Profile of machine safety in small metal fabrication businesses

• DOI: 10.1002/ajim.20294
• Publication Date: 2006-03-09T00:16:43Z
• Authors: Yogindra Samant; David Parker; Lisa Brosseau; Wei Pan; Min Xi; Dave Haugan
• Keywords: 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Equipment Safety; Evaluation Studies as Topic; Minnesota; Metallurgy; Humans; Occupational Health

Background Metal working has been identified as an industry with one of the highest rates non-fatal injury in United States. However, systematic evaluation machine-related hazards is lacking. Methods The Minnesota Machine Guarding Study evaluates effectiveness a peer-based technical and educational intervention designed to reduce exposure amputation among workers small machining/metal businesses. data presented here provide profile machine guarding (5–100 employees) metal fabrication businesses Minnesota. A set checklists quantify machine-guarding practices were developed. Up 25 randomly selected machines evaluated each facility. In addition, walk-through surveys conducted assess safety programs (e.g., lock out–tag out). Results total 824 evaluated. Overall, 55% (SD 11%) items addressing present. No single complied all critical requirements. Shops committees tended have better scores than did shops without committees. Thirty-five percent had established procedures 17% provided training use guards devices daily operations) their employees. Conclusions These indicate that related inadequate. also suggest are important component improving Am. J. Ind. Med. 49:352–359, 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.