Guards power presses

For the purpose of ensuring that health and safety conditions are maintained, every power press is thoroughly examined at least every 12 months where it has fixed guards, and at least every 6 months in other cases (e.g. interlocked guarding or automatic guarding). 

Name four types of guarding used to prevent operator access to dangerous parts of a power press. 

The earliest set of standards for machine guarding appeared in 1914. The current series of ANSI machine guarding standards (B11 series) began in 1922 with the adoption of the first standard for power presses and foot and hand presses. The first edition of the standard for guarding power transmission apparatus (B15) appeared in 1927. ... 

Mechanical-power presses are required to have switches and brakes that are operator proof The size of some presses makes it imperative that they are switch-guarded as well as mechanically guarded. This section describes what actions must be taken to produce the most failsafe device possible. Minimum braking action and the proper brakes that must be installed on presses of differing specifications are outlined. Criteria for the use of presence-sensing devices and their proper utilization is described. 

In this fourth edition I have included, by request, additional material including gas welding and the dividing head. I have updated to the current health and safety legislation in Chapter 1 and in relation to abrasive wheels, power presses and manual handling and pictures of machine guards have been added. The section on adhesives has been... 

An example of an Interchange of energy occurs when an employee is trapped by a moving partof a machine, e.g. a power press. If the press is inadequately guarded, and the employee is able to get his hand into the danger area, injury results as the energy interchange is above the tolerance level of his hand. 

Figure 26,9 Interlocking guard, mechanically linked to a crankshaft arrestor fitted to a power press. (Courtesy /. P.

Other more specific regulations deal with noise, smoke and fume emission, guards on power presses, using abrasive wheels, lighting gas furnaces, storing gaseous and liquid fuels and a whole range of similar and related topics. 

The Provision and Use ofWork Equipment Regulations 1998, reg. 32 Power press 6-12 depending on guard type... 

Power presses and press brakes are complex pieces of equipmenf that have the potenhal to cause serious injury. For this reason it is important to ensure safe systems of work are in place and thaf power presses and their associated guarding arrangements are subjected to regular examinations... 

The setting, resetting, adjusting or trying out of tools on a power press and the proving of the guarding arrangements may only be carried out by someone who ... 

Although hydraulic press brakes are not included in the Regulations, in their publication on press brakes the HSE recommend that the presses and their associated guarding systems should be treated the same as power presses and subjected to a thorough examination every 6 months in addition to the checks carried out on each shift. 

OSHA covers press brakes in 1910.212, General Requirements for All Machines, as press brakes are specifically excluded from the 1910.217 Mechanical Power Press standard. OSHA does not provide detailed requirements in 1910.212. However, the agency does provide additional information in compliance directive, Guidelines for Point of Operation Guarding of Power Press Brakes (CPL 02-01-025). 

Some modern equipment is complex and it may well prove to be too difficult for the ordinary electrician to find a fault and repair it. For example, if the photo-electric guard on a power press fails, the electrician can check the relevant limit switches and rectify a fault in them and can replace burnt-out lamps, but if the fault is in the electronic circuits, it will be necessary to call an electronics engineer, preferably from the maker. Unskilled tinkering with the electronic circuits or bypassing them to get the press back into production could have serious consequences for the press operator whose safety is dependent on the correct functioning of the guard. Where there is sufficient electronic apparatus to justify it, a specialist technician could be employed but otherwise specialist help should be sought. 

Fourth, there is a consideration of cost. The cost of adopting precautionary measures is relevant, but its relevance declines as the magnitude of the risk and the seriousness of the result increases. Thus, whilst it would be appropriate in assessing liability to consider the cost of a precaution for guarding a machine where a failure to guard it could result in a broken finger nail, if the machine were a power press which could cause very serious injury, the cost factor would be very much less influential. 

The woodworking section covers the parts that must be guarded and the type of guards that must be used, while the abrasive wheel section describes the amount of wheel that can be exposed for the various types of abrasive grinding equipment and other precautions to take. Mechanical-power presses are required to have switches and brakes that protect the operator. Many presses are to be protected mechanically by guarding and by other means. This section describes the actions to be taken to assure safe operations. Many types of guarding systems can be used on presses. 

Institute courses cover diverse safety and health topics including electrical hazards, machine guarding, personal protective equipment, ventilation, and ergonomics. The facility includes classrooms, laboratories, a library, and an audiovisual unit. The laboratories contain various demonstrations and equipment, such as power presses, woodworking and welding shops, a complete industrial ventilation unit, and a sound demonstration laboratory. More than 57 courses dealing with subjects such as safety and health in the construction industry and methods of compliance with OSHA standards are available for personnel in the private sector. 

Employers Responsibilities Where Employees are Exposed to Toxic Substances Reporting Amputations or In Patient Hospitalizations Guarding Floor and Wall Openings Occupational Noise Flammable and Combustible Liquids Control of Hazardous Energy Medical Services and First Aid Powered Industrial Trucks Mechanical Power Presses Selection and Use of Work Practices (electrical)... 

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issued the first patent for an interlock in 1868. The interlock was a mechanical arrangement. The agency issued the first electrical interlock on a power transmission guard in 1923. In 1899, the agency issued a patent for a press guard that prevented the machine from acting if the guard was not fiiUy closed. 

Paper made from cellulose fibers was invented in China in the year 105. The method of making paper was a closely guarded secret for centuries. Control of paper manufacturing in Renaissance Italy was a source of great economic and political power, much like paper money is in modern times. Civilization likely would not exist in its present form without the invention of paper and the printing press, both of which enabled mass communication and literacy. 

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