Product Overview

This Engineering Machining Lathe and Milling Operations SWMS is a site-ready Safe Work Method Statement designed to identify, control, and minimise risks associated with precision machining work. It is a comprehensive document that covers multiple aspects of lathe, milling, and related machining processes to support WHS compliance and safer management of high-risk plant operations.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes specific risk controls for:

• Safe operation of end mill machines, including tool selection, set-up, and cutting speed management
• Planning and execution of interactive machining operations using manual and CNC controls
• Lathe metal cutting processes, including facing, turning, grooving, and parting-off operations
• Lathe metal spinning activities, including workpiece mounting, forming, and finishing techniques
• Use and operation of line borers for precision boring, alignment, and internal surface finishing
• Machining of parts to specification, including measuring, marking out, and quality verification
• Set-up and operation of milling machines, including clamping, fixturing, and multi-axis cutting
• Operating a lathe machine safely, including chuck key control, speed selection, and guarding
• Use of lathes and grinders, including wheel selection, dressing, and management of sparks and swarf
• General use of lathes, including workpiece balancing, tool post adjustment, and emergency stop procedures
• Selection, inspection, and maintenance of cutting tools, chucks, collets, and workholding devices
• Control of metal swarf, cutting fluids, and housekeeping to prevent slips, trips, and fire hazards
• Lockout/tagout procedures for isolation of power, pneumatic, and hydraulic energy sources during maintenance
• Manual handling and mechanical lifting of raw stock, machined components, vices, and fixtures
• Use of personal protective equipment (PPE) including eye, face, hearing, and hand protection for machining tasks

Who is this for?

This SWMS is designed for machinists, fitters and turners, toolmakers, metal fabrication workshops, engineering workshops, and site supervisors overseeing machining and fabrication activities.

Specific Job Steps & Hazards Covered

Legislation & References

This document was researched and developed to align with:

• Safe Work Australia – Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace Code of Practice: Guidance on controlling risks associated with plant such as lathes, mills, and grinders
• Safe Work Australia – Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work Code of Practice: Requirements for noise risk management in machining environments
• Safe Work Australia – Hazardous Manual Tasks Code of Practice: Controls for lifting, carrying, and handling heavy workpieces and equipment
• Safe Work Australia – Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces Code of Practice: Relevant for access to elevated platforms, mezzanines, or machine servicing points
• Safe Work Australia – Welding Processes Code of Practice: Referenced where machining is integrated with welding and fabrication workflows
• AS 4024 Safety of Machinery (series): Requirements and principles for guarding, emergency stops, and safe control systems on machinery
• AS/NZS 4801 Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems: Framework for integrating this SWMS into an organisation’s WHS management system
• Work Health and Safety Act 2011
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2017