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Purpose
The purpose of this program is to ensure employee safety by applying machine guarding to any machine that can cause injury. This includes management and employee responsibilities, guarding guidelines, inspections, and training.
Responsibilities
Management
[Company Name]'s management team has responsibility for the provided equipment and implementation of the machine guarding program. They will ensure that employees have access to this program and that it is enforced. Other responsibilities include:
- Completing machine guarding assessments to ensure all machinery is inspected for proper guarding and that improperly-guarded machines are fixed before being put in service.
- Providing training to new and current employees and correcting any unsafe work practices as needed.
- Conducting program and machinery inspections to ensure employee safety.
- Maintaining records pertaining to the program.
Employees
Machine operators are to complete training on machine guarding before operating any machine and ensure guarding is in place, functional, and adequate before each use. Operators must report damaged or missing guards to supervisors before using any machine.
Machine Guarding Guidelines
Machines will be guarded in order to prevent employee body parts or clothing from coming in contact with a hazardous area. All operation points will be guarded, including nip points, rotating belts and shafts, and pinch points.
Guards will prevent objects from falling into equipment. Guards will not be altered or easily removed and will be constructed of material that resists fire and corrosion. Guards will not create hazards, such as shear point, have a jagged edge, or unfinished surface. Guards will be used so maintenance can be performed without removing the guard.
Inspections
All equipment and machines are inspected after setup and before being put into service and all manufacturer guards must be in place. Machine operators will visually inspect their machines guards before each shift. Each month, every machine will be thoroughly inspected. Any that do not pass inspection will be removed from service until the issues are addressed. If a machine is taken out of service or repaired, it will be isolated from its energy sources using a lockout/tagout program and adequately labeled out of service.
Training
All employees who operate machinery are to be trained on:
- The purpose and how to use safeguards.
- Machine hazards and procedures for each machine they operate.
- Procedures for guards that are damaged, missing, or inadequate in protection provided.
- Personal protective equipment to be worn around machines.
Retraining will occur if procedures are changed, new machines and equipment are introduced, or if an employee lacks sufficient knowledge or behavior in safeguarding procedures. Written records of training completed will be kept by management.