This Lathe Risk Assessment/JSA (Job Safety Analysis) is pre-filled for setting up and operating a metalworking lathe in a workshop. It covers 10 activities, from the pre-operation inspection to entanglement, noise and emergency response, with the hazards, control measures and risk ratings before and after controls for each. It's written by WHS specialists, aligned to Australian WHS legislation, and fully editable in Microsoft Word.
Who it's for
Engineering and machining workshops
Metal fabricators and engineering shops
Manufacturing and toolmaking businesses
Farm, fleet and maintenance workshops
Mine site maintenance contractors
A risk assessment, also called a JSA, JSEA or task risk assessment, records the hazards of a task and how you control them. If the task is part of high risk construction work, the law requires a SWMS for that work, so use our Lathe SWMS instead.
Use it to
Show clients, insurers and auditors how you manage the risks
Apply for tenders, contracts and supplier panels
Get through prequalification with Avetta, Cm3 and other contractor portals
Induct new workers and train them in the task
What this risk assessment covers
Pre-operation inspection to pick up equipment faults and poor maintenance
Setting up the lathe and manual handling
Entanglement from long hair, loose clothing, rags, brushes and jewellery
Impact and cutting injuries from exposed moving parts
Noise exposure during operation
Electrical safety and electrocution risks
Finishing work for the day, including slips, cuts and manual handling
Swarf, metal offcuts, oil residue and coolant spills
Post-work inspection and clean-up
Emergency response to entanglement, cuts, crush injuries, electrical incidents or fire
What's included
Hazards and control measures for 10 work activities
Risk ratings before and after controls, with a 5x5 risk matrix and the hierarchy of controls
PPE requirements checklist
Daily pre-start inspections, scheduled maintenance and electrical testing for the lathe and tools
Induction and work activity training for each operator
Site specific hazards section for anything unique to your job
Further controls action plan to track anything still to be done
Worker sign-off sheet and worker consultation record
Why use this template
Saves hours compared with writing a risk assessment from a blank page
Covers the most common hazards and control measures for this work, ready to use out of the box
Fully editable, so you can add, remove or change anything to suit your workplace and how your team works
Helps your business stay compliant, with risk ratings, an action plan, worker sign-off and consultation records already set up
Comes with a step-by-step implementation guide
How it works
Buy online and download straight away. You'll also get an email with your link.
Add your logo, ABN, area and site details.
Check it suits your workplace and task, edit anything you need to, and consult your workers before you finalise it.
Brief your team and collect signatures.
Common questions
Do I need a SWMS or a risk assessment for operating a lathe?
No. Operating a lathe in a workshop isn't high risk construction work, so a SWMS isn't a legal requirement. You still have to manage the risks, like entanglement and contact with moving parts, and a risk assessment or JSA is a practical way to record how. Clients, insurers and prequalification portals often ask for one.
Does it cover entanglement?
Yes. It has a separate activity for entanglement, covering long hair, loose clothing, rags, cleaning brushes and jewellery catching in the lathe's moving parts.
Can I change it?
Yes. It's a Microsoft Word file, so you can add, remove or change any hazard, control or rating, and add your own logo and details.
Does it suit my state?
Yes. It's written to the model WHS laws and suits all states and territories, including Victoria under the OHS Act and Regulations.
What if it doesn't suit my work?
You're covered by our 30-day money-back guarantee if it isn't fit for purpose.
