| Why rank the top ten?
Hazards associated with machine guarding continue to rank among the top 10 citations issued by OSHA. Exposures to unguarded or, more commonly, inadequately guarded machines are prevalent in the workplace even though OSHA regulations have been in place for over 30 years. There are three main reasons guarding issues are prevalent. |
| First, equipment manufacturers are not required by OSHA to provide guarding for their equipment. The burden is placed, instead, on the owner. Those equipment manufacturers who do choose to provide protection are primarily concerned about guarding the operator; however, OSHA also is concerned with the risks presented by moving parts on the sides and backs of machines. Second, guards that provide adequate protection for operators are often removed for maintenance and not replaced. While this largely involves management, training, and enforcement issues, part of the problem is that the guards are not designed to be maintenance-friendly. The third reason is that many guards have been designed and installed without considering all the standards and regulations. While a guard may, at first glance, appear to offer ample protection, closer inspection can reveal that the end or bottom of the guard is wide open, leaving operators and other personnel exposed to injuries and owners open to citations. |
