Machine Guarding

Moving Machine Parts 30 CFR § (a) Moving machine parts shall be guarded to protect persons from contacting gears, sprockets, chains, drive, head, tail, and take-up pulleys, flywheels, couplings, shafts, fan blades, and similar moving parts that can cause injury. (b) Guards shall not be required where the exposed moving parts are at least seven feet away from walking or working surfaces.

February 9, 2001, a 21-year-old oiler with 8 months mining experience was fatally injured at a crushed stone operation. The victim was performing a task underneath a transfer conveyor belt when he was caught between the conveyor belt and a return roller.

October 29, 2001, a 36-year-old laborer, with 5 weeks of mining experience, was fatally injured at a surface sand and gravel mine when he became entangled in a conveyor tension roller. The victim had been assigned to do miscellaneous clean up throughout the plant and became entangled while carrying out his duties.

June 1, 2002, a 32 year-old conveyor attendant with 5 years mining experience was fatally injured at an open pit copper operation. The victim became entangled in a tripper conveyor pulley.

September 23, 2002, a 43 year-old plant operator with 17 months experience was fatally injured at a crushed stone operation. The victim was removing fines that had packed around a winged tail pulley of a belt that had been buried by spillage. As the spillage was removed, the bound conveyor belt moved backward a short distance and caught the victim's arm between the belt and the tail pulley.

April 12, 2000, a 38-year-old laborer with 4 years mining experience was fatally injured at a crushed stone operation. The victim and a co-worker were making adjustments to a new conveyor installation. The victim was aligning the extended grease lines for the bend pulley from inside the conveyor frame. He was caught and drawn into the pinch point when the conveyor was started without his knowledge.

April 21, 2000, an 18-year-old plant operator with 1 year mining experience was fatally injured at a sand and gravel operation. The victim, who had been operating the plant alone, became entangled in the unguarded tail pulley of the sand washer conveyor

March 18, 1999, a 56-year-old superintendent with 4 weeks mining experience was fatally injured at a sand and gravel operation. The victim was using a metal bar to clean mud off of a return roller underneath a conveyor belt when he was caught and drawn into the pinch point.

May 26, 1998, a 56-year old crusher operator with 5 days experience at this mine and 20 years total mining experience was killed at a sand and gravel operation. The victim was walking toward the crushing plant and apparently passed too close to the rotating drive shaft and coupling that connected the crusher to the drive unit. He became entangled in the drive shaft and coupling, which were not guarded.

July 14, 1998, a 63 - year old dredge operator with 7 years of mining experience was fatally injured at a sand and gravel operation. The victim was attempting to clear debris built up at the throat of the crusher. He was caught and drawn into the crusher drive belts. The guard had been removed and was laying nearby.

Moving machine parts must be guarded rather than restricting access to the area by installing railings, chains, cable or gates. Guarding Examples

Any Comments or Questions? Would anyone like to see an example of what a guard might protect you from? Warning the following slide is very graphic!