| In an industrial work environment, machine guards are | | | | machine and any other employees who are in that |
| vitally important for the protection of the workers. | | | | work area from any hazards that are created by |
| Serious injuries, such as loss of fingers and toes, | | | | rotating parts, sparks, flying chips and ingoing nip |
| injuries to sensory organs such as eyes or ears, or | | | | points. Machine guarding is made for all kinds of |
| getting arms and hands crushed, can happen if | | | | machines, such as custom-made barriers for safety, |
| guards are not installed properly on industrial | | | | standard fencing, fully computerized light curtains, |
| equipment. | | | | two-hand operating devices and plastic guards. |
| A machine guard will ensure that a worker's body will | | | | High-temp valves and wires that are exposed also |
| not have contact with the very dangerous moving | | | | need to have machine guards. |
| parts. The three fundamental areas that are on all | | | | It is important to keep in mind all the different people |
| machines are the power transmission device, which | | | | who will have access to the machines, such as |
| includes pulleys, belts, flywheels and other moving | | | | mechanics that do scheduled maintenance on them |
| parts; the point of operation, which includes shaping, | | | | and the janitor who could bump into them, when |
| cutting, forming of stock and boring; and the | | | | purchasing machine guards. The size of a machine |
| operating controls, which includes rotating, | | | | doesn't matter, even machines that are small might |
| reciprocating, feed mechanisms and transverse | | | | require guards; for example, welding something small |
| moving parts. | | | | still impacts everyone who is in the area. Whether or |
| According to Occupational Safety & Health | | | | not they are actually attached to a machine, many |
| Administration (OSHA) rules, "when the operation of | | | | guards are permanent and treated accordingly; an |
| a machine or accidental contact with it can injure the | | | | example would be robotics stations that have fencing |
| operator or others in the vicinity, the hazards must | | | | around them. |
| be either controlled or eliminated". OSHA also | | | | Professional installation of machine guards is highly |
| mandates that "any machine part, function or | | | | recommended; however, self-installation of some |
| process which may cause injury must be | | | | components such as safety switches, shields and |
| safeguarded". | | | | lighting, could be done. |
| There are still manufacturers of machinery that | | | | Machine covers ensure a work environment that is |
| continue making and selling their equipment without | | | | more safe than it would be without the guarding. |
| having the necessary guarding equipment that is | | | | OSHA conducts regular audits of industrial areas to |
| required by OSHA. Currently, no laws exist that | | | | ensure that worker safety regulations are being |
| would require them to have the guarding. It is the | | | | followed. Under the Occupational Safety and Health |
| responsibility of employers to comply with OSHA | | | | Act of 1970, OSHA's role is to promote safe and |
| requirements and be certain that workers and | | | | healthful working conditions for America's working |
| anyone around industrial machinery be properly | | | | men and women by setting and enforcing standards, |
| protected from any inherent risks. | | | | and providing training, outreach and education. |
| Machine guards will protect the operator of the | | | | |