An operator's hand was drawn into a rotating shaft whilst holding emery cloth. The image of his glove below shows how lucky the individual was not to be seriously hurt.

HSE Statement

The wearing of gloves increases the risk of entanglement and is never acceptable near rotating parts of machinery such as manual metal working lathes. The wearing of loose, baggy clothing, long hair and jewelery all increase the risk of entanglement.

• Always carry out a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risk from using emery cloth to polish or deburr a shaft. Methods of tooling are available that will achieve the surface finish or close tolerance required for the component.
• Emery cloth should never be applied by hand on manual lathes.
• If after completing a suitable and sufficient risk assessment, it is found that emery cloth does need to be used, there are tools on the market that allow this to be completed without holding the emery cloth by hand. HSE has some great guidance on safe working – links below. Please ensure you watch these