5 Safety Tips When Working with Big Machines
You hear it in the news: machines that can instantly take a person’s life. The functi0nality of “big machinery” is to be able to handle materials with great strength. But one should never forget that they are machines, and they are powerful enough to hurt or even kill a person if not used properly. Here are five safety tips when working with big machines.
De-energize Energy Sources
Worker safety is paramount when dealing with big machines, as unlocked machinery can start unexpectedly and result in injuries.
De-energizing and locking out the machinery is essential to prevent this potential danger, and both steps must be carried out simultaneously to prevent any release of energy.
Before working with any big machine:
Take a workplace survey to identify potential energy sources.
Make sure that no one else is operating it.
De-energize energy sources by draining the steam, air, or hydraulic lines and clearing reservoir tanks.
De-energizing machinery in the workplace also involves blocking the mechanism or releasing tension. Workers should follow the lockout procedure at all times.
Machine Guards
Machine guards prevent falling objects from entering moving parts. Not only do they prevent injuries to people operating the large machinery such as the CNC Boring Mill. They also make it easier to perform jobs like taking measurements and cleaning.
A good guard should not interfere with the worker’s comfort or ability to do their job. To keep yourself safe around big machines, learn about machine guarding. As you consider which machine guarding best suits your machines, you should also consider signing up for safety training.
Machine guards are effective when paired with other personal protective equipment, so they must be installed correctly. Also, remember that your employer is responsible for repairing any damages that might occur to the machine.
In addition, if you purchase the machine from a country with lower safety standards, you will need to modify it to comply with the standards in the United States.
Exercise Situational Awareness
Situation awareness involves assessing how much information is available, how reliable it is, how much time it takes for the information to reach the decision-maker, and the risk that it poses to the desired outcome.
Its primary purpose is to understand the threat landscape and make timely and appropriate decisions. The decisions can also be based on the processing aspects of data, such as the number of signals, accuracy, and completeness, and how important the information is to the operational context.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Occupational safety and health administration are critical aspects of any job involving big machines. Occupational safety and health specialists can be found in nearly every industry, from construction to oil and gas.
Office environments, which are well-lit and relatively comfortable, pose many of the same risks as industrial settings. However, the magnitude of these risks is shifted based on the job duties performed.
Occupational safety and health professionals should seek to advance within five years of starting a career in occupational safety and health administration. According to OSHA regulations protection of workers and employers in the workplace from accidents is paramount.
Many regulations, including those for big machines, are based on what would happen if an employee were not adequately protected.
If there’s a risk of an accident, they should report it to an OSHA compliance officer. If the company does not take corrective action, the DOL may pursue a civil citation against the company.
Maintain Three Points of Contact
One of the leading causes of workplace injuries is falling, and avoiding a fall is a vital part of the job. Follow the three-point contact rule while working with big machines to avoid this. This rule can also be applied to ladders and other stable platforms.
It is a simple yet effective way to maximize your stability while working, as your center of gravity is kept in a triangle. Incorporating this rule into your daily routine will help you avoid injuries and falls and keep your workers safe. Check the guarding and rails for damage and close gates to keep you safe.
Conclusion
Some machines are standard around industries and construction sites that can be intimidating, and it can be nerve-wracking if you’re not used to working with them. But you have to remember these machines can crush almost any object they’re trying to move instantly, so prevention is critical.
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