The Importance of Machine Safety and Safeguards
When working with machinery, it is crucial to prioritize safety and be mindful of potential hazards. As machines become more complex in the era of Industry 4.0, it is essential to stay up to date with advancements in order to protect ourselves and those around us. To ensure a safe working environment, it is imperative to familiarize all staff and employees with machine safety rules and conduct regular training sessions to reinforce these guidelines.
1. Operate machinery only when safeguards are properly installed and adjusted
Installing proper safeguards is essential for machine safety. As a business owner, it is your responsibility to adhere to regulations governing machine safety and ensure that all employees working with or around machines do so in a safe manner. Machine operators should receive training on how to identify and understand required safeguards. Emphasize that all legally mandated safeguards must be correctly installed and adjusted before operating the equipment.
2. Never remove machine safeguards or try to bypass them
It can be tempting for machine operators to remove or bypass safeguards if they become bothersome or hinder their work. However, this is an extremely dangerous practice that should never be done. Safeguards are implemented for a reason and should never be compromised under any circumstances.
3. Do not use a machine with unauthorized or damaged safeguards
Using machinery with unauthorized safeguards that do not comply with regulations or damaged safeguards is unsafe. Machinery should not be operated under these circumstances. It is important to ensure that all safeguards are authorized and in proper working condition before using the equipment.
4. Report any machine safeguard problems immediately to your supervisor
Machine operators must promptly report any issues or failures with safeguards to their supervisor. It is the supervisor’s responsibility to address and resolve safety concerns. Only when all problems have been rectified should operation of the machinery be resumed.
By adhering to these machine safety rules and conducting regular training sessions, you can create a safe working environment and reduce the risk of accidents. Prioritizing safety not only protects your employees, but also ensures the smooth operation of your business.
Machine Safety Tips
- Lubricate machine parts without removing safeguards: Some machines have oil reservoirs located outside the guard, allowing for lubrication without removing the safeguards. However, if access is not possible with the safeguards in place, remember to switch off the machine, lock it out, and then remove the guards.
- Remove machine safeguards after equipment lock-out/tag-out: If the safeguards need to be removed for maintenance or replacement, ensure that the equipment is locked out, tagged out, or isolated before doing so. This applies to all machine maintenance, whether scheduled or reactive.
- Avoid creating safety hazards: Be cautious of pinch points around roller and gear assemblies, couplings, flywheels, spindles, drive drums, and other machine parts. Additionally, prevent objects from falling into the machine’s moving parts as this may create new pinch points and cause harm to both the equipment and its operator.
- Wear appropriate protective clothing: Always wear the proper protective equipment, including masks, gloves, glasses, aprons, boots, and hats. Do not let jewellery, loose clothing, or long hair dangle near machines as these can get caught in the moving parts and pose additional safety hazards.
- Wait until all machine parts have stopped moving: Never walk away from a machine until all its parts have come to a complete stop. It is essential to ensure that the machine is not in operation before leaving its vicinity.
Top Ten Machine Safety Rules for Employee Training
- Always ensure that a machine is completely at rest before assuming it’s safe. Even if a machine is switched off, certain parts may still be in motion, such as fans, cooling elements, rollers, gears, and rotating parts. These can pose a serious pinch point hazard.
- Never leave a machine unattended while any part of it is still moving.
- If you have any questions or concerns about machine safety or working with safeguards, always consult your supervisor for guidance.
- Machine operators who are uncertain about a machine’s safety or have doubts about its operation should immediately inform their supervisor. It is crucial not to attempt to resolve the issue independently.
- Follow the proper lockout-tagout procedures when working with or performing maintenance on machines. This ensures that the machine is safely de-energized and cannot be accidentally started up.
- Wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) when working with machinery, such as gloves, safety glasses, and ear protection.
- Ensure that all machine guards and safety devices are in place and functioning properly before operating the machine.
- Do not remove or bypass any machine guards or safety devices.
- Regularly inspect and maintain machinery to prevent malfunctions and ensure safe operation.
- Stay informed about the latest health and safety regulations, standards, and best practices related to machine safety.
These top ten machine safety rules are designed to protect employees while working around machinery. However, it’s important to note that machine safety is a broad topic that encompasses other aspects, such as health and safety at work and compliance with prevailing standards. For more information on these topics, you can refer to relevant resources.