Shields - Safeguards

Shields - Safeguards : NS Labour and Advanced Education, Hazard Alerts

Date of Issue: March 31, 2001

Hazard Summary

In July 1999, a fatal accident occurred when a worker was struck by a piece of steel debris from a steel punch in a hydraulic press being operated.

An investigation by the Occupational Health and Safety Division of Nova Scotia Department of Labour and Advanced Education determined:

  • the worker was punching holes in a piece of steel using a hydraulic press
  • the grade of steel was not identifiable and hardened steel plate was used instead of mild steel
  • when the hydraulic press attempted to punch through the hardened steel plate, the punch bit shattered
  • the guard on the machine had been removed sometime prior to the accident and had not been replaced
  • with no guard to deflect the shattered steel punch, the worker was fatally injured when struck in the neck by a steel shard.

Preventive Measures:

The investigation identified the following preventive measures:

  • ensure all guards are in place and in good order before operating any machinery
  • where various grades of steel are in use, the grade should be prominently identified to ensure it is used appropriately
  • train equipment operators
  • follow manufacturer’s instructions for maintenance and operation of equipment.

Note:

Employers must consider the Occupational Safety General Regulations. Section 87 deals with safeguards on machinery; specifically subsection 87(6) requires the employer to ensure that adequate safeguards are installed on a machine where a person may be injured by a flying object from a machine.

Part 8 - Mechanical Safety - has several sections which should be noted, including:

  • Section 84 - General Provisions, requiring the employer to ensure a machine that may be a hazard to the health or safety of a person at the workplace is installed, assembled, operated, maintained, inspected, serviced, etc. in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications, or where there are none, the specifications certified by an engineer
  • Section 85 - requires the employer to ensure an operator of a machine or tool is a competent person
  • Section 86 - deals with the possibility of a worker coming into contact with a machine.

Training requirements are called up through clause 13(1)(c) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act - employer to take every reasonable precaution to provide information, instruction, training, supervision and facilities as necessary.

Additional general information sources on machine guarding include: