Lathe Machine Entanglement Accident

Background At a vocational training institute workshop, a trainee was operating a centre lathe to reduce the diameter of a mild steel rod. Incident The trainee wore loose clothing and did not secure the sleeves properly. While measuring the rotating workpiece, the sleeve got entangled in the rotating chuck. The operator’s arm was pulled toward the machine, causing severe lacerations and a fractured wrist. Safety Violations No enforcement of proper PPE (tight-fitting clothing). Attempt to measure workpiece while the machine was running. No immediate supervision. Absence of emergency stop awareness. Root Causes Lack of hazard awareness training. Poor supervision. Unsafe work practices becoming normalized. Corrective Actions Mandatory workshop dress code (no loose clothing, no jewelry). Strict rule: Never measure or adjust work while rotating. Install clear emergency stop signage. Conduct refresher training on machine guarding. Lessons Learned Rotating machinery presents high entanglement risks. Even minor negligence can lead to severe injury.