Modified tool at friend's work

bap98189

Most bandsaws don't have a guard. It looks to me like the company have fitted an additional guard hich is bolted onto the door. The door will have interlocks which stop the saw if opened.

It may not be necessary but it looks perfectly reasonable to me. What problem do you see with it? 

Marcon

Superfuse said:

 I'm sure nothing would ever happen but I just think it's strange that someone would ever do this in a place of work.

If you are sure nothing would ever happen, why start this thread at all?

Superfuse

Marcon said:

Superfuse said:

 I'm sure nothing would ever happen but I just think it's strange that someone would ever do this in a place of work.

If you are sure nothing would ever happen, why start this thread at all?

My apologies. I think you took that expression a bit more literally than I meant it. May I ask what you do for a living?

z1a

I would guess the guard is there to prevent chips/swarf from flying back at you,

Lomast

Just about every machine in our workshop has custom guards fitted as what is supplied is generally pretty poor. Both our lathe and mill originally had no guards at all fitted

Superfuse

My friend has been unable to obtain a risk assessment from the individuals whom modified the tool. He's going to remove the added guard. He doesn't think it makes the tool any safer and it actually reduces the depth of material that can be passed through the saw.

Savvy_Sue

Is he the only one who uses this tool?

Does he need to get authorisation to remove the guard? 

Has he spoken to the personal responsible for H&S?

I don't work in that kind of environment, but we do take H&S seriously. If one of my colleagues unilaterally removed something which has been put in after a risk assessment, I'd be Having Words ... By all means talk to us about whether it achieves the desired result, whether something else would be better, but don't just remove it!

Superfuse

Savvy_Sue said:

Is he the only one who uses this tool?

Does he need to get authorisation to remove the guard? 

Has he spoken to the personal responsible for H&S?

I don't work in that kind of environment, but we do take H&S seriously. If one of my colleagues unilaterally removed something which has been put in after a risk assessment, I'd be Having Words ... By all means talk to us about whether it achieves the desired result, whether something else would be better, but don't just remove it!

Yes, he is the only one who uses the tool and he has informed his line manager that he intends to remove the guard. She has not objected.

My friend has asked the guy responsible for health and safety to provide a risk assessment. Apparently, this guy tasked someone else to fit the extra guard. All he gets from the health and safety guy is "I'm come and see you later". As it's been several weeks without an explanation or associated paperwork, he is going to remove the extra guard. It can't be used in it's current state as it has no associated risk assessment.

bap98189

Superfuse said: Yes, he is the only one who uses the tool and he has informed his line manager that he intends to remove the guard. She has not objected.

I hope he has that in writing because removing a guard is a serious disciplinary offcence. In most workplaces that would be gross misconduct.

bap98189

Superfuse said:

My friend has been unable to obtain a risk assessment from the individuals whom modified the tool. He's going to remove the added guard. He doesn't think it makes the tool any safer and it actually reduces the depth of material that can be passed through the saw.

Your statements make little sense. You say the guard prevents things passing into the saw blade but don't see how it makes the tool safer to use. Don't you think it might prevent say an arm from passing into the saw blade?