Machines are essential to almost all industries, but they also pose significant safety risks without proper guarding. Our machine guarding audits and consulting services can assist your team to identify hazards, implement safeguards, and comply with OSHA regulations and voluntary standards. From small manufacturing sites to large industrial operations, our expertise and assistance can reduce the risk of injuries, and help you improve the safety culture in your organization
Understanding Machine Hazards
Identifying Hazards: Learn about common hazards such as point of operation, pinch points, in-running nip points, rotating parts, flying debris, and shearing and cutting mechanisms.
Types Of Machine Guards: Understand which machines require safeguarding, the types of effective safeguarding, and the applicable standards and regulations. Machines requiring guarding include conveyors, presses, grinders, shears, saws, and most all production equipment.
Regulatory Compliance: Stay informed on OSHA standards and industry guidelines to ensure your operations are both safe and compliant.
Safeguarding Methods and Equipment
Types of Machine Guards: Explore fixed, adjustable, and self-adjusting guards and how they prevent injuries.
Safety Devices: Understand the role of interlocked guards, light curtains, two-hand controls, presence sensing devices and emergency stop systems.
Proper Guard Installation and Maintenance: Learn best practices for installing and maintaining machine guards to ensure their effectiveness over time.
Training, Inspections, and Documentation
Employee Training: Equip your team with the skills to operate, inspect, and work around machines safely.
Inspection Protocols: Develop a system to identify improperly installed, missing, or damaged guards or safety devices during routine checks.
Documentation: Understand the value of documentation including the design of guards and safety devices, standard operating procedures (SOP), and pre-shift inspections.
