Identify the machine and applicable requirements
Learning objective: Identify the machine type, operation and applicable procedure before accepting an assignment.
A press can crush or amputate before a person can react. The point of operation is where the machine works on material. Other hazards include moving drives, feeding equipment, ejected parts, falling tooling and stored energy. Start with the actual machine, operation and worker role rather than its informal shop name.
OSHA 1910.217 addresses mechanical power presses. Its exclusions include press brakes, hydraulic and pneumatic power presses, bulldozers, hot bending and hot metal presses, forging presses and hammers, riveting machines and similar fastener applicators. Exclusion from this particular rule does not mean machinery may operate without safeguards.
Forging machines have specific requirements in 1910.218. Cold trimming presses are expressly directed to the point-of-operation safeguards in 1910.217(c), while hot trimming presses follow the specified mechanical-forging-press maintenance controls. General guarding and other applicable standards still need review for the actual equipment.
This course is general-industry safety knowledge for operators and supervisors. It does not qualify a person to design a safeguarding system, maintain every press, perform electrical work or approve a machine for production. The employer must determine applicable federal or state requirements and provide the actual manufacturer instructions, procedures and role-specific training.
Source context: 29 CFR 1910.217(a)(5); 1910.218; 1910.212