Working safely with metal | EssentialsPeter Greenbaum
Safety awareness and practices are as critical in shops as they
are on rooftops—especially when it comes to forming,
transporting and installing metal used for roof system
installations.
In a sheet-metal shop, for example, tools and equipment, such as
power shears, press brakes and mechanical presses, band and
circular saws, lathes, and drilling and milling machines, are used
to form and cut metal. Because a moving machine part can grab
clothing and pull in and severely injure workers' limbs,
safeguarding these types of machines and training workers about
safety procedures are crucial.
Following the rules
According to Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA) General Industry standard 29 CFR 1910.217, employers must
provide and ensure the use of point-of-operation guards on machines
that rotate, reciprocate, transverse, cut, punch, shear or bend. In
addition, powered equipment never should be started unless all
point-of-operation guards are in place. Guards prevent hands or
fingers from reaching through, over, around or under them. If
workers need to repair or clean equipment, they should shut off a
machine's power before removing point-of-operation guards. Before
reactivating equipment, workers...
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