1. Machine Guarding 29 CFR 1910.211 to 1910.219
I. Speaker’s Notes:
Machine guarding is an integral part of any safety and health program. As statistics can demonstrate, it is also one aspect of safety that is too often violated. This program will review the reasons for machine guarding and the various types of guards used in industry. We will also explore some of the different motions and actions that are readily available on equipment routinely used in the workplace.

2. Rule of Thumb
Any machine part, function, or process that may cause injury must be safeguarded.
I. Speaker’s Notes:
If you can easily contact the moving parts on a machine, the machine must be guarded. Because the OSHA standards are performance oriented with regard to machine guarding, companies have the freedom to design their own guards.
However, remember that most equipment built today is designed with guards in place.

3. Regulatory Requirements
Regulatory requirements found in 29 CFR 1910, Subpart O
Applies to specific types of equipment
Delineates general requirements
I. Speaker’s Notes:
The OSHA standards provide some specific requirements for various pieces of equipment. But whether or not there are specifics in the standard, simply keep in mind that if there are movements or actions that can affect you when operating the machine, then it must be guarded in some way. In a few moments, we will review some of the ways we can safeguard the equipment.

4. Where Mechanical Hazards Occur
The point of operation
In the power transmission apparatus
Other moving parts
I. Speaker’s Notes:
The point of operation is where the work is actually performed on the material.
The power transmission apparatus includes all components of the mechanical system that transmit energy to the part of the machine performing the work. These components include flywheels, pulleys, belts, connecting rods, couplings, cams, spindles, chains, cranks, and gears.
Other moving parts include all parts of the machine that move while the machine is working.

5. Hazardous Mechanical Motions
Rotating
Reciprocating
Transverse
I. Speaker’s Notes:
A wide variety of mechanical motions can present hazards. Clearly, any of these that present a danger to the operator or passerby must be guarded. These motions typically create in-running nip points that must be guarded.

6. Hazardous Actions Cutting Punching Shearing Bending
I. Speaker’s Notes:
Hazardous actions are most generally within the point of operation. The further away the operator is from the point of operation, the less hazard created by these motions. Unfortunately, what may be a smooth and quiet piece of equipment may generate thousands of pounds of force. The human body is no match for this type of force, and the equipment cannot differentiate between flesh and metal.

7. Types of Rotating Mechanisms
Collars
Couplings
Cams
Clutches
Flywheels
Shaft ends
Spindles
I. Speaker’s Notes:
These are common types of rotating mechanisms; however, there is added danger when bolts, nicks, abrasions, and protecting keys or set screws are exposed on rotating parts or machinery. Do not overlook these additional hazards as they too are a significant cause of injury.

8. Nip Points Caused by rotating parts Causes include
Parts rotating in opposite directions
Parts rotating tangentially
Parts rotating close to a fixed part
I. Background for the Trainer:
It is advantageous to speak with the equipment manufacturers to see if they have experienced any past successes relative to guarding these nip points.
II. Speaker’s Notes:
Nips points are often easy to identify but sometimes difficult to safeguard.
Nip points are caused when parts are rotating in the opposite direction, tangentially, or close to a fixed point.

9. Types of Reciprocating Motions
Back and forth
Up and down
I. Speaker’s Notes:
We can sometimes overlook the reciprocating motions because 50 percent of the time the hazard may not be obvious. For example, a piece of equipment that slides may create a hazard only during the return motion because of the surrounding environment. One example of this would be a sliding table on a stationary bed that can pin an operator against a wall or another piece of equipment.

10. Types of Transverse Motions
Straight and in a continuous line
Examples include two pulleys and a belt
I. Speaker’s Notes:
These motions create hazards because a worker may be struck or caught in a pinch or shear point by a moving part.

11. Cutting Actions Include Rotating motions Reciprocating motions
Transverse motions
I. Speaker’s Notes:
The danger of cutting action exists at the point of operation; where finger, head, and arm injuries can occur and where flying chips or scrap material can strike the eyes or face. These hazards are particularly significant when the point of operation involves cutting wood or metal.

12. Types of Cutting Mechanisms
Band saws
Circular saws
Boring or drilling machines
Lathes
Milling machines
I. Speaker’s Notes:
These types of equipment are extremely common in industry. Because operators are so accustomed to using these pieces of equipment, it is easier to overlook the hazard or eliminate the safeguard. Operators must be trained on using the safeguards effectively.

13. Types of Punching Actions
A ram mechanism:
Blanks
Draws
Stamps
Used on metal or other materials
I. Speaker’s Notes:
Punching actions require an incredible amount of force. Therefore, the point of operation guarding is very important. You must be extremely careful not to place any part of your body in harm’s way.

14. Types of Punching Equipment
Power presses
Iron working equipment
I. Speaker’s Notes:
Once again, these types of machines are very dangerous because of the forces applied at the point of operation.

15. Types of Shearing Actions
Uses a powered slide or knife
Done to trim or shear metal or other materials
I. Speaker’s Notes:
Shearing actions use a powered slide or knife to trim or shear metal and other materials.
The primary hazard on a shearing operation occurs at the point of operation where stock is actually inserted, held, and withdrawn.

16. Types of Shearing Equipment
Shears that are operated:
Hydraulically
Mechanically
Pneumatically
I. Speaker’s Notes:
You will note that these types of energy are all required to be de-energized when locking out a piece of shearing equipment. Gravity can also be a concern with a shear, and therefore, operators should make sure the cycle of the equipment is complete or that the ram mechanism is blocked to prevent movement.

17. Types of Bending Actions
Power is applied to a slide to:
Draw
Stamp
Used on metal or other materials
I. Speaker’s Notes:
Bending actions are where power is applied to draw or stamp metal or other materials.
Again, these hazards occur at the point of operation where stock is inserted, held, or withdrawn.

18. Types of Bending Equipment
Power presses
Press brakes
Tubing benders
I. Speaker’s Notes:
Power presses, press brakes, and tubing benders are all types of bending equipment.
As with shearing, the force required to bend materials such as metal is extreme, and the human body is no match for it.

19. Requirements for Safeguards
Minimum general requirements include:
Prevent contact
Secure
Protect from falling objects
Create no new hazards
Create no interference
Allow for safe lubrication
I. Speaker’s Notes:
Safeguards must prevent our limbs or any part of our body from contacting the hazard point.
Safeguards should not be easy to remove or defeat.
Guards should also ensure that no objects can fall into moving parts, creating additional hazards.
If safeguards create an additional hazard such as a pinch point, then they are basically defeating their own purpose.
If guards interfere with the typical production process, some operators may have a tendency to remove them. This is a warning that design of the safeguard may need to be reviewed for effectiveness.
It is always advantageous to have lubrication points built into the safeguards so that equipment can be serviced without having to remove the guard.

20. Classifications of Safeguards
Devices
Location/distance
Feeding and ejection methods
Miscellaneous aids
I. Background for the Trainer:
Be sure to mention the types of safeguards located in your facility.
II. Speaker’s Notes:
There are many ways to safeguard machinery. The type of operation, the size or the shape of the stock, the method of handling, the physical layout of the work area, the type of material, and production requirements or limitations will help to determine the appropriate safeguarding method for the individual machine.
These are the five basic classes of safeguards.

21. Types of Guards Fixed Interlocked Adjustable Self-adjusting
I. Speaker’s Notes:
There are several different types of machine guards, including fixed, interlocked, adjustable, and self-adjusting.
As a general rule, power transmission apparatuses are best protected by fixed guards that enclose the danger area.
For hazards at the point of operation where moving parts actually perform work on stock, several types are available and effective.

22. Types of Devices Presence Sensing Pullbacks or Restraints
Photoelectrical
Radio frequency
Electromechanical
Pullbacks or Restraints
I. Speaker’s Notes:
Photoelectrical devices use light to detect the presence of an operator, while radio frequency devices use capacitance.
Pullbacks and restraints are not used as commonly anymore; however, some old equipment may still incorporate these methods.

23. Types of Devices (cont.)
Safety Controls
Safety trip control
Pressure-sensitive body bar
Safety tripod
Safety tripwire cable
Two-hand control
Two-hand trip
Gates
Interlocked
Other
I. Speaker’s Notes:
Safety controls typically rely on the force of the operator leaning against them to trip a microswitch that shuts down the equipment, eliminating the hazard.
Two-hand control devices eliminate the possibility of freeing up one hand while operating the equipment with the other. Operators who try to defeat the two-hand control by using what is called a “cheater bar” will face disciplinary action.
Gates are commonly found around robots and other operations where the operation of the equipment encompasses a fairly large area and, therefore, requires perimeter guarding. Gates can also be used across openings in a piece of equipment.

24. Location/Distance
Makes it virtually impossible to contact moving parts
Separates operators from the equipment
Limited by the available workspace
I. Background for the Trainer:
A thorough hazard analysis of each machine and particular situation is absolutely essential before attempting to use location and distance as a means of safeguarding. Pay close attention to ensure that operators cannot cycle the equipment while moving their body into harm’s way. Sometimes automated equipment can be reprogrammed to cycle at different times, thus allowing operators to place themselves in danger. These programs should be routinely reviewed by safety professionals.
II. Speaker’s Notes:
Keeping distance between you and the equipment you work with virtually eliminates the risk of injury from moving parts.
This very effective method is limited by the amount of space available in the work area.

25. Feeding and Ejection Methods
Automatic feed
Semiautomatic feed
Automatic ejection
Semiautomatic ejection
Robot
I. Speaker’s Notes:
Automatic feeding and ejection methods do not require you to place your hands in the danger area. In some cases, no operator involvement is necessary after the machine is set up.
In other situations, operators can manually feed the stock with the assistance of a feeding mechanism. Properly designed ejection methods do not require any operator involvement after the machine starts to function.
A robot is a good method of automatic feeding and ejection.

26. Miscellaneous Aids Awareness barriers Protective shields
Hand-feeding tools and holding fixtures
I. Speaker’s Notes:
While these aids do not give complete protection from machine hazards, they may provide you with an extra margin of safety. Sound judgment is needed in their application and usage.

27. Quiz
1. Mechanical hazards occur at the point of operation, in the power transmission apparatus, and ____________.
2. Any moving part on a piece of equipment that could injure an employee should be guarded. True or False
3. Power presses are extremely dangerous because of the force necessary for them to operate. True or False
4. Shearing mechanisms can be operated with _____________, ___________, or ___________ energy.
5. As long as the guards remain in place, operators should not be trained on machine guarding. True or False
I. Background for the Trainer:
Hand out the quiz copies. Go over the questions orally and have the employees write their answers on their quiz sheets.

28. Quiz (cont.)
6. A robot is one type of automated feeding and ejection mechanism. True or False
7. Hazardous mechanical motions include _____________, ____________, and _____________.
8. Nip points are created when sliding mechanisms move back and forth. True or False
9. Cutting mechanisms include ____________________, ____________________ and ____________________.
10. Location and distance is not a classification of machine safeguarding. True or False

29. Quiz Answers
1. Mechanical hazards occur at the point of operation, in the power transmission apparatus, and in any other moving parts.
2. True. All moving parts that create a hazard should be guarded.
3. True. The force of a power press can destroy metal, let alone the human body.
4. Shearing mechanisms can be operated with hydraulic, mechanical, or pneumatic energy.
5. False. If operators work with equipment containing safeguards, they should be adequately trained on how to use them.

30. Quiz Answers (cont.)
6. True. A robot is a type of feeding and/or ejection method.
7. Hazardous mechanical motions include rotating, reciprocating, and transverse.
8. False. Nip points are created by rotating parts.
9. Cutting mechanisms include band saws, circular saws, drilling machines, lathes, and milling machines.
10. False. Location and distance is one of five classifications of machine safeguarding.