Work Environment

Today, many machine shops are relatively clean, well lit, and ventilated. Computer-controlled machines often are partially or totally enclosed, thus minimizing the exposure of workers to noise, debris, and the lubricants used to cool work pieces during machining. Many machinists work a 40-hour week. Evening and weekend shifts are becoming more common, as companies extend hours of operation to make better use of expensive machines. However, this trend is somewhat offset by lights-out manufacturing that uses fewer machinists and the use of machine operators for less desirable shifts. Overtime work is common during peak production periods.