This standard identifies the competencies you need to cut and shape materials using saws and abrasive discs, in accordance with approved procedures. You will be required to select the appropriate equipment for the operations to be carried out, and to check that it is in a safe and usable condition. In carrying out the cutting and shaping operations, you will be expected to use both saws and abrasive discs to cut and shape the materials to the required accuracy and specification.

Your responsibilities will require you to comply with organisational policy and procedures for the cutting activities undertaken, and to report any problems with the equipment or the cutting activities that you cannot personally resolve, or are outside your permitted authority, to the relevant people. You will be expected to work to instructions, with a minimum of supervision, taking personal responsibility for your own actions and for the quality and accuracy of the work that you carry out.

Your underpinning knowledge will be sufficient to provide a good understanding of your work, and will provide an informed approach to applying cutting procedures when using saws and abrasive discs. You will have an understanding of the suitability of the cutting processes, and their applications, and will know about the characteristics of the materials and the appropriate processes and techniques, in adequate depth to provide a sound basis for carrying out the activities to the required specification.

You will understand the safety precautions required when carrying out the cutting and shaping activities. You will be required to demonstrate safe working practices throughout, and will understand the responsibility you owe to yourself and others in the workplace.

---

1. work safely at all times, complying with health and safety and other relevant regulations, directives and guidelines
2. confirm that the machine is set up and ready for the machining activities to be carried out
3. manipulate the machine tool controls safely and correctly in line with operational procedures
4. produce components to the required quality and within the specified dimensional accuracy
5. carry out quality sampling checks at suitable intervals
6. deal promptly and effectively with problems within your control and report those that cannot be solved
7. shut down the equipment to a safe condition on conclusion of the machining activities

---

1. the specific safety precautions to be taken when working in a fabrication environment and when working with power operated saws and abrasive disc cutting machines (statutory requirements, risk assessment procedures and relevant requirements of HASAWA, COSHH and Work Equipment Regulations; safe disposal of waste materials)
2. the personal protective clothing and equipment (PPE) to be worn when carrying out the fabrication activities (such as leather gloves, eye/ear protection, safety helmets)
3. safe working practices and procedures to be observed when working with the machines (including emergency shutdown procedures)
4. the correct methods of moving or lifting heavy plate or rolled sections
5. the hazards associated with fabrication work and cutting operations (such using dangerous or badly maintained tools and equipment; airborne particles; hot metal; burrs and sharp edges), and how they can be minimised
6. how to obtain the necessary drawings, specifications and work instructions
7. how to use and extract information from engineering drawings and related specifications (to include symbols and conventions to appropriate British, European or relevant International standards in relation to work undertaken)
8. how to interpret marking out conventions (such as cutting lines, centre lines)
9. the range of machine saws available (such as power hacksaws, circular saws and bandsaws)
10. the abrasive cutting equipment available (to include hand held portable machines and bench type radiac cutting machines)
11. the selection and fitting of abrasive cutting discs; cutting disc identification markings, and how to identify the correct type of disc for the type of material being cut
12. statutory regulations regarding the fitting and use of abrasive discs
13. the material cutting characteristics and process considerations to be taken into account when cutting materials
14. the use and care of tools and equipment (such as checking that trailing leads, plugs and sockets are in a safe, tested and usable condition)
15. the use of safety screens to protect other uses from flying sparks whilst using abrasive cutting discs
16. the importance of ensuring that machine guards are correctly fitted and positioned before using the equipment
17. how to set and adjust power saws for the various operations being performed
18. the importance of using tools or equipment only for the purpose intended; the care that is required when using the tools or equipment; the proper way of preserving tools or equipment between operations
19. the problems that can occur when cutting materials using saws or abrasive discs, and how these can be avoided
20. inspection techniques that can be applied to check that shape and dimensional accuracy is to specification and within acceptable limits
21. the extent of your own authority and whom you should report to if you have problems that you cannot resolve
22. reporting lines and procedures, line supervision and technical experts

---

---

​

1. Ensure that the equipment is fit for purpose and used safely by carrying out all of the following:

   1. selecting the appropriate equipment/machine for the operation being performed
   2. checking that machine guards and safety devices are in position and function correctly
   3. checking that cutting discs/blades are in a serviceable condition (sharp, and free from damage or chips)
   4. isolating the equipment from its power supply whilst changing blades or discs
   5. using the equipment safely and correctly and only for its intended purpose

2. Use two of the following types of cutting equipment:

   1. machine saw                 
   2. hand held portable abrasive disc
   3. band saw                      
   4. radiac abrasive disc

3. Carry out all of the following cutting and shaping activities:

   1. straight sawing
   2. abrasive disc cutting
   3. contour shaping using saws

4. Cut and shape components which contain all of the following features:

   1. straight parallel cuts        
   2. curved contours
   3. square cuts                     
   4. angled/mitred cuts

5. Cut and shape three of the following forms of material:

   1. flat plate
   2. solid bar (such as square, round, hexagonal)
   3. rolled sections (angle, channel, RSJ )
   4. pipe/tube
   5. rail section
   6. non-ferrous material
   7. other specific form

6. Produce components that comply with all of the following quality and accuracy standards:

   1. material dimensional accuracy is within specification tolerances
   2. cuts are square, clean and free from excessive burrs
   3. angled cuts are within specification requirements

---

---

---

​​Additional Information

You will be able to apply the appropriate behaviours required in the workplace to meet the job profile and overall company objectives, such as:

• strong work ethic
• positive attitude
• team player
• dependability
• responsibility
• honesty
• integrity
• motivation
• commitment

---

---

---

---

---

3

---

31 Mar 2020

---

Current

---

Original

---

Semta

---

SEMFWE235

---

Engineering, Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies, Metal Forming, Welding and Related Trades

---

5213

---

engineering; welding; fabrication; machining; cutting; sawing; abrasive disc; machine saw; band saw

---