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Saw a shop in Denver running their machines with the doors wide open
I was in Denver last month visiting a friend, and we drove past a small machine shop near the rail yard. It was a warm day, and they had the big roll-up doors on the bay wide open. I could see a couple of guys running a big VMC, and chips were flying. It got me thinking about the whole open-door versus closed-door debate. On one hand, maybe they were just trying to get some airflow because their coolant stank or the place was too hot. But on the other hand, I've always been taught that keeping the door shut is a basic safety thing to contain chips and coolant mist. It also seems like a noise and dust issue for anyone nearby. My own shop is pretty strict about it, but maybe some places have different rules or just don't care as much. What's the norm in your shop, and do you think an open door is ever okay during a run?
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ryanburns1mo ago
Basic rules exist for a reason" is exactly what @oliviat17 said, and it's true for way more than just machine shops.
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oliviat171mo ago
Honestly, that open door thing is a HUGE safety red flag. Chips and coolant mist flying out is just asking for trouble, not just for the guys inside but for anyone walking by. It's also about keeping the shop clean and the air okay to breathe. Maybe they had a broken air system or something, but there's no good excuse. Basic rules exist for a reason, and that's a major one to break. My shop would shut down a job for that in a second.
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