Machine guarding

According to the Safety Institute of Australia Ltd almost 450 body parts have been amputated from Victorian workers as a result of incidents over the last 5 years.

According to the Safety Institute of Australia Ltd almost 450 body parts have been amputated from Victorian workers as a result of incidents over the last 5 years. The injuries were caused by machines that cut, mix or convey materials and common power tools with 98% of all amputations involving hands and fingers being torn off the body.

WorkSafe actions:

Over the last four years almost $2 million in fines have been imposed on employers following WorkSafe Victoria prosecutions related to unguarded and unsafe machines.

Over the next 12 months WorkSafe inspectors will be increasing pressure on employers to control dangerous machines by ensuring they are properly guarded, have emergency controls in place and train and supervise their workers properly.

What you should do:

To make machines safe, WorkSafe Victoria recommend a number of steps for employers, including:

• Machinery is not broken and has all the appropriate parts
• Machinery is properly guarded and safety interlocks are regularly checked before operating
• Production schedules allow for safe operation
• Operator controls are easily accessible and clearly labelled, and warning lights and sounds are working
• Energy supplies and services such as power, water and air are physically isolated before any maintenance is done
• Energy stored in machines such as spring tension, gravity or hydraulic pressure is released before any maintenance is done
• Supervisors regularly check to see workers are operating/cleaning the machine the correct way.

It is important not to use machines that have had any guarding missing, removed or inappropriately modified.