What are the Safety Precautions When Using Cutting Fluids?

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If you use metal cutting fluids, there are several safety precautions you should follow so that operators are kept safe, and to ensure that you are complying with HSE MW05. By taking the time to understand the risks associated with metal cutting fluids and how they can be harmful to operators, you’ll be able to implement safety measures which will create a safe working environment for all operators. So, what are the safety precautions when using cutting fluids?

The key safety precautions when using cutting fluids include:

Store indoors between 5 C and 40 C

Minimise contact of the cutting fluid with skin to reduce the risk of skin disease

Install an LEV System to reduce the risk of lung disease in operators

Keep reading to find more detail about these safety precautions as well as what different types of PPE are required to be worn when using metal cutting fluids.

Safety Precautions When Using Metal Cutting Fluids

1. How to store Metal Cutting Fluids Safely

Ideally, metal cutting fluids should be stored indoors within drums, or an IBC (Intermediate Bulk Container) and kept at a temperature between 5 C and 40 C.

If metal cutting fluids are stored outside, containers should be placed under an IBC cover to help avoid extreme changes of temperature. It is best practice to ensure that when stored, metal cutting fluid containers have their hazard warning labels visible to users, so they are aware of an potential risks when using the product

2. Take Precautions to Help Minimise the Risk of Skin Disease in Operators

When skin comes into contact with neat or water-mixed metal cutting fluids, dermatitis on hands, arms and face can become an issue.

Exposure of the skin to metal cutting fluids can cause skin to lose its natural oils and protective layer, resulting in the development of dermatitis, which can cause itching and the appearance of red patches on the skin. Other more severe symptoms can include dry and cracking skin, swellings, and in some cases blisters and open sores.

However, there are safety precautions that should be followed to reduce the risk of dermatitis and other skin conditions in operators when using metal cutting fluids:

Reduce Manual Handling: Use an automatic dosing pump such as a Mixtron dosing pump which will reduce manual handling of metal cutting fluids
Enclose Machines: or provide splash guards so that there is a barrier between the working metal cutting fluid and the operator
Wear Appropriate PPE: Provide gloves which are suitable for controlling skin exposure to metal cutting fluids, but ensure that these will not add to other risks such as entanglement with machinery
Washing Stations: Soap and a means for drying hands and arms should be made available for operators. Hands, arms and other areas of exposed skin should be washed before taking breaks and at the end of a shift. After washing, drying the skin properly is essential so that moisture and soap is not retained on the skin. Encourage good practice by displaying hand cleaning charts.

3. Install an LEV System to Reduce the Risk of Lung Disease in Operators

The inhalation of metal cutting fluid mist means operatives are at a higher risk of developing lung disease. Early indications of this condition in operators can include coughing, recurring chest infections, breathing difficulty and weight loss.

Here are some precautions you can take to help reduce the risk of lung disease in operators:

Enclose Processes: Metal cutting mist exposure can be minimised by enclosing processes by adding splash guards to CNC machines.
Provision of Adequate LEV Systems: An LEV system, (Local Exhaust Ventilation) will remove metal cutting fluid mist from CNC enclosures, but it is essential that these systems are fitted and operated safely. These systems should be designed and commissioned by an LEV supplier.

This image shows a Local Exhaust Ventilation System (LEV) installed on a CNC machine, to help remove metal cutting fluid mist from the enclosure.

Health Surveillance Programme: Employers should ensure that suitable health surveillance is completed, which looks for relevant symptoms, and also conduct periodic lung function tests on those who are exposed to metalworking fluid mist.
Operator Training: Ensure operatives are given the correct training so that they can recognise the symptoms that may indicate lung disease and report them to a supervisor. The operative can then be referred to your occupational health provider.

This helpful guide from the HSE offers advice on both buying and using an LEV system. https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg408.pdf

What PPE is Required When Using Metal Cutting Fluids?

There are various items of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) that can be worn to protect operators from the health risks posed by exposure to metal cutting fluids.

Any PPE worn should comply with the PPE Directive (89/686/EEC) and UK PPE Regulations 2002. (SI 2002/1144) and be kitemarked to the relevant EN Standards.

Required PPE	Reasoning
Single Use Nitrile Gloves	If exposure to metalworking fluids cannot be controlled, gloves that are suitable for controlling skin exposure should be worn by operators. Nitrile gloves are acceptable but should only be worn when these do not add to other risks from machinery, such as entanglement in moving parts.
Goggles	Goggles should be worn by operators at all times. If machines are not enclosed, there is a high risk of misting, which can cause skin and/or lung disease.
Protective overalls	Protective overalls will cover arms and protect operators from misting.

Always refer to your cutting fluid supplier’s product safety data sheet when checking the hazardous properties of any biocide and for advice about PPE requirements.

We have a technical information library where you will find both safety and technical data sheets for our metal cutting fluids. Browse our technical information library here.

What are the Main Functions of a Cutting Fluid?

There are many functions of metal cutting fluids. Here we have highlighted the top four functions of metal cutting fluids:

To Cool: Metal cutting fluids are there to cool moving parts, and protect them from wear. The coolant will prolong the life of the moving parts, and therefore incur cost savings.

To Reduce Friction: Additional additives in cutting fluids reduce friction and aid lubricity, and protect against extreme pressure.

Chip & Fines Removal: Metal cutting fluids will flush chips away from the cutting zone.

Prevent the Corrosion of tooling: Metal cutting fluids prevent the formation of rust on components and will prolong tool life.

Metal Cutting Fluids at Pennine Lubricants:

We’ve been supplying metal cutting fluids to industry for over 30 years. Our technical team is on hand to troubleshoot any application problems, and make suggestions on which metal cutting fluid would suit your application.

For further information on our range of metal cutting fluids click here, or contact our technical team today.

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