If Fred Dibnah did carpentry...

[Andy Burns]

My grandad and one of my uncles each lost digit(s) to belts on farm machinery.

[Nightjar]

There is a hierarchy of protection and the highest level possible should be applied:

At the top level, humans are completely isolated from any danger. An example of this would be a fully robotic plant, which humans cannot enter unless all equipment is fully locked out. All entry gates are interlocked to prevent entry and, if somebody manages to override that, opening the gate will stop the equipment.

Next, everything is fully guarded, in such a way as to prevent humans putting any part of their body into a dangerous area. That can mean finger proof guards close to dangerous parts or simply keeping people too far away from equipment for them to reach the dangerous part. An example of the latter would be to fit the band saw with a tunnel to feed the wood down, which could be large enough to accept a human arm but which is longer than any arm. All guards are interlocked so that they cannot be opened if the equipment is operating and/or opening the guard will stop the machinery. This is the level that should be applied to belts and bearings.

At the next level, guarding is as complete as possible, but the nature of the process is such that it is not possible to completely isolate humans from danger areas. Examples of this would be a polishing machine, where the operator needs to hold the work against the mop. This is the point at which emergency stops are required. Ideally, there should be one stop that the operator can use without needing to have a hand free (if things go wrong they may not have), such as a knee bar, plus, if that is not accessible to others, a stop button that anybody else nearby can use.

Where guarding is not possible, then protection is given by the use of personal protective equipment. This alone would not usually be appropriate in a factory with fixed machinery, although PPE might be used in conjunction with other levels. Handling might need gloves, chips and dust might need eye protection or noise might need ear protection, for example.

At the lowest level of protection, safety is ensured only by training and safe working practices. Obviously, these are also important even when a higher level of protection exists. Not spilling oil when filling the oil can would be an example from the film.

I must admit I hadn't noticed that on the first viewing. I assume that is a result of an inadequate air supply to the combustion chamber. That suggests either a need for a redesign or better operator training.

Colin Bignell

[meow2222]

Very informative. I guess a sewing machine relies on the last level only.

NT

[Nightjar]

I can't envisage any condition where an emergency stop needed to close down the entire factory. If there were a need for an emergency stop, it would probably only need to stop one machine and each machine should have a stop/start system that could be adapted - either a clutch on the final drive or, on some flat belt systems, simply disengaging the belt from the pulley.

However, I didn't see anything that I would have thought needed an emergency stop button. The only equipment where the operator got close to the working parts was the box stapler and that was not in continuous motion. It was operated by a foot switch and an emergency stop would be no more effective than simply not pressing the foot switch. The foot switch should, however, have been shielded, to prevent accidental operation.

Hard work, but not inherently dangerous IMO. The belts were not powered at that stage and the engine was not going to start by itself.

Colin Bignell

[Nightjar]

It shouldn't in an industrial environment. You can get clear guards that surround the work area, keeping fingers away from the needle and protecting eyes from flying bits if a needle breaks.

Colin Bignell

[meow2222]

They get in the way of work though, hence why domestic machines still have a completely unguarded needle speeding up & down next to the operator's fingers.

NT

[Roger Mills]

No, but there's a risk of getting your fingers trapped between belt and pulley!

[Nightjar]

:-)

Colin Bignell

[Nightjar]

Not an excuse a factory inspector would accept.

Even my ancient treadle operated sewing machine has a bent bit of wire to keep your fingers away from the needle.

Colin Bignell

[meow2222]

AIUI inability to do the job justifies going to the next level of protection

I don't think I've ever seen a domestic machine with such protection, except one kids toy that had a plastic cover round the needle area. The norm for new domestic machines is still lack of protection.

NT

[Nightjar]

That is rather more than simply getting in the way of the work though.

This is the sort of guard I had in mind:

Mine is probably older than me. It may even have been designed as a light industrial machine.

Colin Bignell

[Vir Campestris]

Nope, no guard. Foot with a slot, and the needle naked just in front of it. And definitely domestic.

Singer no. 66, went out of production when the war started :)

Andy

[Nightjar]

Which one?

Colin Bignell

[Clive George]

I've not seen a domestic one with a needle guard. Singer, Bernina, Brother, probably some more.

[John Rumm]

and if you spin up a belt sander to check the running of a new belt, let it spin down, and then put it down, make sure you don't allow the tip of a finger to get dragged into the gap at the back of the sander when the belt feeds back into the body! Makes the end of your finger go numb for several minutes.... DAMHIK.

[Capitol]

IME the needle through the finger is always part of the child training program!

[Nightjar]

One of the villages has a sewing machine shop, so I dropped by to ask. Apparently, finger guards are an optional add-on for some machines, but he doesn't remember ever selling one.

Colin Bignell

[jfflkjflkjflkdfj]

They did seem to be doing a lot of oiling. Makes you understand how the industrial revolution got through so many whales.

[meow2222]

Looks a relatively good design. Yet rare.

I think pretty much all floor standing machines are & were.

NT

[nutherperception]

Ive always found it fascinating the way belt driven machines work with crowned wheels...

The clip reminded me , of two old machines i bought from a Whitehaven Jionery ,,

really old stuff bulit to last forever,

only they had been converted to electric,, and ball bearings ..

The thicknesser was built for really big stuff

it had a handle on it about a yard long to set it off going,, by engagingthe belt drive

the machine clanked even running on electric,,

next door neighbour might still have that one

Ian Garbet..

..

I suspect the machines were

desigined to run underneath overhead

shafts powered by steam...

The thicknesser was not well suited well to my needs,, i liked to do small stuff too

but well,, it did big stuff like you wouldin believe,,

The surface planer was sumpthin else,,

six foot bed,, 12 inch triple blade cutter

you could lie on tovit.. about half a ton,,

Wi an electric motor mangled on underneath..

wow you shoulda heard it winding up.

I had to dismantle it to get it in my shed,,

a shed with an unusually solid floor co I made it.. it supported the heavey planer quite well,,

cept at only fourteen feet,, it was not

quite long enough for the machines capabilities..

,,

A greedy clown has allo my stuff now,,

...