Crushed hands and arms, severed fingers, and blindness, the list of possible machinery related injuries is as long as it is horrifying. There seem to be as many hazards created by moving machine parts, as there are types of machines. Safeguards are essential for protecting workers from needless and preventable injuries.

A good rule to remember is; any machine part, function, or process, which may cause injury, must be safeguarded. When the operation of a machine or accidental contact with it can injure the operator or others in the vicinity, the hazards must be either controlled or eliminated.

A wide variety of mechanical motions and actions may present hazards to the worker. These can include the movement of rotating members, reciprocating arms, moving belts, meshing gears, cutting teeth, and any parts that impact or shear. These different types of hazardous mechanical motions and actions are basic in varying combinations to nearly all machines, and recognizing them is the first step toward protecting workers from the danger they present.

Dangerous moving parts in three basic areas require safeguarding:

• Point of operation: (The point where work is performed).
• Power transmission apparatus: (All components of the mechanical system, which transmit energy to the part of the machine performing the work. This includes flywheels, pulleys, belts, connecting rods, couplings, cams, chains, cranks, and gears).
• Other moving parts: (All parts of the machine which move while the machine is working. These can include reciprocating, rotating, and transverse moving parts, as well as feed mechanisms and auxiliary parts of the machine.

What must a safeguard do to protect workers against mechanical hazards? Safeguards must meet these minimum general requirements.

• Prevent contact: (The safeguard must prevent hands, arms, and any other part of a worker's body from making contact with dangerous moving parts).
• Secure: (Workers should not be able to easily remove or tamper with the safeguard).
• Protect from falling objects: (The safeguard should ensure that no objects can fall into moving parts).
• Allow safe lubrication: (If possible you should be able to lubricate the machine without removing the safeguards).
• Create no new hazards: (Such as a shear point or jagged edge).
• Create no interference: (Any safeguard which impedes a worker from performing the job quickly and comfortably might soon be overridden or disregarded).

Fire is among the most deadly of workplace hazards and the most preventable of accidents. Because of the serious danger of fire, it’s to your benefit to know about fires and what to do should a fire erupt. OSHA regulates several aspects of fire prevention and response. Emergency planning, fire prevention plans, and evacuation that would need to be done in the event of a serious fire are addressed in the OSHA standard, 1910.38. In addition the provision of fire extinguishers and other protection is addressed in 1910.157.

It is important to know what type of fire is in progress. If you use a fire extinguisher be sure to use one only on fires for which that fire extinguisher is designed. Using the wrong agent on a fire may increase the intensity of the fire. Check the label on the fire extinguisher; it should list the fire classes it is meant to put out.

It takes a certain combination of three elements, oxygen, an ignition source, and fuel to start a fire. Without one of these elements in the proper amount, the fire will not start, or if it has already started, it will go out. Fire can be represented by a simple equation:

Fire = Ignition + Fuel + Oxygen

Many of the thousands of chemicals in use in the workplace are both highly toxic and highly volatile. Extreme caution must be used to prevent and fight fires resulting from chemical spills and accidents. Chemicals can cause serious injuries through physical fire or explosion, and health hazards such as burns and poisons.

Workplace Fire Hazards

• Smoking areas: (Permit smoking in designated areas only).
• Heating, ventilating and air-condition systems: (Keep motors free of dust, oil, and fibers. Clean filters on a regular schedule).
• Electrical equipment, including wiring and controls: (Secure covers on all junction, switch, outlet and panel board boxes). Extension cords: (Keep extension cords and electrical wiring out of aisles, check cords frequently for fraying and damage to the plugs).
• Static electricity: (Control static electricity by bonding and grounding your equipment).
• Forklift fueling and servicing: (Refuel and service forklifts outside of manufacturing and storage facilities).
• Hot work areas: (When performing hot work follow the hot work permit, clear the area of combustibles, and have someone available to operate a fire extinguisher during the job and for at least 30 minutes after the job is completed).
• Flammable, combustible liquids, and gases: (Store flammable liquids in a trash free area in approved safety containers. Use in well ventilated areas; post warning signs, and no smoking in flammable liquid areas).
• Storage areas:
• Waste removal:

Many OSHA regulations are written in general terms leaving the details up to the employer on how to comply. The employer is expected to use consensus standards to help in the selection of the best method to achieve compliance with some OSHA regulations. One such consensus standard would be the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 70E.

NFPA 70E is not a federal regulation; it is a “how to comply” consensus standard that will ensure compliance with some elements of the OSHA electrical regulations. This consensus standard provides specific information on how to comply with several of OSHA’s electrical performance regulations including electrical hazard assessments and how to select the appropriate PPE for electrical hazards. These sections of the OSHA standard are written in general terms with no detail on how to assess electrical hazards or how to select the proper PPE. This is where NFPA 70E would come into play.

In the event of an injury or death because of an electrical accident, if OSHA determines that compliance with 70E would have prevented or lessened the injury, OSHA may cite the employer under the General Duty Clause for not using 70E to protect the employees.

Some OSHA state plans are more restrictive than federal OSHA and may have adopted or incorporated 70E. This must be addressed on a state by state basis and should be evaluated by each employer location.

Chemicals pose a wide range of hazards, from mild irritation to possible death. OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard is designed to ensure that workers and employers have information about these hazards and can establish appropriate protective measures. One important source for this information is the Material Safety Data Sheet.

The MSDS is your primary tool for finding information about the chemicals you work with. They can be in any format, but OSHA has established certain requirements for MSDS's. First of all, they need to be in English.

Secondly, all MSDS's must be readily accessible during each work shift. If you or your co-worker must travel between work locations, MSDS's may be kept at a central location, but they still must be accessible.

Chemical manufacturers and importers are required to obtain or develop a material safety data sheet for each hazardous chemical they produce or import. Distributors are responsible for ensuring that their customers are provided a copy of these MSDS's. Employers must receive and retain an MSDS for each hazardous chemical that they use.

While MSDS's do not need to be physically attached to a shipment, they must accompany or precede the shipment. If they do not, your employer must obtain one from the manufacturer, importer, or distributor as soon as possible. The same is true if an MSDS arrives that is incomplete or unclear.

You need to read a chemical's MSDS before using the chemical to find out what safety precautions are needed. A certain chemical may not be compatible with other chemicals you are using. You may need to wear personal protective equipment to protect yourself from the chemical's effects. You may need to be careful about the ambient temperature the chemical is used in. The information on an MSDS will help you determine what safety measures you will need and could save valuable time in the event of an accident.

In the case of an emergency where someone may have been exposed to a hazardous chemical, you may also need to consult the associated MSDS to obtain information on how to treat the victim.

Being aware of the information provided on an MSDS can mean the difference between and accident and a tragedy. For your safety and those you work with, learn the hazards of the chemicals you work with and the precautions related to them.