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Scope
Guarding of moving machine parts continues to be one of the most-cited violations of MSHA regulations. While the requirements (cited below) are scattered throughout MSHA regulations, the Agency intends if a machine, vehicle, or process can injure a miner, regardless of source or direction, some type of physical or mechanical protection must be provided.
Regulatory citations
- 30 CFR 48 — Training and Retraining of Miners
- 30 CFR 56.14107 — Moving machine parts.
- 30 CFR 75.1725 — Machinery and equipment; operation and maintenance.
Key definitions
- None
Summary of requirements
Chutes. Provide guards or other protective structures to protect workers from flying rock or material dumped into a chute.
Tower guards. When material is moved on aerial tramways, protect towers from damage by swaying buckets.
Falling object protection. Provide guard nets or other protective devices if there are aerial tramways carrying materials over walkways or other areas where employees are working.
Tire repairs. If your facility does tire repairs, provide:
- A wheel cage or other device capable of holding an exploding multi-piece tire rim or sudden release of air from a single-piece rim OR
- An inflation device permitting a person to stand off to one side.
Procedures during maintenance. Letting machinery operate during maintenance is permitted only if:
- The motion is necessary to the maintenance and
- An alternative kind of protection is in place.
Falling object protection (FOPS). All bulldozers, front-end loaders and forklift trucks must have a FOPS when they operate in areas where falling objects are a potential hazard. In addition, the FOPS must be capable of withstanding the likely kinds of falling objects in the area.
Moving parts. Regardless of the type of machinery or part (cog, sprocket, conveyor, pulley, shaft or fan blade), a guard must be in place to prevent injury. EXCEPTION: If the moving part is more than seven (7) feet from working or walking areas, guards are not required.
Overhead drive belts. If the whipping action from a broken belt could injure a person, it must have a guard.
Unguarded conveyors with adjacent travelway. If you have unguarded conveyors next to travelways, provide:
- Emergency stop devices easily reached by a person falling into or against the conveyor OR
- Handrails for the travelway sufficient to prevent contact with the conveyor, withstand the hazards of the area and such they are not a hazard themselves.
Flying or falling materials. When screens, crushers or conveyors generate flying or falling materials, provide suitable guards.
Slusher, backlash guards and securing. To protect person exposed to slushing operations, ensure rollers and drums are covered and slushers over 10 horsepower are equipped with backlash guards.
Construction & maintenance of guards. Ensure all guards are capable of withstanding the stresses of normal operation, do not become a hazard themselves and remain securely in place during operations.
Inclined conveyors; backstops or brakes. Make sure backstops or brakes are in stalled on inclined conveyors to prevent running in reverse.
Air valves for pneumatic equipment. Make sure a manual master quick-close air valve on all pneumatic equipment. This will control the hazard of uncontrolled movement of the equipment in the event of a failure.
Stationary grinding machines. Provide guards for stationary grinding machines including hoods and tool rests.
Roll-over protective structures (ROPS) and seat belt. Virtually all vehicles and heavy equipment require a ROPS. Ensure they meet industry standards and are maintained to withstand the stresses they were originally designed to meet. Similar requirements apply to seat belts.
Chains, ropes and drive belts. Unless equipment is specifically designed for hand feeding, make sure mechanical devices are provided to guide chains, ropes and drive belts into position.
Ventilation & shielding for welding. Provide shields to protect workers from are welding hazards.
Stacking and storage of supplies. Do not allow supplies to be stacked or stored such that they create a tripping hazard or endanger workers by falling over.Bins, hoppers, silos, tanks and surge piles. Ensure that persons operating controls or working in or near these areas are protected. This includes location of controls where danger of falling material or entrapment is low, providing means of handling materials so that danger of entrapment or caving is low and providing appropriate walkways and passageways.
Metal bonnets. Provide metal bonnets on all hoists or skips used to transport employees in shafts to prevent injury from falling objects.
Scaling. Scaling must be done from a protected location or provide other means of protection from falling material.
Secondary breakage operations. Secondary breakage operations must be done from a location that does not endanger miners.
Portable extension lights. Guard portable extension lights or similar lights that by their location present a shock or burn hazard.
Electrical connections. Guard or protect electrical connections and resistor grids by location if insulation is difficult or impractical.