What Happens Once the Safeguarding is Complete?

Even the best machine guarding system will not be effective without employee approval. The machine operator needs to understand why the guarding was installed and how it will protect them from the inherent hazards.Our experience has taught us that when the workers are included in a machine safeguarding initative, acceptance of the changes is much greater than cases when it is thrust upon them.

Therefore, machine specific training is an important part of any effort to provide safeguarding against machine-related hazards. Each machine operator should receive hands-on safety training that includes the following topics.

Identification of the hazards associated with a particular machine – This includes a review of the point of operation, the power transmission elements and power controls.

Introduction to the installed safeguards – How will the new guards, shields or process controls protect the operator from the identified hazards? What hazards have not been eliminated?

How to use the safeguards – How can the worker operate the machine while the guards are in place? How do the light curtains, interlocks or scanners control the machine functions? Can the machine be run at low speeds while the doors are open?

Who can remove the safeguards and the procedures that must be followed before this happens.

Is a lockout / tagout program required?

What to do if a safeguard is broken , lock, or doesn't work as advertised.

This kind of safety training is necessary for machine operators and maintenance or setup personnel, when any new or altered safeguards are put in service, or when workers are assigned to a new machine or operation.

Lovegreen Risk Management offers safety training programs, classes and resources to help you understand and comply with government regulations, including OSHA and ANSI. We offer specialized training programs that meet your specific needs.

For more information about machine specific training, or to discuss your machine safeguarding needs, please contact me at fschmidt@lovegreen.com or by calling me at 800-262-8284.

What is MSDS ?

MSDS or a Material Safety Data Sheet is the documentation of all the information on the potential hazards imposed by a chemical product or substance whenever they are used by people. The dangers primarily include fire hazards, effects of radioactivity, environmental hazards and other possible harm to the health of a human being. Not just the information about the potential dangers, an MSDS is supposed to contain information regarding the proper handling of the chemical substances or product to avoid the hazards and also information on steps that need to be taken in case of the occurrence of any of the hazards.

Who needs the MSDS ? The MSDS is a document that can be allowed to access by everyone. However, an ordinary consumer doesn’t have a direct interaction with a chemical substance and thus, needn’t necessarily have a deeper understanding of the MSDS (a knowledge about the hazards of these substances isn’t bad though). Workers or employees who have come in contact with these chemical substances on a day-to-day basis needs to have a thorough understanding of the MSDS and must always carry a copy of it along too. Such employees include the ones working in any chemical manufacturing factory, cleaning industry, recycling industry and so on.

How to find an MSDS ? An MSDS should be available in every workplace pertaining to chemical industry or an industry whose employees work involves a close contact with chemical substances and products. In case of non-availability of Material Safety Data Sheets in the workplace, the supplier of the material or substance should be contacted and asked to provide a MSDS.

It’s crucial to train the employees as to how to use the MSDS. Mere distribution of MSDS won’t assure safety. Thus, an effective and informative training session is necessary.

Article by Anirban Bhattacharya

For more information about this important topic, please visit Lovegreen Machine Guarding