CNC PLASMA TABLE SAFETY
Cogbill Construction Weekly Safety Tuesday, June 15th, 2021
At Cogbill, we use our CNC Plasma Cutting System daily. Our system allows us to cut metals faster and smoother, and in a variety of custom shapes and components, so we can deliver high-quality custom products to our clients in a timely matter. Though used regularly, a plasma cutting table can be extremely hazardous if safety precautions are not followed.
Keep the following in mind before performing work on your plasma table:
Training
A CNC plasma cutting system is a complicated piece of machinery that requires detailed and rigorous training to operate it properly, efficiently, and most importantly, safely. Take the time to learn everything you can about your brand, configuration, and operations requirements.
PPE
Workers should wear appropriate PPE such as long sleeves, gloves, and shaded eye protection to protect against sparks and arc rays. Regular dark glasses are not sufficient, special glasses are manufactured to protect eyes from such plasma arc rays.
Loading Safety
Dangers that could occur while loading plates onto plasma tables are plate sliding or falling, crushing feet, causing head injury, slicing hands with sharp edges, etc. Workers should be properly trained on the loading and unloading of steel plates before operating a CNC plasma table.
Proper Ventilation
Plasma tables can create toxic gases and fumes while it is cutting material. The table should be located in a well-ventilated area to prevent serious health problems, as well as ensuring that the vents and fans that make up its exhaust system are operating within the manufacturer’s specifications. Operating such a system in cold weather could be more dangerous, as shop operators may close shop doors to avoid extremely cold air, but this could cause toxic fumes to concentrate and cause serious breathing problems.
Electrical Safety
CNC Plasma tables are high voltage appliances, touching certain electrical components of a plasma torch could result in electrocution, burns, or even death.
Fire Hazards
With hot metal and sparks being produced by the plasma table, fires have the potential to occur quickly. Keep the work area clear of flammable material, dust, gases, and vapors to prevent fires from starting.
Workers should always remain at least 25 feet away from a plasma table to reduce the risks of getting physically harmed by these hazards.
