Basic Machine Guarding Training

Moving machine parts have the potential to cause severe workplace injuries, such as crushed fingers or hands, amputations, burns, or blindness. Safeguards are essential for protecting workers from these preventable injuries. Any machine part, function, or process that may cause injury must be safeguarded. When the operation of a machine or accidental contact injures the operator or others in the vicinity, the hazards must be eliminated or controlled. The purpose of machine guarding is to protect the machine operator and other employees in the work area from hazards created by ingoing nip points, rotating parts, flying chips, and sparks. Some examples of this are barrier guards, light curtains, two-hand operating devices, etc. General Requirements:

• Guards must not create potential hazards and must be attached to the machine where possible.
• If guards cannot be attached to the machine, attach elsewhere.

Point of Operation Guarding The point of operation is the area on a machine where work is performed. Machines that expose an employee to injury must be guarded. The guarding device must:

• Be in conformity with any appropriate standards.
• If specific standards are not available, the machine construction should prevent the operator from having any part of his/her body in the danger zone during the operating cycle.
• Special handtools used for placing and removing material from point of operation areas must allow easy handling of the material without the operator placing a hand in the danger zone. Such tools must not replace guards required by this section.

Additional Guarding The following is a list of machines that usually require a point of operation guarding:

• Guillotine cutters
• Shears
• Alligator shears
• Power presses
• Milling machines
• Power saws
• Jointers
• Portable power tools
• Forming rolls and calenders

Barrels, Containers, and Drums Revolving barrels, containers, and drums must be guarded by an enclosure interlocked with the drive mechanism, so the barrel, gun, or container cannot revolve unless the guard enclosure is in place. Exposure of Blades When the periphery of the blades of a fan is less than seven (7) feet above the floor or working level, the blades must be guarded. The guard must not have openings larger than one-half (½) inch. Anchoring Fixed Machinery A machine designed for a fixed location must be securely anchored to prevent walking or moving. Eye and Face Protection Eye and face protection must be provided to each employee when exposed to eye or face hazards from flying particles. Lockout/Tagout The employer must establish an energy control program consisting of energy control procedures, employee training, and periodic inspections to ensure that before any employee performs any servicing or maintenance on a machine or equipment, the machine or equipment is isolated from the energy source and rendered inoperative.