The operation of saws, shears, slicers, and power presses can be extremely dangerous; injuries that result from inadequate guarding on these types of machines often result in permanent disability or death to workers. It has been reported that workers who operate and maintain machinery suffer approximately 18,000 amputations and more than 800 deaths each year.
As a result, Tennessee OSHA has implemented a Special Emphasis Program on Amputations to identify and reduce workplace machine hazards which are causing or are likely to cause amputations. This program targets all types of power presses (including press brakes), as well as saws, shears, and slicers because these machines account for a significant number of amputation injuries in general industry.
Preventing Amputations in the Workplace
This guideline has been prepared as an aid to employers and employees to help protect workers against the hazards of moving machine parts and eliminate nip points that can result in amputation. Amputation is one of the most severe and crippling types of injuries resulting in permanent disability. Approximately one-half of all amputations occur in the manufacturing sector.
In virtually every workplace there are areas where workers can reach into machinery and suffer amputation while attempting to align, adjust, inspect, unjam, retrieve fallen parts, lubricate, etc. A National Institute of Safety and Health (NIOSH) study found that 20 to 50 percent of all machines in use are unguarded or poorly guarded at the point of operation. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicate that about 10 percent of all reported amputations occur among power press operators. Recent OSHA statistics indicate approximately 49 percent of the injuries on mechanical power presses result in an amputation. Approximately 62 percent of the power press injuries are from foot-controlled power presses and approximately 30 percent from hand-activated presses.
Safeguards are essential for protecting workers from needless and preventable injuries. However, existing safeguarding may not provide the desired protection; they may not be adjusted properly: different parts of the machine may need different guards, the guard may be overridden or removed for convenience, dual palm button may be too close to the point of operation, etc.
Basic Types of Hazardous Mechanical Motions and Actions Are:
|
Motions
rotating
reciprocating
transverse |
Actions
cutting
punching
shearing
bending |
A Good Rule to Remember
Any machine part, function or process that may cause amputation or other injury must be safeguarded. Where the operation of a machine or accidental contact with it can cause amputation/injury to the operator or others in the vicinity, the hazard must be either controlled or eliminated. Remember also, all new equipment does not necessarily have all the guards on the machine required by OSHA. If not properly guarded, it is the employer's responsibility to add the necessary guarding to protect the employee.
Three Basic Areas Requiring Safeguarding
The point of operation - that point where work is performed on the material, such as pressing, cutting, shaping, boring, or forming of stock.
Power transmission apparatus - 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 - all parts of the machine that move while the machine is working. These can include reciprocating, rotating, and transverse moving parts, as well as feed mechanisms and auxiliary parts of the machine.
Remember the A.U.T.O. Principle. . . .If you can reach
Around
Under
Through
Over an existing guard - it's not effective!
A guard must prevent a worker's hands or any part of the body from going around, under, through or over the guard and entering the dangerous moving parts of the machine. The AUTO Principle is the best way to know if the machine is properly safeguarded.
Applicable Standards
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29 CFR 1910.212, General requirements for all machines.
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29 CFR 1910.213, Woodworking machinery requirements.
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29CFR 1910.219, Mechanical power-transmission apparatus.
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29 CFR 1910.147, the control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout).
For help with identifying and eliminating amputation hazards in your workplace, contact TOSHA Consultative Services at 1-800-325-9901. It's free and confidential.
