Drill Press Guards
Drill press guards protect workers from preventable injuries while they are operating drill presses. Drill press guards can protect plant personnel from the moving parts, contaminants, flying debris, and noise that directly result from using a drill press.
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Drill Press Guard Applications
Drill press guards, which are a subcategory of machine guards, protect the hands and eyes of operators from cutting tools, cutting blades, grease, hot chips, oil, and splash coolants. According to the OSHA list, drill presses require guarding where work is performed when the material is being processed. Drill presses are usually large machines mounted to a workbench or the floor and made up of a few basic parts; the drill table, the drill itself, which is attached to a spindle, a base, a column or a motor. Drill presses work faster while putting less strain on the press operator than old-fashioned hand drills. The drill heads may be switched out and often depend on the specifications of the product being drilled, and the guard must therefore be adjustable and clear. Drill presses are used to produce holes of precise depths and widths for construction workers, woodworkers, carpenters, and machinists in a variety of industries. Metal, wood, and plastic may all be drilled; varieties of these three materials may also make up the substance of the drill press guard, although it is commonly made out of clear plastic.
Types of Machine Guards
There are four main styles of machine guards, which apply to drill press guards as well as other models, such as milling machine guards and chuck guards. Fixed machine guards have been permanently applied to the machine itself, while interlocked safety guards are attached to a major part of the machinery, such as the power source, and cause automatic shutdown if removed. Adjustable and self-adjustable are the other two major styles of machine guards, which can conform to the workers' needs while providing a safe machining environment. There are also many types of drill press guards. One of the most common, tiered guards covers the rotating parts of the press by fastening to the quill of the drill press. With the use of this type of guard, operators have complete visibility while drilling, which means the product will not suffer because of safety measures. Although they usually do not get in the way, sometimes the use of drill press guards interferes with the task. After assessing all possible safety hazards, a protocol should be developed for the task. Once implemented, the guard can be removed and the task can be completed.