Machinery-related injuries are some of the worst in the industry. Over the past months,
AlaCOMP has experienced a rash of machinery related injury claims. Workers get caught
in machines and suffer severe injuries such as crushed arms, legs, severed or degloved
fingers, blindness and amputation. Some are even killed. With the proper use of machine
guards, most injuries can be prevented.
When operating a machine, several mechanical hazards can occur. Understanding these
hazards and the proper usage of guards can help prevent injuries. Mechanical hazards
typically occur in the following areas:
1. Point of Operation – point where work is performed on the material such as cutting,
shaping, boring or forming of stock
2. Power Transmission Apparatus – all components transmitting energy to the part of the
machine performing the work. These components include flywheels, pulleys, belts,
connecting rods, couplings, cams, spindles, chains, cranks and gears
3. Other Moving Parts – all parts of the machine moving while the machine operates.
These can include reciprocating, rotating, and transverse moving parts; also feed
mechanisms and auxiliary parts of the machine
To prevent injury from any of these hazards, guards must be in place and never removed
while work is in progress. Knowing how a safeguard protects workers is as important as
having the machine guard in place. A machine guard provides safety and enhances
efficiency as follows:
1. Preventing contact of a worker’s body or clothing with the dangerous moving parts
2. Securing all machine guards to the machine to prevent tampering or removal
3. Protecting from falling objects and moving parts which can become deadly projectiles
4. Creating no new hazards by the guard itself
5. Creating no interference in the performance of jobs
Training is imperative. Employees should not be allowed to operate any equipment without
proper training, documented training and management’s assurance the employee
understands how to safely operate the equipment.
Following instructions and hands-on-training for machine operators should include:
1. Proper machine operation
2. Description and identification of hazards associated with each machine
3. Machine guard protection provided for hazards
4. Use of machine guards
5. Circumstances for removal of machine guards and personnel authorized to remove
6. Response to missing, damaged or nonfunctioning machine guards
Do not tamper with or remove a guard on a machine designed with a guard in place. The
guard exists to protect and help a worker do the job more safely.
Remember, practice safety, don’t learn it by accident.