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154 Machine Safeguarding: Basic
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Hazardous Mechanical Motions and Actions

A wide variety of mechanical motions and actions may present hazards to the worker. These can include the movement of rotating members, reciprocating arms, moving belts, meshing gears, cutting teeth, and any parts that impact or shear. These different types of hazardous mechanical motions and actions are basic in varying combinations to nearly all machines, and recognizing them is the first step toward protecting workers from the danger they present.

Many machines expose workers to hazardous motions and actions.

The basic types of hazardous mechanical motions and actions are:

Motions

  • rotating (including in-running nip points)
  • reciprocating
  • transversing

Actions

  • cutting
  • punching
  • shearing
  • bending

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.

1-2. Which of the following is considered a mechanical action?