Transcript
23.0 MIA Safety Services - March 2013 Hazards of Operating Unguarded Stone Cutters and Splitters Executive Summary This Toolbox Talk is excerpted from OSHA’s Safety and Health Information Bulletin published January 25, 2013. It is not a standard or a regulation. It creates no new legal obligations. It contains recommendations as well as descriptions of mandatory safety and health standards. The recommendations are advisory in nature, informational in content, and are intended to assist employers in providing a safe and healthful workplace. This toolbox talk is designed to warn employers and workers of the hazards involved in using stone-cutting machines; and explain methods to eliminate or reduce the risk of injury when operating stone-cutting machines. Two toolbox talks are enclosed. The first reviews OSHA’s recent investigation and analysis of the hazards presented by stone cutting machines. The second talk presents OSHA’s requirements and recommendations to prevent or greatly reduce worker injury by these machines. Also provided are a relevant safety checklist, standard employee meeting sign-in sheet, and a safety related “Product of the Month” feature.
Enclosed in this issue of MIA Safety Talks are the following resources: 23.1
TOOLBOX TALK - OSHA Investigation Summary Agenda Description of the Investigation Inspection Results Accident Prevention Recommendations Recap & Review
23.2
SAFETY TOOL BOX TALK - Requirements and Recommendations Agenda Identify Hazards Precautions Discussion
23.3
SAFETY CHECKLIST
23.4
SIGN-IN SHEET
23.5
SAFETY PRODUCT OF THE MONTH
This Safety Service Talk contains general guidelines. The Marble Institute of America and its member companies have neither liability nor can they be responsible to any person or entity for any misunderstanding, misuses, or misapplication that would cause loss or damage of any kind, including loss of rights, material, or personal injury, or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by the information contained in this document. © 2013 Marble Institute of America
23.1 MIA Safety Services - OSHA Investigation Summary Refer to sign-in sheet for attendees (note: a separate meeting should be held with all absent employees).
Agenda Brief Description of the Investigation OSHA investigated a landscaping products company that used a stone splitter to cut decorative rocks. Each rock was lifted by a forklift to a rolling conveyor table where the operator placed the rock under the cutting blades or the "point of operation" by hand. The operator then worked the hand controls with one hand and held the back of the stone with the other hand. This method of operation puts the operator's hand within inches of the unguarded point of operation and could result in severe injury, including amputation. In addition, the rock-splitting process often results in flying rock chips, which presents a hazard to the operator's eyes and face.
Inspection Results Investigators found that many of the stone cutters available for purchase pose amputation hazards because, typically, these machines are not designed with adequate machine guarding to prevent the operator from reaching into the point of operation.
Accident Prevention Recommendations OSHA worked with the stone splitter manufacturer and the landscaping company to retrofit the machine with two-handed controls, which prevented worker access to the point of operation. The accompanying picture shows the retrofitted stone cutter. The arrows point to a top control button (added in the retrofit) and the existing bottom controls. The operator must press both the button and one of the hand controls to lower the blade. A cycle-initiation method was installed that requires constant, simultaneous pressure from each hand on two separate controls to move the cutting blades. If the operator removes either hand from either of the controls, the blades will stop immediately. This type of machine-guarding configuration is known as a "two-hand control." The modification was easily engineered, relatively inexpensive, and readily accepted by the operators.
Recap & Review •
If your company does not have this kind of machine, what other equipment do you use that has “point of operation” hazard similar to this example?
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Do “two-hand controls” replace the need for lock out-tag out procedures?
Reminder: Safety is the responsibility of both management and employees! The next safety meeting is scheduled for ____________ and the topic will be_______________.
© 2013 Marble Institute of America
23.2 MIA Safety Services - Requirements and Recommendations Refer to sign-in sheet for attendees (note: a separate meeting should be held with all absent employees).
Agenda Requirements and Recommendations The following measures will prevent or greatly reduce the chance of an amputation or other serious injury that a worker using a stone cutter or splitter will suffer.
Identify Hazards •
Identify the hazards of powered stone cutters and splitters prior to being used. Ask the following questions: ◊
Does the equipment have machine guarding at the point of operation?
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Can the guarding be easily removed or bypassed?
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Does the guarding keep the operator's hands, fingers, and body out of the danger area?
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Is there evidence that the machine guarding has been tampered with or removed?
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Could changes be made on the machine to eliminate the point of operation hazard entirely?
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Are the machine manufacturer's recommended safety procedures available to the operator and being followed?
OSHA’s rules for both General Industry [29 CFR 1910.212(a)(3)(ii)] and the Construction Industry [1926.300(b)(4)(ii)], require employers to guard the point of operation of machinery to prevent workers from having any part of their body in the danger zone during operating cycles. •
Ensure stone cutters are equipped with machine guarding to prevent worker access to the point of operation. A good system eliminates the possibility of the operator or another worker placing parts of their bodies where they could be injured by hazardous moving parts. Examples of machine-guarding methods include two-handed starting devices, barrier guards, remote-operator controls, and electronic safety devices. This also includes the two-handed control retrofit described above [required by 29 CFR 1910.212(a)(3)(ii) and 1926.300(b)(4)(ii)].
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Conduct regular inspections and keep machinery clean and properly maintained. Good inspection, maintenance and repair procedures contribute significantly to the safety of the machine operator. Routinely inspect and maintain machinery according to the manufacturer's recommendations and good engineering practice.
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Identify other possible machine-related hazards that may pose a risk of injury and necessitate the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) [required by 29 CFR 1910.132(d) and 1926.95(a)]. (Continued next page)
© 2013 Marble Institute of America
23.2 MIA Safety Services - Requirements and Recommendations Requirements and Recommendations - continued Precautions •
Provide workers with PPE that adequately protects them from recognized hazards and ensure they are used properly. For example, provide safety glasses with side shields or face shields for workers exposed to eye hazards, face shields to protect workers' faces from flying rock chips, or gloves to protect workers' hands from cuts and abrasions from handling rock or stone [as required by 29 CFR 1910.132(d)(1) and 1926.95(a)].
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Train workers on the following topics:
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All hazards in the work area, including machine-specific hazards;
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Machine-operating procedures;
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The purpose and proper use of machine-guarding, including instruction in the safe use and care of the machines;
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Procedures for addressing unsafe conditions, such as, immediately reporting problems with machine guards; and
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Safe use of PPE, as required by 29 CFR 1910.132(f).
Provide adequate supervision and reinforce safe practices by ensuring that: ◊
Only trained workers operate machinery;
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Machine operators do not wear loose-fitting clothing, jewelry, or other items that could become entangled in the machinery; and
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All other workers are prohibited from being near the machine during cutting operations.
Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSH Act), ◊
Employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their workers.
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Employees are responsible for complying with safety and health rules that are set forth by their employer.
Discussion •
What machines in your shop have pinch points?
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Can their operation be safely improved?
Reminder: Safety is the responsibility of management and employees! Next Safety Meeting is scheduled for ____________________ and the topic will be ____________________.
© 2013 Marble Institute of America
23.3 MIA Safety Services - Checklist Hazard Identification and Injury Prevention Machines with unguarded cutting blades (at the point of operation) can cause amputations and other serious injuries.
Is There a Hazard?
Has the safety of the machinery at your worksite been evaluated?
Does any part of your body come near the cutting blades when the machine is on?
Are there other potential hazards during machine use such as flying rock chips?
Have you notified your supervisor/ employer if the stone-cutting machine you are using does not appear to be safe?
How to Prevent Injuries:
Is some type of guarding in place to prevent worker access to cutting blades when the machine is in use? These methods may include retrofitting stone cutting machines with two-handed controls or starting mechanisms.
Are regular inspections and maintenance conducted on the machines?
Are appropriate personal protective equipment for all identified machine-related hazards provided (e.g., safety glasses, protective gloves, etc.)?
Is information, training and supervision offered to workers on the safe work practices when operating or servicing stone-cutting machines?
Do operators and maintenance personnel know about the: ◊
Hazards associated with particular machine operations?
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Purpose and proper application of machine guarding methods?
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Proper use of personal protective equipment?
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Hazards related to wearing loose-fitting clothing, jewelry, or other items that could become entangled in the machines?
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Importance of not allowing workers other than the machine operator near the machine when it is in use?
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The need to contact a supervisor if a machine guard is not working as it should?
Conclusion
Amputation hazards can be prevented by: ◊
Equipping stone cutters and splitters with two-hand controls or other devices that will prevent worker access to the point of operation.
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Providing adequate training in the safe operation of stone splitters.
Eye and face injuries can be prevented by providing and enforcing the use of adequate eye and face protection.
© 2013 Marble Institute of America
23.4 Safety Meeting Sign-In Sheet TOPIC: FACILITATOR:
Name (print)
DATE:
(signature)
Department
(Make additional copies as needed)
NOTES:
© 2013 Marble Institute of America
23.5
MIA Safety Product of the Month
Many books have been written about OSHA regulations, but none covers all the information and topics you’ll find in this one and none is so up to date! Every employer should own a copy of the completely updated OSHA Answer Book 10th edition-Anniversary Issue. It’s as handy as the phone book and will be used almost as often by employers because it provides quick answers to complicated OSHA questions. It also features comprehensive explanations of OSHA’s General Industry regulations (Part 1910) and more. The OSHA Answer Book includes: • A complete listing of all OSHA’s Recordkeeping Regulations (Part 1904). • Sample forms to use. • Tips on what to do when an OSHA Inspector shows up! • Insider Tips on the OSHA Inspection Process.
MIA Member Price: $65.00 Non-Member Price: $85.00 Moran Associates, 2011, 321 pp / soft-cover Price includes shipping & handling in the continental U.S. Order from the MIA Bookstore: www.marble-institute.com/store/
© 2013 Marble Institute of America
