Lathe SWMS

Suits metal fabricators, machinists, maintenance workshops, schools, wood turners and joinery shops that use a centre lathe, toolroom lathe or wood lathe. It follows the job in order: planning, pre-start checks, setting up the chuck and work piece, speed and start, turning metal and timber, long and heavy work, measuring and tool changes, coolant and dust, and clean-down. Milling machines need a separate SWMS.

Lathe work in a workshop is not high risk construction work, so no item is pre-ticked and a SWMS is required by law only for high risk construction work (WHS Regulation s 299). If the lathe is used as part of construction work, tick the reg 291 items that apply. Otherwise the document works as a written safe work procedure and task risk assessment that you tailor to your machine.

Learn More: What Is A Safe Work Method Statement?
Have you ever been asked to provide a SWMS on a project in Queensland? Read our guide to what a Safe Work Method Statement is and when you need one.

What Is Covered In Our Lathe SWMS?

The job steps run in the order the work is done, from pre-start checks to finishing up. The hazards and controls include:

• Entanglement in the rotating work piece and chuck
• Chuck key thrown from the chuck
• Work piece flung out of the chuck
• Missing or by-passed guards and covers
• Hot, sharp swarf and cuts
• Flying chips and eye injury
• Long bar whip behind the headstock
• Heavy chuck and work piece lifting
• Wood dust and fine particles
• Cutting fluid, oil and skin disease
• Noise from heavy cuts
• Starting the lathe by mistake

High Risk Construction Work

No high risk construction work items (WHS Regulation 2011 (Qld) s 291) are pre-ticked, because this work is not high risk construction work by itself. Tick the items that apply to your job, such as a fall risk of more than 2 metres or work where powered mobile plant is moving.

Licences, Training and Competency

• Operator trained and assessed as competent on the particular lathe, covering guarding, speed and feed selection, work holding, chuck keys and the emergency stop (no high risk work licence class applies to a lathe)
• Instruction in the maker’s isolation and lockout procedure for the lathe
• Competent person to inspect, maintain and test the lathe and its guards (WHS Regulation s 213)
• Training in the hazardous chemicals used (cutting fluids, oils, solvents, finishes: SDS read) and in the PPE chosen
• Trained first aider available on site, with first aid provided as s 42 of the WHS Regulation requires
• Site induction, and a general construction induction training card (white card) where the lathe is on a construction site

Legislation and Codes of Practice Referenced

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld)
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld)
• WHS Regulation 2011 (Qld) ss 205 to 213: plant (proper use s 206, guarding s 208, operational controls s 210, emergency stops s 211, maintenance and inspection s 213)
• WHS Regulation 2011 (Qld) ss 36 and 44: hierarchy of control measures and personal protective equipment
• WHS Regulation 2011 (Qld) ss 56 and 57: noise exposure standard and managing the risk of hearing loss
• WHS Regulation 2011 (Qld) s 60: managing risks of hazardous manual tasks
• WHS Regulation 2011 (Qld) s 351: managing risks of hazardous chemicals
• Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
• Hazardous Manual Tasks Code of Practice 2021
• Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work Code of Practice 2021
• Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
• Managing the Work Environment and Facilities Code of Practice 2021
• First Aid in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
• How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks Code of Practice 2021
• Electrical Safety Act 2002 (Qld)
• Electrical Safety Regulation 2026 (Qld)

What You Get

• An editable Microsoft Word document (13 pages), laid out on A4 landscape pages
• Business, client, job and document details typed once and filled in on every page, plus a space for your logo
• The high risk construction work checklist, worded as WHS Regulation s 291, and the construction project question (s 292)
• A worker and health and safety representative consultation record
• Qualifications, plant, PPE, hazardous chemicals, safety equipment, permits, references and emergency arrangements filled in for this work
• A 5 x 5 risk matrix, and job steps with initial and residual risk scores and the people responsible
• Implementing, monitoring and review requirements, an additional controls log, revision history and a worker sign-on sheet

Review and adjust it for your site, your plant and the way your crew does the job, and talk it through with your workers before work starts. If you have any trouble downloading this SWMS, you can contact us at any time. Please make sure you read our Disclaimer before downloading this SWMS.