Cutting marine steelwork using saws and abrasive discs

This standard identifies the competences you need to cut and shape marine steelwork 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 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 with 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 sound basis for your work and will provide an informed approach to applying cutting procedures to marine steelwork 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.

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1. work safely at all times, complying with health and safety and other relevant regulations, directives and guidelines
2. confirm that the equipment is set up and ready for the machining activities to be carried out
3. operate  the cutting tool controls safely and correctly in line with operational procedures
4. produce cut steelwork 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

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1. the specific safety precautions to be taken when working in a marine fabrication environment, and when working with power operated saws and abrasive disc cutting machines (to include risk assessment procedures, accident procedures and relevant requirements of HASAWA, COSHH and Work Equipment Regulations)
2. the personal protective clothing and equipment (PPE) to be worn when carrying out the cutting 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 cutting and shaping marine steelwork using saws and abrasive cutting equipment (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 and interpret information form job instructions, drawings and cutting specifications, in relation to the work undertaken
7. how to interpret marking out conventions (such as cutting lines, centre lines)
8. the range of machine saws available (such as power hacksaws, circular saws and band saws)
9. the abrasive cutting equipment available (to include handheld portable machines and bench type radiac cutting machines)
10. 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
11. statutory regulations regarding the fitting and use of abrasive discs
12. 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)
13. the use of safety screens to protect other uses from flying sparks whilst using abrasive cutting discs
14. the importance of ensuring that the machine guards are correctly fitted and positioned before using the equipment
15. how to set and adjust power saws for the various operations being performed
16. 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
17. why tool/equipment control is critical and what to do if a tool or piece of equipment is unaccounted for on completion of the activities
18. the problems that can occur when cutting materials using saws or abrasive discs and how these can be avoided

19. inspection techniques that can be applied to check that shape and dimensional accuracy is to specification and within acceptable limits

20. the extent of your own authority and whom you should report to if you have problems that you cannot resolve

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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 (free from damage or chips and are sharp)
   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 one of the following types of saw:

   1. band saw
   2. mechanical hacksaw
   3. circular saw

Plus one of the following abrasive cutting tools:
4. handheld portable abrasive disc
5. radiac abrasive disc

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

   1. straight parallel cuts
   2. square cuts
   3. notches
   4. curved contours
   5. angled cuts
   6. chamfers/mitred cuts

4. 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

5. Produce components that comply with all of the following quality and accuracy requirements:

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

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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

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2

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2021

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Current

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Original

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Semta

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SEMME2023

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Engineering, Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies

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5235

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Engineering; marine; steelwork; shaping; cutting; saws; abrasive disc; radiac disc

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