The Premiere Resource for Environmental, Health, and Safety Training Solutions

1. The Premiere Resource for Environmental, Health, and Safety Training Solutions

2. Machine Guard Awareness

3. Why These Guidelines Are Vital To Your Safety When accidents involving machinery occur, the results can be severe: crushed fingers or hands, amputations, internal injuries, burns, blindness, and even death. A little common sense goes a long way when using safeguards. Just like safety glasses, earplugs and other forms of protective equipment, machine safeguards are there for your safety.

4. Why Use Safeguards? Safeguards provide a simple yet important function - they prevent contact with dangerous parts of the machine. THEY ARE REQUIRED. Any machine part, function or process that could cause injury is required to be safeguarded. These safeguards are required to...

5. Why Use Safeguards? • prevent contact • remain secure • protect from falling objects • create no new hazards • not interfere with proper operation of the machine

6. Why Use Safeguards? They Prevent injuries & Save Lives Safeguards prevent serious injuries including cuts, burns, shock, dismemberment, electrocution, and even death. The bottom line is, machine guards protect you from harm. But, they only work if you use them properly.

7. Where Mechanical Hazards Occur The Point of Operation The point of operation is the part of the machine where moving parts actually perform work, such as cutting, shaping or forming stock. This can be especially dangerous when stock is inserted, held and withdrawn by hand.

8. Where Mechanical Hazards Occur Power Transmission Apparatus This includes all parts of the mechanical system that transmit energy to the part of the machine that performs the work. The components include belts, spindles, flywheels, pulleys, couplings, connecting rods, cams, and chains.

9. Where Mechanical Hazards Occur Other Moving Parts This includes all other parts of the machine that move while the machine is working.

10. Types of Hazards Nip Points An in-going nip point is created by two or more mechanical components rotating in opposite directions in the same plane and in close conjunction or interaction.

11. Types of Hazards Shear Points An area created by a reciprocal (sliding) movement of a mechanical component past a stationary point on a machine.

12. Types of Hazards Pinch Points Any point other than the point of operation where it is possible for a body part to be caught between: the moving parts of a press or auxiliary equipment, or between moving part or parts of the press or auxiliary equipment.

13. Types of Hazards Snag Points An area where it is possible for a body part, loose clothing, jewelry or long hair to become caught or snagged by a moving projecting object or part.

14. Types of Hazards Projectiles & Falling Objects Projectiles (such as flying chips or sparks) and foreign objects (such as dropped tools) can cause injury when working with machines. Last year 27,000 injuries occurred to workers due to flying objects.

15. Types of Hazards Hazardous Energy Contact with energized parts can cause electrical shock. The severity of the shock is determined by the nominal voltage, the duration and pressure of the contact, and the route of electricity through the body.

16. Machine Safeguards Machine safeguards come in many different shapes, sizes and types. There are three main categories of safeguards: guards, devices, and safe-guarding by location or distance.

17. Machine Safeguards Guards Guards are barriers that prevent access to hazardous areas on the machine. There are four types of guards:

18. Machine Safeguards Fixed: A fixed guard is a permanent part of the machine that provides a barrier. It may be made of metal, screen, heavy plastic or other materials. Interlocked:An interlocked guard shuts off or disengages power and prevents the machine from starting when the guard is open. It may use electrical, mechanical, hydraulic or pneumatic power or a combination.

19. Machine Safeguards Adjustable: These guards provide a barrier that may be adjusted to accommodate various production operations. Self-Adjusting: A self-adjusting guard provides a barrier that moves to accommodate stock entering the danger area. When the stock is moved away, the guard returns to its original position.

20. Machine Safeguards Safety Devices Safety devices include presence-sensing, pullback, restraints, safety trip controls, two-hand controls, two hand trips and gates.

21. Machine Safeguards Presence-Sensing A photoelectric presence-sensing device uses a system of lights and controls that interrupt a machines operating cycles if the light field is broken. They are used on machines that can be stopped before the worker is able to reach the danger area.

22. Machine Safeguards Pullback A pull back device uses cables attached to the operators hands, wrists, or arms. As the machine begins to cycle the operator’s hands are pulled out of the danger area.

23. Machine Safeguards Restraint A restraint uses cables or straps attached to the operator’s hands that allow the operator to move within a limited area. The cables or straps do not extend or retract.

24. Machine Safeguards Safety Trip Controls Safety trip controls include a pressure-sensitive bar, tripod or a tripwire that is activated when pressure is applied to the device. When these devices are pressed or depressed, they will deactivate the machine.

25. Machine Safeguards Two-Hand Control These controls require the operator to use both hands to activate the machine. This assures that the operator’s hands are not in the danger area while the machine is operating.

26. Machine Safeguards Two-Hand Trip A two-hand trip requires the operator to use both hands to activate the machine. It is usually used with machines equipped with full-revolution clutches. The buttons must be far enough from the point of operation to prevent the operator from moving his or her hands into the point of operation before the first half of the cycle is completed.

27. Machine Safeguards Gate A gate is a movable barrier that protects the operator at the point of operation. It can be used to protect pedestrians, as well.

28. Machine Safeguards Location/Distance Location or distance guarding involves positioning the hazardous parts of the machine so they are not accessible or do not pose a threat during normal operation. A thorough hazard analysis of the machine and situation should be conducted before using this safe-guarding technique.

29. Safe Work Practices Following safe work practices while operating equipment is as important as the use of engineering controls such as machine guards. Machine guards are only one part of the safety equation. Here are some safety tips:

30. Safe Work Practices Never Remove, Override or Alter Guards As the machine operator, it is your responsibility to perform your job in a safe manner. Machine guards are there for your safety. Never remove or override them. By altering or removing a machine guard, you are risking injury to yourself and others.

31. Safe Work Practices Make Sure Guards are Working Properly • Inspect the machine guards on a regular basis. • Make sure all guards are in place and working properly. • Report any missing or malfunctioning guard immediately. • A safeguard that is jagged or has a sharp edge defeats its purpose. Guards should be rolled or bolted so they eliminate any shear points or other dangerous situations.

32. Safe Work Practices Work Safely • Remove jewelry and other items that could get caught in equipment. • Avoid wearing loose clothing. • Tie back or contain any long hair. • Wear the appropriate protective clothing when required.

33. Safe Work Practices Use a Feeding Device When Possible • Keep machinery maintained in good working condition. • Listen to the equipment. If something doesn’t sound right, report it to your supervisor. • When possible, use a feeding device. • Pay attention at all times when operating machinery.

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