Lockout-Tagout

Why LOTO Is Critical on Deep Hole Drills Lockout/tagout is standard safety on any machine tool. Deep hole drilling machines add two hazards that make LOTO especially critical: trapped high-pressure coolant and separately-powered coolant pumps. A deep hole machine can hold 500-1000 psi of residual coolant pressure after the pump shuts off. The pressure is trapped in the filter housing, the rotating union, and the supply lines. Opening a fitting without bleeding the pressure first releases a jet of coolant that can inject through skin. ...

I do a risk assessment before every new job setup. It takes 30 minutes and identifies hazards that might otherwise be overlooked. In my experience, the jobs where I nearly skipped the assessment are the ones that would have bitten me. I use a structured hazard register rather than a mental checklist because it leaves a record that can be reviewed later if something does go wrong. Hazard Identification The main hazards on a deep hole drilling machine fall into six categories. I walk through each category systematically during the risk assessment: ...

I use a tiered safety inspection checklist for every deep hole drilling machine in the shop. The inspections are divided into daily, weekly, monthly, and quarterly checks. Each level covers different aspects of machine safety, and the total time investment is about five minutes per day plus 30 minutes per week. The time is well spent — I have caught loose hoses, failing interlocks, and low coolant levels before they caused injuries or damage. ...