Cutting marine steelwork using shearing machines

This standard identifies the competences you need for cutting and shaping marine steelwork, such as metal plate and sections (3 mm thickness and above) for marine fabrications, using guillotines or section cropping machines, in accordance with approved procedures. You will be required to select the appropriate equipment and machine settings to use, for the material, thickness and the accuracy to be achieved. Items to be cut and shaped may include ferrous and non-ferrous materials and will include parallel cuts, square cuts, and cuts that are at an angle. These cuts will be achieved by working to marking out and by setting the machine's backstop when multiple cutting is required.

Your responsibilities will require you to comply with organisational policy and procedures for the activities undertaken and to report any problems with the equipment, materials or 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 produce.

Your underpinning knowledge will be sufficient to provide a sound basis for your work and will provide an informed approach to applying metal shearing procedures. You will have an understanding of the shearing processes, the equipment and its application and will know about the process 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 working with shearing machines and with their associated tools and equipment. 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 machine is set up and ready for the machining activities to be carried out
3. operate the machine 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 steelwork environment and when working with shearing machines (to include general workshop and site safety, accident procedure; risk assessment 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 steelwork cutting activities (such as leather gloves, eye/ear protection, safety helmets)
3. safe working practices and procedures for operating shearing machines
4. the correct methods of moving or lifting heavy plate and the equipment to be used
5. the hazards associated with marine steelwork and shearing operations (such as using dangerous or badly maintained tools and equipment; lifting and handling plate; operating machinery) and how they can be minimised
6. how to obtain and interpret information from 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 various shearing machine cutting methods and techniques (such as cutting to marking-out and using the machine backstops for multiple pieces)
9. material handling and preparation methods (such as degreasing, de-burring, straightening)
10. the method of setting and adjusting shearing blades for the material thickness
11. tool and equipment care and control procedures and how to recognise when the cutting blades require changing
12. 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
13. 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
14. the safety mechanisms and devices that are on the machine and why they must always be used (such as machine guards, interlocks, safety operating devices)
15. the problems that can occur when shearing materials and how these can be avoided
16. inspection techniques that can be applied to check that shape and dimensional accuracy are to specification and within acceptable limits
17. 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. Confirm that the equipment is safe and fit for purpose, by carrying out all of the following checks:

   1. the appropriate equipment/machine is selected for the operation being performed
   2. the machine guards and safety devices are in position and function correctly
   3. cutting blades are in a usable condition
   4. the machine is set for the material thickness to be cut (where applicable)

2. Cut metal plate or section using one of the following types of shearing machine:

   1. guillotines
   2. section cropping machine

3. Cut materials using both of the following techniques:

   1. to markings
   2. using machine backstop for multiple cutting

4. Perform operations that produce straight and accurate cuts, which include both of the following:

   1. parallel cuts
   2. square cuts

5. Cut plate, sections or bars for one material from the following:

   1. carbon steel
   2. stainless steel
   3. aluminium
   4. other specific materials

6. Produce cut components which meet all of the following quality and accuracy requirements:

   1. dimensional accuracy is within the tolerances specified on the drawing/specification
   2. cut components are free from excessive distortion
   3. cut edges are neat and free from false tool cuts and shearing sliver

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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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01 Feb 2021

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Current

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Original

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Semta

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SEMME2024

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Engineering, Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies

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5235

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Engineering; marine; machining; steelwork; cutting; sheering machine; guillotine; cropping machine; parallel cuts

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