Electrically powered drill presses use a rotating boring bit to drill or cut holes in wood or metal. The holes may be cut to a desired preset depth or completely through the stock. A basic drill press operation consists of selecting an appropriate drill bit, tightening the bit in the chuck, setting the drill depth, placing the material on the drill press bed, securing the work to the bed so that it will not rotate during drilling, turning the drill press on, and pulling the drill press lever down so that the drill bit will be lowered into the stock.
Amputations typically occur when the operator’s gloves, loose-fitting clothing, or jewelry become entangled in the rotating drill bit. Here are some other causes of drill press-related amputations:
§ Inadequately guarding points of operation or power-transmission devices.
§ Performing servicing and maintenance activities such as changing pulleys and belts, changing or tightening drill bits, lubricating the drill press, and cleaning the drill press without de-energizing the drill press.
§ Making adjustments to the drill press such as setting the depth, securing the material to the drill press bed, and repositioning the wood or metal while the drill bit is still rotating.
| Case History | A mechanic amputated the first joints of his left index and middle fingers while changing the belt position on a multi-pulley drill press. While the mechanic was pulling the belt on, it suddenly went around the outside pulley, pulling the mechanic’s fingers through the nip point. Source: OSHA IMIS Accident Investigation Database |
For drill presses, you can install guards and other controls and perform work practices:
§ Install guarding over the motor, belts, and pulleys.
§ Install an adjustable guard to cover the unused portion of the bit and chuck above the material being worked.
§ Replace projecting chucks and set screws with non-projecting safety-bit chucks and set screws.
§ Cover operator controls so that the drill press cannot be accidentally turned on.
§ Develop and implement safe work practices for drill-press operations and conduct periodic inspections to ensure compliance.
§ Train and supervise all operators until they can work safely on their own.
§ Instruct employees not to wear gloves, jewelry, or loose-fitting clothing while operating a drill press and to secure long hair in a net or cap.
§ Make sure operators secure material to the drill press bed with clamps before drilling, so that the material will not spin and strike the operator. The operator should not manually secure the work to the drill press bed while drilling holes.
§ Do not adjust the drill press while the drill bit is still rotating.
§ Use the drill press only for its intended purposes.
§ Shut off the drill press when not in use or when left unattended for any period of time.
§ Remove the chuck immediately after each use.
§ Perform appropriate servicing and maintenance activities under an energy control program §1910.147.
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