Subpart O—Machinery and Machine Guarding

Machine guarding is visible evidence of management s interest in the worker and its commitment to a safe work environment. It is also to management s benefit, as unguarded machinery is a principal source of costly accidents, waste, compensation claims, and lost time. 

Do not start machinery unless guards are in place and in good condition. 

Report missing or defective guards immediately to your supervisor. 

When removing safeguards for repair, adjustment, or service, turn off power and lock and tag the main switch. 

Do not permit employees to work on or around equipment while wearing ties, loose clothing, watches, rings, etc. 

Mechanical Power Presses—Instructions to Operators—1910.217(e)(2) Training of Maintenance Personnel—1910.217(e)(3) 

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. 

The safe operation, inspection, and maintenance of forging machines in this section as well as the best practices for guarding these pieces of equipment are discussed. Special guarding needs are 

The mechanical-power-transmission apparatus in this subpart covers all belts, pulleys, and conveyors that are used in industry. It describes the ones that need to be guarded. For specific applications, 

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Otherwise, it would seem to be a case-by-case situation that depends on factors such as (but not limited to) the type of equipment, its application, and any additional operator safety concerns. If having the machinery near another machine poses a hazard, OSHA would expect measures be put in place to protect workers. The agency could potentially use the General Duty Clause or perhaps the machine guarding regulations in Subpart O, Machinery and Machine Guarding, to cite an employer. 

Aside from the minor servicing exception, an employer can avoid the requirements of the LOTO standard through the use of an alternative method which eliminates employee exposure to servicing and maintenance hazards — i.e., through the use of guarding methods that meet the requirements of Machinery and Machine Guarding, 29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart O, and Bakery Equipment, 1910.263. The internal guards you reference would satisfy this exception if they complied with these standards. 

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