Here are 3 ways you can keep machine operators safe and healthy

A healthy workforce reduces absenteeism, helps contain medical costs and boosts morale ­– which leads to greater productivity. Best of all, you can enjoy these benefits by simply choosing machine tool peripherals designed with worker health and safety in mind.

• Improve air quality: CNC machines emit coolant mist and smoke into your factory’s atmosphere, which means your machine operators inhale large amounts of these vapors every shift. This can lead to respiratory problems that require medical attention and contribute to absenteeism. The solution is to install mist collectors capable of filtering out oil/coolant mist, smoke, and other fine aerosols and particulates. The best of these exceed OSHA and NIOSH requirements and, with a final stage HEPA filter, remove 99.97% of contaminants.
• Take a load off. Lifting and manually loading 12- or 6-foot bar stock is not only fatiguing but also time-consuming and exposes workers to potential physical injury. An automatic bar feeder is far easier on the machine operator’s body and reduces labor costs while improving throughput and part quality. In the same way, a vacuum unloader eliminates the need for an operator to remove finished parts manually.
• Keep out of harm’s way. Sticking your hand into a pile of metal chips and razor-sharp bird’s nests to clear out a blockage is a good way to earn a trip to the ER. An efficient chip conveyor should keep these bottlenecks from happening.

LNS designs, manufactures, sells, and supports air filtration systems, bar feeders, chip conveyors, Chipblaster coolant management systems, and work support devices worldwide. To learn more about LNS CNC machine tool peripherals, call 513-528-5674 or email: allproducts-sales@LNS-northamerica.com