Machinery with Unguarded Moving Parts
Almost all sites use machinery with moving or rotating parts, or machinery that requires maintenance or repair during construction.
Machine Safety
If machinery is not properly guarded or de-energized during maintenance or repair, injuries from caught-in between hazards may result, ranging from amputations and fractures to death. When machines or power tools are not properly guarded, workers can get their clothing or parts of their body caught in the machines.
If machines are not de-energized (locked-out) when they are being repaired, they may cycle or otherwise start up and catch a worker's body part or clothing and cause injury or death.
Workers can be trapped and crushed under heavy equipment that tips, especially if they are thrown from the equipment.
Practice Identifying Hazards
Read about some real-world accidents.
Description of Accident
A three-person crew was installing an underground telephone cable in a residential area. They had just completed a bore hole under a driveway using a horizontal boring machine. The bore hole rod had been removed from the hole. While the rod was still rotating, the operator straddled it and stooped over to pick it up. His trouser leg became entangled in the rotating rod, and he was flipped over. He struck tools and materials, sustaining fatal injuries.
Inspection Results
Following its inspection, OSHA issued one citation for one alleged serious violation of its construction standards. Had the equipment been properly guarded, this fatality might have been prevented.
What would you recommend?
Recommendations
- Employees must be instructed to recognize and avoid unsafe conditions associated with their work (29CFR 1926.21(b)(2)).
- Guards must be installed on moving parts of equipment with which employees may come into contact (29 CFR 1926.300(b)(2)).
Description of Accident
A laborer was steam cleaning a scraper. The bowl apron had been left in the raised position. The hydraulically controlled apron had not been blocked to prevent it from accidentally falling. The apron did fall unexpectedly, and the employee was caught between the apron and the cutting edge of the scraper bowl. The apron weighed approximately 2500 pounds.
What would you recommend?
Recommendations
- Employees must be instructed to recognize and avoid unsafe conditions associated with their work (29CFR 1926.21(b)(2)).
- Guards must be installed on moving parts of equipment with which employees may come into contact (29 CFR 1926.300(b)(2)).
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
1-3. If machines are not properly de-energized (locked-out) while they are being repaired, they _____.
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