Five Minute Safety Talk No.12

"Use Machine Guards"

We've all had the experience of doing what we thought was a favor for someone, only to have it rejected or unappreciated. I suppose if machine guards were human they would experience this type of frustration frequently. While the basic motive for guarding is to protect, not prohibit, guards are often looked upon by employees as obstacles. However, guards wherever they are—and whatever they are—are placed for protection.

Specifically, machine guards are used to protect against direct contact with moving parts. There are also guards designed to protect against flying chips, kickbacks and splashing of metal or harmful liquids.

Another area involves guards against human failures. You can understand why this demands a lot from any type of guard, in

as much as the scope of human failure is much broader than the protection of a guarding device.

However, guards are engineered to give as much protection as possible, even to machine operators who deliberately take chances or who are distracted or emotionally upset on the job.

While guards may often appear to be a hindrance, overall they have proven to be otherwise. They've made large contributions to both security and production. Greater machine speeds have been made possible through proper guarding and certainly the conscientious employee works with greater confidence knowing that a machine offers maximum protection.

Two types of guards are used to protect machine operators and probably most of you have been involved with one or the other. These are fixed guards and interlocking and gate guards. Fixed guards are most commonly used and are preferred over others, the obvious reason being that the fixed guards protect you from dangerous parts of machines at all times. Fixed guards may only be adjusted by authorized persons.

Interlocking guards are used if a fixed guard is not practical. This type will not allow the machine to operate until dangerous parts are guarded. The interlocking guard is designed to disconnect the source of power from the machine. Safety devices such as pullbacks, sweeps and electronic devices are used where neither a fixed nor interlocking guard can be used satisfactorily.

Safety devices are operated by the machine itself. When this type of guard is used on a machine that is loaded and unloaded by hand, the operator must use hand tools. More...

Video Programs:

Machine Guard Safety Training Courses

Machine Guarding

Hazards to farm machine operators that can't be designed around must be shielded to protect the operator from injury or death. Guards and decals which identify the danger must be kept in place whenever the machine is operated. Guards or shields removed for maintenance must be properly replaced before use. Numerous farmers, children, and farm workers have been permanently maimed or killed because guards were not installed or were improperly used. Repair or replace damaged guards and shields.

OSHA Machine Guards

Moving machine parts have the potential to cause severe workplace injuries, such as crushed fingers or hands, amputations, burns, or blindness. Safeguards are essential for protecting workers from these preventable injuries. Any machine part, function, or process that may cause injury must be safeguarded. When the operation of a machine or accidental contact injure the operator or others in the vicinity, the hazards must be eliminated or controlled. This page contains general information on the various hazards of mechanical motion and techniques for protecting workers.