1010 – 06 – Understanding Cutting fluid safety

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Cutting process can create high levels of heat and friction as they create chips. It’s why so many machines have cooling and lubrication systems. These systems douse the machines with coolant to remove heat and chips while simultaneously lubricating the cut.

In addition to coolant, oil fluids are also necessary for efficient, safe cutting operations. Machines will either use straight oil fluids or soluble oil fluids. Straight oil reaches high temperatures that can be flammable. Soluble oil is a concentrate that should be combined with water, making it less slippery than straight oil. Regardless of the type of oil, it’s imperative to keep it from spilling on the floor, where it poses a slipping hazard.

Cutting fluids have a variety of safety and health hazards. They can cause eye, skin, and respiratory irritation, so it’s important to limit workers’ exposure. There are numerous methods to minimize exposure to cutting fluids. The majority of C-N-C machines will have ventilation systems, machine enclosures, and splashguards that reduce the amount of contact workers have with cutting fluids on skin. Furthermore, most metal shops require their workers to wear safety-approved clothing.