Description

The Engineering Research Machine Shop is a full service shop that strives to meet the research design, machining, fabricating, and maintenance needs of the College of Engineering at Michigan State University. Mike McLean (355-1874; mclean@egr.msu.edu) and the machine shop are located in room B250 of the Engineering Building. Hours are 7:30 - 4:30 M-F; please call ahead. Job quotes are based on labor charges of $40/hr for college and $50/hr non-college.

Facilities

The Research Machine Shop utilizes the following machining/fabricating/maintenance equipment:

• Engine lathes up to 15" swing
• Computer Aided Design and Computer Aided Manufacturing programs
• Computer Controlled milling machines
• Horizontal and Vertical Band saws
• Precision measuring devices
• Belt Sander
• Shear - 48"

Training

Specific and detailed training is a crucial part of any effort to provide safeguarding against machine-related hazards. Machine specific training must be completed and documentation of completed training provided to Shop Personnel prior to machine operation.

Machine Shop Safety Rules and Practices

• Approved eye protection must be worn at all times while in the shop. This rule applies to visitors as well as to those operating machinery.
• No bare feet or open-toed sandals are allowed in the shop. Long hair must be tied back, long sleeves cuffed or rolled up, and loose jewelry secured before operating machinery.
• No food or drink is allowed in the machine shop.
• Working alone in the shop can be problematic. Use the buddy or two-person system in order to have someone present in the shop to summon help in case of an accident.
• Secure and clamp down all work pieces in drill presses and milling machines. Use all available machine guards and be wary of points of contact with rotating cutters and chucks.
• Use push sticks or some other approved method for keeping fingers away from moving blades on saws.
• To control airborne dust, use a vacuum cleaner when machining nonmetallic substances such as graphite, ceramics, phenolics, etc.
• Do not machine-grind or cut any radioactive or other solid toxics (beryllium, asbestos, etc.) in the shop. When machining lead, follow prescribed rules for handling hazardous materials.
• Do not leave keys in chucks of lathes, drill presses, and milling machines. This also applies to wrenches used to tighten the cutting tools into the spindles of milling machines.
• Use a brush or wooden dowl to remove chips from the machining area.
• Clean up the work area with a brush and dustpan. Do not use compressed air to blow chips off machinery. Vacuum the machine and sweep the floor to remove chips.
• Do not attempt any unfamiliar operations. When in doubt, seek advice and help from shop personnel.
• Follow the guidelines posted on the walls of the shop and, in some cases, on the individual piece of equipment.
• In order to prevent injuries to you and damage to the equipment, do not attempt to overload the capabilities of the machinery.

Responsibility for all machine tool use is shared between the designated shop personnel and the actual machine tool user. Machine tool users are responsible for:

• Adhering to all machine shop safety requirements, rules and regulations.
• Upon request, providing shop personnel with information regarding the certification of user authorization.
• Providing suggestions on improving safeguarding that may already be in place.
• Reporting any machine that does not have a safeguard for all points of operation or rotational motion; nip points; and cutting, shearing, punching, and forming mechanisms.
• Wearing appropriate clothing to perform the job (i.e., no loose-fitting clothing or jewelry).
• Safe machine tool use and maintaining machine tools in good mechanical and operating condition.
• Reporting immediately any machine tools that exhibit signs of excessive wear or have damaged or misused parts (e.g., a lathe that is leaking an excessive amount of oil or a drill press that appears to have a faulty chuck).

References

5.3.13 Standards

OSHA 29 CFR 1910, Occupational Safety and Health Standards for General Industry
OSHA 29 CFR 1910.211 Definitions
OSHA 29 CFR 1910.212, General Requirements for All Machines

5.3.15 References

ANSI B11.6, Safety Requirements for the Construction, Care, and Use of Lathes
ANSI B11.8, Safety Requirements for the Construction, Care, and Use of Drilling, Milling, and Boring Machines
ANSI B11.10, Safety Requirements for the Construction, Care, and Use of Metal Shawing Machines

The General Duty Clause is used when there is not a specific standard covering a hazard that a Compliance Officer finds. If a Compliance Officer can show the following, then the employer can be cited under the general duty clause:

• serious hazard exists
• exposed employee(s)*
• likelihood or probability that a serious injury will occur
• employer knowledge of the hazard
• hazard is recognized within your industry as a hazard

Many General Duty Clause citations address hazards that are created by company or industry-specific equipment, processes or procedures.

* Section 5 of The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Act (MIOSHA), Act 154 of 1974, Act defines "employee" as a person permitted to work by an employer.