This section covers the different safety aspects of using machinery and maintaining plant and equipment in the workplace. Employers should consider how their workers use machinery, and have adequate maintenance arrangements in place to ensure it remains safe to use. Show
There is also specific advice on lifting equipment and carrying out vehicle repairs. Case studyA company were prosecuted after a worker was killed when he was crushed in the rollers of a rubber and cloth inspection machine. Other workers heard him cry out and he was found with his left arm, shoulder, head and torso trapped between the rubberised blanket and the roller. He was pronounced dead at the scene. What caused the accident? Why is machinery safety important?Moving machinery can cause injuries in many ways:
What should employers do?Before they startBefore they start using any machine they need to think about what risks may occur and how these can be managed. They should therefore do the following:
Make sure the machine is:
Also, make sure they identify and deal with the risks from:
Preventing access to dangerous partsEmployers should think about how they can make a machine safe. The measures they use to prevent access to dangerous parts should be in the following order. In some cases it may be necessary to use a combination of these measures:
Other things employers should also consider
Dos and don’ts of machinery safety for workersDo...
Don’t...
A company were prosecuted after a worker received horrific injuries, almost severing his left arm when using a cross-cut saw. What the employer did The nose guard had not been set correctly because training was inadequate. The worker had no previous experience and had only five minutes’ training on the saw. This did not include any instruction about the saw guards and how to adjust them properly. In addition, the saw was unsuitable for training purposes. Plant and equipment maintenanceMaintenance on plant and equipment is carried out to prevent problems arising, to put faults right, and to ensure equipment is working effectively. Maintenance may be part of a planned programme or may have to be carried out at short notice after a breakdown. It always involves non-routine activities and can expose those involved (and others) to a range of risks. Why is maintenance of plant and equipment important?An effective maintenance programme will make plant and equipment more reliable. Fewer breakdowns will mean less dangerous contact with machinery is required, as well as having the cost benefits of better productivity and efficiency. Additional hazards can occur when machinery becomes unreliable and develops faults. Maintenance allows these faults to be diagnosed early to manage any risks. However, maintenance needs to be correctly planned and carried out. Unsafe maintenance has caused many fatalities and serious injuries, either during the maintenance or to those using the badly maintained or wrongly maintained/repaired equipment. What should employers do?Employers who provide equipment for use, from hand tools and ladders to electrical power tools and larger plant, need to ensure that, so far as is reasonably practicable that the machinery and equipment under their control is safe and without risk to health. One way to achieve this is for employers to have arrangements in place to make sure machinery and equipment is maintained in a safe condition. They should think about what hazards can occur if:
Failing to correctly plan and communicate clear instructions and information before starting maintenance can lead to confusion and can cause accidents. This can be a particular problem if maintenance is during normal production work or where there are contractors who are unfamiliar with the site. Case studyA worker received crush injuries to his head and neck while he was undertaking maintenance work, when the hoist he was working on started up. What caused the accident? Extra care is also required if maintenance involves:
How can employers do it?Establishing a planned maintenance programme is a useful step towards reducing risk, as well as having a reporting procedure for workers who may notice problems while working on machinery. Some items of plant and equipment may have safety-critical features where deterioration would cause a risk. Employers must have arrangements in place to make sure the necessary inspections take place. But there are other steps to consider: Before employers instruct workers to start maintenance
Case study What caused the
accident? Safe plant and equipmentEmployers should ensure plant and equipment is made safe before maintenance starts, through: Safe isolation
Dos and don’ts of plant and equipment maintenanceDo...
Don’t...
Safe lifting by machineIf the employer provides lifting equipment for use at work, or if they have control of the use of lifting equipment, they must make sure it is safe. Employers should think about what risks there may be and how they can be managed, for example:
Safe lifting needs to be properly planned by a competent person, appropriately supervised and carried out safely. Any equipment used must have been properly designed, manufactured and tested. Not forgetting the need to maintain it properly. Factors that should be considered
Dos and don’ts when using lifting machineryDo...
Don’t...
Vehicle repairMotor vehicle repair work has particular dangers and the employer (or self employed person) needs to identify and minimize the risks to both safety and health. To help them achieve this, some specific precautions should be taken:
What is a production technique that uses small self contained workstations and has each perform all or most of the tasks necessary to complete a manufacturing order?Work cells are small, self-contained production units that include several machines and workers arranged in a compact, sequential order. Each work cell performs all or most of the tasks necessary to complete a manufacturing order.
Is the aspect of production control that involves specifying and controlling the time required for each step in the production process?Scheduling involves specifying and controlling the time required for each step in the production process. The operations manager prepares timetables showing the most efficient sequence of production and then tries to ensure that the necessary materials and labor are in the right place at the right time.
Is the streamlining of production by eliminating?Streamlining production by eliminating steps in the production process that do not add benefits that customers want. The determination by a firm of whether to make its own production materials or to buy them from outside sources.
Is the technology involved in designing constructing and operating computer controlled?Robotics. Robots are computer-controlled machines that can perform tasks independently. Robotics is the technology involved in designing, constructing, and operating robots.
|