Are You Keeping Your Guard Up?
Employee exposure to unguarded or inadequately guarded machines is prevalent in many workplaces. Consequently, workers who operate and maintain machinery suffer from amputations, lacerations, crushing injuries, and abrasions each year.
OSHA Violations & Citations
Machine Guarding consistently ranks among the OSHA Top 10 most cited violations. Each year, OSHA issues thousands of citations related to inadequate or missing machine guards, placing machine guarding violations among the most common workplace safety infractions. A machine safeguarding citation from OSHA is considered a serious violation. OSHA citation penalties cost $16,550 per violation but repeated or willful violations can cost you $165,514 per violation. Other costs you may need to pay include workers’ compensation claims, safeguard and machinery replacements, legal fees, and your company’s reputation.
OSHA reports that over 18,000 amputations, as well as numerous lacerations and crushing injuries, occur annually from machinery accidents.
Key Things to Look For
Are all machines guarded to protect the operator and others in the machine area from hazards such as those created by point of operation, ingoing nip points, rotating parts, flying chips, and sparks? [29 CFR 1910.212(a)(1)]
Is equipment checked regularly to ensure guards are firmly secure, properly adjusted, and not damaged? [29 CFR 1910.212(a)(2)]
Is the point of operation of machines properly guarded to prevent employees from having any part of their body in the danger zone(s) during operating cycle(s)? [29 CFR 1910.212(a)(3)(ii)]
How to Avoid An OSHA Citation
Install Proper Guards: Ensure all machines have appropriate guards installed as per OSHA standards
Conduct Regular Inspections: Regularly inspect machinery for proper guarding and functionality.
Utilize Lockout/Tagout: Have a lockout/tagout system in place for machine maintenance and servicing.
Schedule Maintenance Checks: Machine guards need regular care and maintenance.
Provide Adequate Training: Train employees on the importance of machine guarding and safe operating procedures.
For additional guidance on OSHA Machine Guarding compliance, check out OSHA's Machine Guarding eTool (https://www.osha.gov/etools/machine-guarding) or contact ACS. Feel free to use this as a Toolbox Talk with your employees and post it.