Must equipment such as drill presses be anchored?

OSHA requires at 1910.212(b) that machines that are “designed for a fixed location” must be “securely anchored” to prevent walking or moving.

While there are no OSHA Letters of Interpretation on the issue, the agency has said that the general thought is that “machinery designed for a fixed location” refers to large machinery that is not easy to relocate. While there is no recognized rule of thumb regarding what is meant by “not easy to relocate,” OSHA has said that employers can clearly exclude “portable” equipment (i.e., equipment that is designed to be moved around fairly frequently), except when such portable equipment would move during operation would need to be secured.

Employers should consult the manufacturer (and/or look to see if the equipment has mounting brackets, etc.). Also, a hazard assessment should be conducted; if the machine could move during operation, then it must be secured.