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Businesses must follow necessary OSHA guidelines to protect their workers and reduce the frequency of on-the-job injuries and accidents. If the company uses complicated machinery or equipment that pose a risk to the workers, they must add safety guards to prevent injuries. When reviewing the guards, it is best to have an idea of the key guidelines and principles that apply to the installations.
1. Must Be OSHA Compliant
Machine guards must comply with OSHA regulations and minimize risks to the workers. The purpose is to prevent the workers from sustaining injuries while using the machines. The employer must review the current OSHA regulations for safety devices and make choices according to these requirements.
All machines must have the right safety guards that prevent injuries. When choosing the right products, the company owner must assess all safety regulations and ensure that all obligations to their workers are met. Business owners can learn more about machine guarding products by contacting a supplier now.
2. The Guards Must Prevent Direct Contact
Machines that cut materials or have moving parts that are dangerous need proper guards to stop direct contact. While there are emergency stop features with machinery, this doesn’t prevent an accident. If the worker moves in front of the machine or slips into harm’s way, the machines could cause a loss of limb with direct contact. By installing machine guards, the employer prevents direct contact with the moving parts.
3. They Must Be Tamperproof
The employer must use machine guards that are tamperproof and prevent anyone from sabotaging the equipment. Disgruntled employees may tamper with the equipment prior to leaving the building.
This could prevent a serious risk to other workers and leave the company liable for any accidents that happen. Tamperproof guards prevent anyone from moving or manipulating the products. It is critical for employers to choose products that protect workers under all circumstances.
The workers should have the right to complete job tasks without facing serious consequences. Once the machine guard is in place, the workers won’t have to worry about someone tampering with the machine or causing accidents deliberately.
4. The Products Shouldn’t Present New Hazards
When reviewing each machine, the employer must identify and mitigate all possible risks. After they know what risks the equipment presents, the company owner can install the right guards and decrease common risks to their workers.
They can continue assessing the machines for new risks and hazards and implement safety measures to reduce the number of accidents. By mitigating risks, the company decreases injuries to workers and reduces the number of worker’s compensation claims.
5. They Shouldn’t Affect How the Machine Operates
When choosing the right guards, the business owner must consider how the guards affect machine operations. After the installation, the guards shouldn’t prevent proper functionality. The machines must operate the same way as they did before. However, the guards must offer a sufficient level of protection for the workers and prevent avoidable accidents and injuries. It is recommended that the company purchases high-quality guards that are durable and effective.
Industrial businesses use a variety of machines and equipment every day to complete necessary job tasks. However, the equipment should never present a risk to the workers. The business owner must review safety devices to find the best product to protect their workers. Machine guards are effective solutions that decrease these injuries and keep the workers safe.
