a manual handbrake to immediately halt rotation; and
- emergency stop buttons to de-energise the lathe.
While these safety devices are critical, it’s important to note that de-energising a large lathe doesn’t immediately halt its rotation. Due to the lathe’s high rotational inertia, it can continue to spin for several minutes unless an effective braking system is in place.
Key takeaways
- Identify hazards—Never wear jewellery or loose clothing, including gloves, when operating lathes or other rotating machinery.
- Use controls—Ensure rotating equipment is fitted with effective braking systems to stop moving parts quickly in an emergency.
- Assess risks—Conduct task-specific risk assessments and ensure that workers know the hazards of stored energy and rotating mass.
- Test tools—Regularly inspect and try out emergency stops and braking systems as part of maintenance programs.
This incident serves as a powerful reminder that, even with controls in place, operator awareness and strict procedural compliance remain essential. An investigation is ongoing.
