MACHINEGUARDINGHazardsofUnguardedMachinesWorkersareexposedtounguardedorinadequatelyguardedmachinesinmanyworkplaces.AccordingtoOSHA,workerswhooperateandmaintainmachinerysufferapproximately18,000amputations,lacerations,crushinginjuries,abrasions,andover800deathsperyear.Amputationisoneofthemostsevereandcripplingtypesofinjuriesintheoccupationalworkplace,andoftenresultsinpermanentdisability.MachineguardingandrelatedviolationscontinuouslyrankamongthetoptenOSHAcitations.Thepurposeofmachineguardingistoprotectthemachineoperatorandotherworkersintheworkareafromhazardscreatedbyingoingnippoints,rotatingparts,flyingchipsandsparks.OccupationalSafetyandHealthRegulations(OSHA)Theemployerisresponsibleforprotectingworkersfromanymachinepart,function,orprocess,whichmaycauseinjuryandshouldconsiderthisneedwhenpurchasingmachinery.Newmachineryisusuallyavailablewithsafeguardsinstalledbythemanufacturer.Appropriatesafeguardscanalsobepurchasedseparatelyorbuiltin-house.TheOccupationalSafetyandHealthAdministration(OSHA)requiresthatmachineguardingbeprovidedandmaintainedinamannersufficienttoprotectmachineoperatorsandotherpersonspresentinmachineareasfromhazardsassociatedwiththeoperationofmachines.Suchhazardsincludethosecreatedbypointsofoperation,in-goingnippoints,rotatingparts,flyingchipsandsparks.OSHAhasestablishedrequirementsforguardingfixedmachineryandportabletoolsinseveralstandardsinTitle29oftheCodeofFederalRegulations(CFR):◆29CFRPart1910SubpartOcoversmachineryandmachineguarding,includinggeneralrequirementsforallmachines,andspecificrequirementsforwoodworkingmachinery;abrasivewheelmachinery;millsandcalendarsinrubberandplasticsindustries;mechanicalpowerpresses;forgingmachines;andmechanicalpower-transmissionapparatus.29CFRSubpartPaddresseshandandportablepoweredtollsandotherhand-heldequipmentguardingofportablepoweredtools;InternationalBrotherhoodofTeamstersSafetyandHealthDepartment,Page2of6◆29CFR1926SubpartIcovershandandpoweredtoolsintheconstructionindustry.◆29CFRPart1928SubpartDcoversagriculturalequipment;◆29CFRPart1915SubpartsC,H,andJ;29CFRPart1917SubpartsB,C,andG;and◆29CFRPart1918SubpartsF,G,andHcovermaritimeoperations.HazardousMachinePartsAllmachinesconsistofthreefundamentalareas;thepointofoperation,thepowertransmissiondevice,andothermovingparts.Eachofthesecomponentscanpresenthazardsthatrequiresafeguarding:◆Thepointofoperation:Thepointonthemachinewhereworkisperformedonthematerial,suchascutting,shaping,boring,orformingofstock.◆Powertransmissionapparatus:Allcomponentsofthemechanicalsystem,whichtransmitenergytothepartofthemachineperformingthework.Thesecomponentsincludeflywheels,pulleys,belts,connectingrods,couplings,cams,spindles,chains,cranks,andgears.◆Othermovingparts:Allpartsofthemachine,whichmovewhilethemachineisworking.Thesecanincludereciprocating,rotating,andtransversemovingparts,aswellasfeedmechanismsandauxiliarypartsofthemachine.Besidesnormaloperation,thefollowingactivitiesinvolvingstationarymachinesalsoexposeworkerstopotentialamputationhazards:setting-up,threading,preparing,adjusting,cleaning,lubricating,andmaintainingmachinesaswellasclearingjams.MachineGuardingRequirementsSafeguardsmustbeinstalledandmaintainedsothattheymeettheseminimumgeneralrequirements:◆Preventcontact:Agoodsafeguardingsystemeliminatesthepossibilityoftheoperatororanotherworkermakingcontactwithdangerousmovingparts.◆...
