Drilling and finishing holes in marine steelwork
Overview
This standard identifies the competences you need to drill and finish holes in marine steelwork, such as sheet, plate, rolled section or pipe, using drilling machines, in accordance with approved procedures. You will be required to select the appropriate drilling equipment to use, based on the operations to be performed and the size of the component to be worked on. You will be expected to use appropriate workholding methods and techniques to secure the workpiece for the drilling operations and this will include the use of jigs, clamps, machine vice and other appropriate holding devices. In drilling and finishing the holes, you will need to position the drill bits accurately and to use appropriate speeds and feeds to drill and finish the holes to the required specification. Drilling and finishing operations will include through holes, blind holes, counterbored holes, countersunk holes, spot facing, reaming and tapping.
Your responsibilities will require you to comply with organisational policy and procedures for the drilling activities undertaken and to report any problems with the equipment or drilling 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 the drilling and finishing procedures. You will have an understanding of the drilling equipment used and its application, together with the material characteristics and the appropriate tooling for carrying out the drilling and finishing process. You will know about the basic principles and requirements of securing the workpiece prior to carrying out the process, in adequate depth to provide a sound basis for carrying out the drilling activities safely and correctly, ensuring that the work output meets the required specification.
You will understand the safety precautions required when carrying out the drilling and finishing 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.
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
- work safely at all times, complying with health and safety and other relevant regulations, directives and guidelines
- confirm that the machine is set up and ready for the machining activities to be carried out
- operate the machine tool controls safely and correctly in line with operational procedures
- produce drilled components to the required quality and within the specified dimensional accuracy
- carry out quality sampling checks at suitable intervals
- deal promptly and effectively with problems within your control and report those that cannot be solved
- shut down the equipment to a safe condition on conclusion of the machining activities
Knowledge and Understanding
You need to know and understand:
- the specific safety precautions to be taken when working in a marine steelwork environment and when carrying out drilling and finishing operations on materials used in marine fabrications (to include general workshop and site safety, accident procedures; risk assessment procedures and relevant requirements of HASAWA, COSHH and Work Equipment Regulations)
- 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)
- the correct methods of moving or lifting materials
- the safe working practices and procedures to be used when using portable power operated tools and drilling machines (including emergency stop procedures for the machines)
- the hazards associated with carrying out drilling work on marine steelwork (such as using dangerous or badly maintained tools and equipment; insecure or poorly clamped workpieces; airborne metal particles; sharp edges and splinters) and how they can be minimised
- how to obtain and interpret information from job instructions, drawings and specifications in relation to the work undertaken
- how to interpret marking out conventions (such as cutting lines, centre lines)
- the various types and application of drilling machines (including portable power tools, bench and pedestal machines and radial arm machines)
- the range of drilling and hole finishing tools available (including twist drills, reamers, counterbore tools, countersink tools, spot facing tools) and how to check their serviceability
- the methods of holding and securing the drills and finishing tools into the machine spindle (including chucks, taper shank sleeves, collet chucks)
- the methods of holding and securing workpieces for drilling (such as jigs and fixtures, machine vices, clamps and restraining devices)
- methods used to align the drill with the workpiece and the use of centre drills and pilot drills
- how to check that the drill hole is in the correct position before drilling to the full diameter
- how to correct a drill that has been started off-centre
- the selection of speeds and feeds for drilling, reaming and finishing operations
- the selection of cutting fluids and compounds for drilling
the care and control of tools and equipment; checking that portable power tool leads, plugs and sockets are in a safe, tested and usable condition
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
- 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
- the problems that can occur with drilling operations and how these can be avoided
- the extent of your own authority and whom you should report to if you have problems that you cannot resolve
Scope/range
Scope Performance
Ensure that the equipment is fit for purpose and used safely, by carrying out all of the following:
- selecting the appropriate drilling equipment/machine for the operation being performed
- checking that machine guards and safety devices are in position and function correctly
- checking that drill bits and cutting tools are in a serviceable condition (such as being sharp, and free from damage or chips)
- isolating the equipment from its power supply whilst changing drill bits
- securely clamping/restraining the components during the drilling operations
- using the equipment safely and correctly and only for its intended purpose
Use two of the following drilling machines:
- handheld drilling machine
- radial arm drill
- pillar/bench drill
- other types of clamped drills (such as magnetic, vacuum)
Use two of the following workholding devices:
- jigs/fixtures
- clamps
- machine vice
- other types of clamps (such as magnetic, vacuum)
Produce drilled holes in two of the following material types:
- ferrous sheet/plate/sections
- stainless steel sheet/plate/sections
- non-ferrous sheet/plate/sections
- non-metallic materials
- composite materials
Carry out three of the following drilling and finishing operations:
- drilling through holes
- trepanning holes
- drilling holes to a depth
- tapping holes
- counterboring holes
- jig or template drilling
- countersinking holes
- component alignment drilling
- centre drilling
- spot facing
Produce drilled and finished components which meet all of the following quality and accuracy requirements, as applicable to the process:
- dimensional and positional accuracy is within specification tolerances
- drilled holes are correctly formed and free from excessive tool marks
- counterbores, countersinks and spot facings meet job requirements
Scope Knowledge
Values
Behaviours
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