MACHINE CONTROLS, GUARDING & RESPONSIBILITY

 MACHINE CONTROLS, GUARDING & RESPONSIBILITY

Do you know that machine guards on your machine are important to you and your safety as an employee? Here are some important factors as to why it is important to you as an employee to use safe guards on machines. First, your hands, arms and other parts of your body are vital to you and we all want to protect our physical body from any harm. This is the reason that your company has taken the time to educate you with this orientation on why safe guards should be put on machines. When operating a moving part machine with a safety guard it will prevent the operators hands, fingers and body from any type of danger which could result in serious injury. Any individual who operates this equipment must be trained first and authorized, which means you have received proper training and are capable of safely operating the guard machine. Once you are trained and authorized, the rest is up to you.

You are expected to have the maturity and responsibility to operate the machine efficiently and safely. Don't take this responsibility lightly. A good operator knows why machine guarding is extremely important while operating the machine and that is you first step to safety.

 It is crucial to understand why safe guards are to be used on machines. In addition to operators, maintenance workers must be trained and taught how to use the safe guards.

       ·        An operator or maintenance worker must be informed as to the location of the safe guards              on the machines,and should also be provided information on why safe guards protect them                and what hazards they protect them from.

·        An operator or maintenance worker also should be trained on how to remove safe guards from the machines and also to understand in what circumstances guards can be removed.

·        Workers need to be trained in procedures to follow if they notice guards are damaged, missing or inadequate.

·        An operator or maintenance worker should be provided with a dress code. For example; no loose fitting clothing or jewelry. These items could easily be caught in the machines, and remember, safety is everyone's responsibility.

·        Maintenance workers need to be provided information on up-to-date machines that have been serviced, and they should maintain a record log of this information.

·        Maintenance workers must also know when to LOCK OUT the machines. This is extremely critical when repairs are being done on the machine.

·        Maintenance workers should also be using safe equipment when doing repair work and they should insure the equipment itself is properly guarded.

 

Let's review a few engineering principles so you will have the knowledge to make your own decisions and exercise good judgment.

 The first condition for maintenance workers is to be aware of guarding during maintenance. This is perhaps the most hazardous time, and if not aware of certain procedures it can result in large numbers of accidents and injuries. The machine must be put in a state where; if making an unexpected movement which could cause an

injury, it would be reduced to a practical minimum. The purpose of this procedure is

to discuss the power lock out.

The second condition is the zero-mechanical state or ZMS, where every power source of the machine that can produce movement has been locked off.

The third important principal is RESPONSIBILITY. The manufacturer should provide information and furnish operation and maintenance instruction with equipment covered by standards and instructions. Specific operating and maintenance instructions need to be outlined in the maintenance and operating manuals to aid

personnel in the safe operation and maintenance of equipment.

The fourth important factor is the EMPLOYER. They shall be responsible for monitoring employees activities while engaged in trouble shooting and maintenance or repair of machines in an isolated or hidden area. The employer should also be aware of the equipment which could have mechanical defaults and possible injuries to the safety of the operators. The operator must be placed in an intensive training program of ZMS instructions. This is to teach the operator that it can be very dangerous to enter a machine unless every requirement of ZMS is satisfied. Persons must not place any part of their body in the path of possible moving machine members during set up, lubrication, adjustments, installation or maintenance. Operators must be trained to respect the possible danger of machine motions. Operators have to be trained to be aware of possible defects or malfunctions on their machine guards. It is the responsibility of the employer to recommend a start up procedure that will minimize hazards. The employer will also set up a shut down procedure before allowing any inspection, adjustment or maintenance covered by the standard requirements of ZMS(Zero- Mechanical State)