FAQ

Your questions on lathe protection

What legal stipulations on machine safety exist?

Regulations on the subject of "machine safety" can be found, for example, in the German Industrial Safety Ordinance (BetrSichV) or in the Work Equipment Ordinance (AM-VO) for Austria, or your local equivalent. Beyond these, further safety technology rules and accident prevention regulations exist, such as DGUV Regulation 1.

According to the applicable regulations of the country in question, an employer is obliged to identify hazards which threaten employees at work and derive appropriate safety measures (such as installing a safety device). Safety precautions must also be checked for effectiveness and adapted if needed. The risk assessment process and the results must be appropriately documented.

When do safety devices need to be retroactively fitted?

Safety devices must be retrofitted if potential hazards for machine operators or other persons are identified during the risk assessment. Machines and systems must not be recommissioned until the risk scenarios determined have been eliminated.

Is it easy to retrofit safety devices?

Safety devices can be retrofitted on most toolmaking machines with very little overhead. Typically, only a few holes need to be drilled and an electrical connection is required.

Assembly instructions for our safety devices are available as pdf files or videos. On top of this, MOWOTAS offers a comprehensive consultation service.

Do safety devices need to be inspected following their installation?

The duty to inspect work equipment prior to initial commissioning and after modifications is governed by the pertinent industrial safety ordinance. For example, employers in Germany are required to have the effectiveness of safety measures checked by persons qualified to survey work equipment before initial use of the work equipment.

The check involves investigating whether

- the assembly / installation work has been carried out according to regulations,

- the work equipment works safely,

- damage is present,

- the safety engineering measures taken are suitable and functional.

The results of the checks must be documented in each case.

Do MOWOTAS safety guards comply with the European Machinery Directive EN 2006/42/EC?

MOWOTAS safety guards comply with the applicable safety regulations as per the C standard for lathes, DIN EN ISO 23125:2015-04, and the German Industrial Safety Ordinance (BetrSichV). A CE Declaration of Conformity in line with the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC is included in the scope of delivery.

How do I compute the size of the chuck guard?

Chuck safety devices are available in various sizes and designs. To calculate the optimum size of the chuck guard, it is important to take both the chuck diameter and the length of any projecting clamping jaws into account. Additionally, we recommend a safety distance of at least 100 mm.

Sample calculations for selecting the correct chuck guard size: spindle diameter 250 mm, plus length of projecting clamping jaws 50 mm (multiply this dimension by two for left/right), plus a safety distance of 100 mm = 450 mm = TF450

How does the safety microswitch work?

Safety microswitches offer additional safety for machine safety devices by preventing the safety screen being opened while the chuck is moving.

If the locked protective hood moves, the microswitch opens and sends a stop signal to the machine control. This means that the machine is prevented from running with the screen open.

How long is the service life of the polycarbonate panes?

Polycarbonate panes are frequently used to protect machines as they have a higher retention capacity than other transparent materials. However, they are sensitive and can be attacked by environmental influence such as UV light, lubricant emulsions or the wrong cleaning agents.

Polycarbonate panes should therefore be regularly inspected for scratches, cracks or embrittlement to meet safety requirements. Given intended use, the recommended service life of the panes is about 2 years; they should be replaced after this.

Does MOWOTAS also offer customised products?

In addition to standard safety devices for various toolmaking machines, MOWOTAS also offers custom built devices which meet your individual requirements in terms of design, length, height or even colour.

We have already successfully installed a variety of custom built devices and are happy to develop the right solution for your application in cooperation with you.

Simply contact us:

by e-mail: info@mowotas.com

by telephone: +49 8191 9151 19-50

Why is it better to use polycarbonate panes?

Polycarbonates are thermoplastics characterised by high strength, rigidity, impact resistance and toughness. They are resistant to a wide range of liquids such as water, hydrocarbons or oxidising agents and also to various oils and greases.

Due to their properties, polycarbonate panes offer a higher retention capacity than other transparent materials such as glass, and are therefore better suited as safety features on machines.

Can safety devices be installed on all drilling, milling, turning and grinding machines?

There is virtually no toolmaking machine to which you cannot attach safety devices. If you cannot use one of our standard safety devices, we are happy to help you find a non-standard custom build.

What is a risk assessment?

A risk assessment serves to identify potential hazards for employees in operations in advance and, if possible, to eliminate or mitigate these risks.

According to the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the Industrial Safety Ordinance (BetrSichV), every employer has the duty to carry out a risk assessment. The exact implementation is not prescribed in detail; instead, only the principles are specified. For example, the risk analysis must be based on the operational requirements and conditions and take into account all foreseeable work processes in the enterprise. The potential sources of danger include work processes and procedures, working hours or employee qualifications.

A risk assessment is not a one-off procedure; instead, risk scenarios in the enterprise must be continuously investigated and updated where needed. A risk assessment is therefore also mandatory, for example, whenever new workplaces are set up or work processes are changed.

The employer also has the duty to fully document risk assessments carried out for all activities and workplaces and to involve employees and their representatives at all stages.

How does installing a safety device influence the risk assessment?

Before work equipment is used, the employer must assess the potential hazards (risk assessment) and derive necessary and suitable protective measures from this. The potential hazards can emanate from work equipment, work objects or the working environment.

If the correct installation of a safety device contributes towards eliminating potential sources of danger, the employer is meeting their obligation to eliminate hazardous situations; this may be necessary to allow the work equipment to be commissioned.