One of the most common safety issues with drill press is ________.

• A. Wearing the chuck key in the drill chuck
• B. Using a dull drill bit
• C. Not securing the workpiece
• D. Leaving the chuck key in the drill chuck

Answer: (D)

Removing the chuck key before turning on the drill press is a critical safety habit. If the key is left in the chuck, the machine’s rotation can grip and fling it at you or others as soon as it starts, causing serious eye or hand injuries. This simple oversight is so common because it’s easy to forget after adjusting a bit or changing settings, and it can happen in a split second. The best safeguard is to always remove the key and store it in a designated spot, then do a quick check to confirm the chuck is empty before powering up. While other issues like using a dull bit or not securing the workpiece can cause problems during operation, the risk from a loose chuck key is a frequent, preventable hazard that operators can eliminate with a consistent habit.