To protect employees from debilitating injuries, it is critical that businesses implement machine safeguarding procedures and install the right types of safeguards to the best of their ability. Depending on the type of machinery in use, companies may be responsible for disabling certain functions, installing safety locks, or providing protective equipment and training to workers.
Importance of Safeguarding Machines Properly
One minor issue with a machine could result in permanent and debilitating injuries that may destroy a person’s life and ability to find other work. It could also open up the opportunity for litigation against the company if it were discovered that they did not comply with OSHA. This is how crucial guarding machines is when it comes to your company’s reputation.
Workers in these industries are at a higher risk of severe workplace injuries, including:
- Amputations
- Crushed appendages
- Burns
- Blindness
- Broken bones
Machine Guarding and Safety Standards
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is responsible for issuing guidelines and restrictions to protect workers through machine safety guarding. Industries that rely on heavy machinery and moving machine parts are hazardous for workers, which is why OSHA has established strict requirements and safety guidelines.
OSHA provides specific guarding practices for a variety of machines, including:
- Mechanical power presses
- Horizontal injection molding machines
- Turbines
- And more
Hazard Recognition to Prevent Machine Guard Accidents
To meet compliance requirements, you must have a robust understanding of hazard recognition. This means that you and your employees are educated in what to look for and where and when hazards are most likely to occur. This also guarantees the implementation of an effective machinery guarding system.
In many cases, recognizing a hazard before it becomes an incident is difficult, and the outcome may depend on how the operator acts in the moment. Reflexes and instincts are important, but according to OSHA, they should not be necessary on a daily basis.
By detecting issues before they come up, you can better prepare yourself and your employees and create action plans for when things go wrong. You can also prevent unexpected machine guard accidents and associated costs and losses that might put your company’s reputation at risk.
Contact us now and let us discuss how we can help you with your specific machine safety needs!
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