Machine Guards



                       A SAFETY TALK FOR

                      DISCUSSION LEADERS



This safety talk is designed for discussion leaders to use in preparing safety

meetings.



Set a specific time and date for your safety meeting.  Publicize your meeting

so everyone involved will be sure to attend.



Review this safety talk before the meeting and become familiar with its

content. Make notes about the points made in this talk that pertain to your

workplace.  You should be able to present the material in your own words and

lead the discussion without reading it.



Seating space is not absolutely necessary, but arrangements should be made so

that those attending can easily see and hear the presentation.



Collect whatever materials and props you will need ahead of time.  Try to use

equipment in your workplace to demonstrate your points.





                      DURING THE MEETING



Give the safety talk in your own words.  Use the printed talk merely as a

guide.



The purpose of a safety meeting is to initiate discussion of safety problems

and provide solutions to those problems.  Encourage employees to discuss

hazards or potential hazards the encounter on the job. Ask them to suggest ways

to improve safety in their area.



Don't let the meeting turn into a gripe session about unrelated topics.  As

discussion leader, its your job to make sure the topic is safety.  Discussing

other topics wastes time and can ruin the effectiveness of your safety meeting.



At the end of the meeting, ask employees to sign a sheet on the back of this

talk as a record that they attended the safety meeting.  Keep this talk on file

for your records.





Machine Guards

T102                      



Today most machines at worksites are equipped with guards. In the past decade,

guarding has improved dramatically. Because of this, fewer employees are

sustaining the crushing injuries that used to occur all too frequently.



Guards are installed to protect operators and others in the area from injury.

Yet some operators continually find ways of putting themselves in danger by

removing machine guards or tampering with interlocks so they can operate the

machines faster.



Note to Discussion Leader:



At this time mention the guards on the various pieces of equipment in your area

and describe how they protect employees from injuries. (Example: The V-belt

drive guards, barrier guards, motor-coupling guards, two-hand control devices

and electric-eye beams.)



Often it is necessary to remove a guard to service or adjust a machine, a tool

or a piece of equipment. When doing this, b sure the power is turned off and

the switch is locked out or tagged out. When the service job is completed, make

sure the guard is replaced securely and is working properly. 



Breakdowns, jammed work and broken parts sometimes cause us to  forget

ordinary safety procedures. Very often, to remedy these conditions it is

necessary to get into out-of-the-way places. Extreme caution is needed, because

in some cases the location of the trouble cannot be guarded. So be sure that

basic and added precautions are taken to avoid any movement of the parts.



To prevent accidents, be careful around:

þ Meshing gears



þ In-running rollers



þ Reciprocating parts



þ Chain and sprocket drives



þ Cams and rollers



þ Belts and pulleys



þ Flywheels



þ Cutting or abrasive surfaces



þ Cooling fans



þ Conveyor equipment



þ Rotating couplings and shafts



þ Hot or overheated parts



þ Warm gears

Other hazards may exist, depending on the type of operation.

For the well-being of everyone, see that guards replaced properly. If you see 

piece of equipment without a guard, or any other unsafe condition, report it to

your supervisor immediately, whether the equipment is in your work area or

elsewhere.



Remember, it pays to double-check guards. You could save a hand, an arm or a

life.



Guards are there to prevent injuries. Don't tamper with them. Let them do their

job--protecting you from injury.



Note to Discussion Leader:



If an injury has occurred recently because someone operated a piece of

machinery without a guard or because someone tampered with the safety controls,

describe the circumstances and details of the accident, but do not attempt to

embarrass the employee who was injured. No one likes to suffer embarrassment in

front of others.






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