GUARDING

Requirement

Machinery and equipment must be fitted with adequate safeguards that protect a worker from contact with hazardous power transmission parts, ensure that a worker cannot access a hazardous point of operation and safely contain any material ejected from a work process that may endanger a worker. Safeguards must comply with CSA Z432-04 Safeguarding of Machinery, or other standard.

Exposed rotating parts must be guarded. Gear and chain sprockets must be completely enclosed. Rotating spokes must be guarded on the sides accessible to workers. An exposed reciprocating or oscillating part must be guarded. A power transmission belt must be guarded to protect workers in the event of a failure. In-running nip points less than 8 feet from the floor must be guarded.

A guard must not be removed or made ineffective. (Occupational Health and Safety Regulation 296/97, 12.2, 12.3, 12.16 – 12.21)

Design

A fixed guard must not be removable without the use of tools. Where possible, a guard will allow lubrication and routine maintenance without being opened. The opening and reach distance of the guard must comply with CSA Z432-04 or other standard.

A safeguard must not be removed until the equipment is locked out. (Occupational Health and Safety Regulation 296/97, 12.5 – 12.8)

MACHINE OPERATION

Machines and equipment must be operated according to manufacturer recommendations and the regulations. Unsafe equipment must be removed from service. Each machine must be inspected, tested and maintained in accordance with manufacturer’s specifications, standard or professional engineer. (Occupational Health and Safety Regulation 296/97, 12.9 - 12.10)

OPERATING CONTROLS

Powered equipment must have controls within easy reach of the operator. The controls must be identified and positioned to prevent inadvertent activation. Two-handed controls must require the concurrent use of both hands. (Occupational Health and Safety Regulation 296/97, 12.11)

PHYSICAL HAZARDS

Physical hazards must be clearly identified according to the following standards: CAN/CSA Z321-96 Signs and Symbols for the Workplace, ANSI Z535.1-1991 Safety Colour Code, ANSI Z535.2-1991 Environmental and Facility Safety Signs, ISO 3864:1984 Safety Colours and Safety Signs. (Occupational Health and Safety Regulation 296/97, 12.13)

LOCKOUT

If the unexpected energization or startup of machinery or the release of an energy source could cause injury to a worker, the energy source must be isolated and controlled.

If machinery or equipment is shut down for maintenance, no work may be done until parts have been secured against inadvertent movement, energy sources have been controlled, and energy-isolating devices have been locked out.

A worker who is responsible for locking out energy-isolating devices must remove his or her personal lock when the work is complete, and maintain control of the key to his or her lock. (Occupational Health and Safety Regulation 296/97, 10.2 – 10.4, 10.7)

Procedure

There must be a procedure for lockout and sufficient locks for the procedure to be followed. Combination locks are not allowed. Locks must be tagged to identify the worker that applied the lock.

There must be a procedure for shift change. (Occupational Health and Safety Regulation 296/97, 10.4)

Lock removal

Only the worker who installed it may remove a lock. Only a supervisor may perform forced removal of a lock. (Occupational Health and Safety Regulation 296/97, 10.8)

Group lockout

If many workers will be working on equipment while it is shut down, two workers must independently lockout the energy isolating devices.

The two keys must then be independently secured. A checklist must be signed and posted with the secured keys. Each worker who will be working on the equipment must then apply a lock to each of the two secured keys. The group lockout procedure must be posted at the lockout. (Occupational Health and Safety Regulation 296/97, 10.9)

Locks not required

A lockout is not required when the energy-isolating device, plug or disconnect is under the exclusive control of the worker. (Occupational Health and Safety Regulation 296/97, 10.11)

Energized equipment

If work must be carried while the machine is energized, only those parts that are vital to the process may be energized. Workers must follow a written safe work procedure. Work must be performed by qualified workers and authorized by the employer. (Occupational Health and Safety Regulation 296/97, 10.12)

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