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Primary safeguarding methods for mechanical power presses prevent or minimize employee exposure to a press’s hazard areas, in particular the point of operation. The most common injuries associated with mechanical power presses are amputations due to contact with the die area. Two primary safeguarding methods are used to protect employees from such point-of-operation hazards:
Employers are required to provide and ensure the use of point-of-operation guards or properly installed point-of-operation safeguarding devices for every operation on presses where the die opening is greater than one-fourth of an inch. Barrier guards and safeguarding devices must be properly designed, installed, used, and maintained in good condition to ensure employee protection. (29 CFR 1910.217)
Because mechanical power presses are extremely versatile, the appropriate safeguarding methods for a particular press will depend on its specific design and use. When selecting appropriate safeguards, an employer must consider the type of clutch a press uses, the size of the stock, how the stock will be fed, and the length of production runs.
Full-revolution clutch | Part-revolution clutch |
---|---|
Point-of-operation guard | Point-of-operation guard |
Pullback | Pullback |
Restraint | Restraint |
Type A gate | Type A gate, Type B gate* |
Two-hand trip | Two-hand control* |
Presence-sensing device* | |
*“Hands-in-die” operations require additional safeguarding measures: See 1910.217(c)(5). |
Mechanical power press point-of-operation safeguards must accomplish at least one of the following:
Press barrier guards must prevent hands and fingers from entering the point of operation through, over, under, or around the guard. In addition, guards must conform to the maximum permissible openings listed in Table O-10 of 1910.217:
Distance of opening from point-of-operation hazard | Maximum width of opening |
---|---|
This table shows the distances that guards shall be positioned from the danger line in accordance with the required opening. | |
1/2 to 11/2 | 1/4 |
11/2 to 21/2 | 3/8 |
21/2 to 31/2 | 1/2 |
31/2 to 51/2 | 5/8 |
51/2 to 61/2 | 3/4 |
61/2 to 71/2 | 7/8 |
71/2 to 121/2 | 11/4 |
121/2 to 151/2 | 11/2 |
151/2 to 171/2 | 17/8 |
171/2 to 311/2 | 21/8 |
Primary safeguarding methods for mechanical power presses prevent or minimize employee exposure to a press’s hazard areas, in particular the point of operation. The most common injuries associated with mechanical power presses are amputations due to contact with the die area. Two primary safeguarding methods are used to protect employees from such point-of-operation hazards:
Employers are required to provide and ensure the use of point-of-operation guards or properly installed point-of-operation safeguarding devices for every operation on presses where the die opening is greater than one-fourth of an inch. Barrier guards and safeguarding devices must be properly designed, installed, used, and maintained in good condition to ensure employee protection. (29 CFR 1910.217)
Because mechanical power presses are extremely versatile, the appropriate safeguarding methods for a particular press will depend on its specific design and use. When selecting appropriate safeguards, an employer must consider the type of clutch a press uses, the size of the stock, how the stock will be fed, and the length of production runs.
Full-revolution clutch | Part-revolution clutch |
---|---|
Point-of-operation guard | Point-of-operation guard |
Pullback | Pullback |
Restraint | Restraint |
Type A gate | Type A gate, Type B gate* |
Two-hand trip | Two-hand control* |
Presence-sensing device* | |
*“Hands-in-die” operations require additional safeguarding measures: See 1910.217(c)(5). |
Mechanical power press point-of-operation safeguards must accomplish at least one of the following:
Press barrier guards must prevent hands and fingers from entering the point of operation through, over, under, or around the guard. In addition, guards must conform to the maximum permissible openings listed in Table O-10 of 1910.217:
Distance of opening from point-of-operation hazard | Maximum width of opening |
---|---|
This table shows the distances that guards shall be positioned from the danger line in accordance with the required opening. | |
1/2 to 11/2 | 1/4 |
11/2 to 21/2 | 3/8 |
21/2 to 31/2 | 1/2 |
31/2 to 51/2 | 5/8 |
51/2 to 61/2 | 3/4 |
61/2 to 71/2 | 7/8 |
71/2 to 121/2 | 11/4 |
121/2 to 151/2 | 11/2 |
151/2 to 171/2 | 17/8 |
171/2 to 311/2 | 21/8 |