Occupational HEALTH and safety on universal lathe machines; risk assessment and field investigations

Increasing the reliability of machine tools and reducing possible risks in the production process is very important for the future of the industry. One of these machine tools, the lathe, is one of the most flexible and widely used machine tools in the world. The main purpose of the lathe is to remove metal from the work piece and create the required shape and size. Among the various lathes, especially the universal lathe is widely used in enterprises and many occupational accidents occur during use. One of the most important application for reducing occupational accidents and diseases is the risk assessment. Among the various risk assessment techniques, the most widely used is the Fine-Kinney method. In this study, as a result of the examination and evaluation of the universal lathes used in some metal workshops operating in the province of Karaman, the dangers and risks that may be experienced during the use of lathes in the working environment were determined. In the detailed study, the Fine-Kinney risk assessment method was used. An information inventory of universal lathes was created by identifying hazards in the light of the risk assessment regulation, with the information collected both in the working environment and in the virtual environment. Analyzes were made on the obtained values and the results were evaluated. As a result of the evaluation, deficiencies in safe working and personnel training in universal lathes were determined and suggestions were made in line with the current laws and regulations to eliminate these deficiencies. It is thought that this study will contribute to the risk assessments to be made on other benches, machines, and devices.