Labor & Industries (L&I), Washington State

Machine Safety Chapter 296-806, WAC

Effective Date: 01/01/05

WAC 296-806-200 Requirements for All Machines

For printing

General Requirements

WAC 296-806-20002

Secure machines designed to stay in one place

You must

• Make sure machines designed to stay in one place are secured so they won't move or change position during use

Exemption: Machines that have either rubber feet or foot pads made of nonskid (high coefficient of friction) or similar vibration dampening materials don't have to be secured as long as the machine won't tip, fall over, or walk (move).

WAC 296-806-20004

Protect employees from slipping hazards around machinery

You must

• Make sure employees working around dangerous machines are protected from slipping on smooth, oily, or otherwise slippery floors by providing one of the following types of floor covering:
  • - Nonslip matting
  • - Grating
  • - Nonslip composition flooring
  • - Some other effective floor treatment

Reference: For additional requirements about housekeeping, personal protective equipment (PPE), and work practices, see the Safety and Health Core Rules, Chapter 296-800 WAC.

WAC 296-806-20006

Arrange work areas to avoid creating hazards

You must

• Make sure work areas around machinery are designed with enough space so each operator:
  • - Can clean and handle material without interference from other workers or machines
  • - Does not have to stand in the way of passing traffic
• Provide enough space so employees can bring in and remove materials safely

Reference: For requirements that apply to aisles and passageways, see WAC 296-24-73505.

WAC 296-806-20008

Make sure operating controls meet these requirements

Exemption: This rule doesn't apply to constant pressure controls used only for setup

 

You must

1) Make sure each machine has a control that both:

• Stops the machine
  and
• Can be reached by the operator without leaving the operator’s position

2) Make sure the operator can easily reach all machine controls without reaching into a hazard area of the machine

WAC 296-806-20010

Protect employees from unintentional machine operation

You must

1) Make sure foot-operated controls are located or guarded so that unintentional movement to the “on” position is unlikely.

2) Make sure machines will not automatically restart when power is restored after a power failure, if restarting would create a hazard for employees.

Note: Operating controls can be protected from unintentional movement by methods such as covers on foot treadles and collars around machinery start buttons.

WAC 296-806-20012

Make sure emergency stop controls meet these requirements

You must

• Make sure emergency stop controls, if required, meet all the following:
  • - Are red in color
  • – Are easily reached from the operator’s normal work position
  • – Are kept in a good working condition
  • – Have to be manually reset before a machine can be restarted

 

WAC 296-806-20014

Control machine vibration

You must

• Prevent excessive machine vibration that could create a hazard to employees.

 

WAC 296-806-20016

Prevent overspeed conditions

You must

• Operate tools and equipment within their rated speed.

Note: Actions that could cause an overspeed condition include: - Installing a more powerful motor - Changing or increasing the power source - Changing attachment size or type, such as a blade or wheel The attachment speed (rpm) and motor speed (rpm) should match

 

WAC 296-806-20018

Make sure hand feeding and retrieval tools meet these requirements

You must

• Make sure hand feeding and retrieval tools:
  • – Are suitable for the work to be done
  • – Don't create a hazard when used
  • – Are of a size and shape that will keep the operator’s hands outside the hazardous area
  • – Are constructed so they won't shatter if they come in contact with the machine tool or tooling

Note: Hand feeding and retrieval tools, such as push sticks or push blocks, can not be used instead of required safeguarding, unless a specific machine requirement allows it.

WAC 296-806-20020

Protect employees who are adjusting or repairing machinery

Exemption: This rule doesn't apply if the machine has to be in motion to properly adjust it.

 

You must

• Make sure power-driven machinery is completely stopped before either:
  • – Making adjustments or repairs
    or
  • – Removing material or refuse from the machine
    

Reference: For requirements about maintaining and servicing machinery where the unexpected start-up, energization, or release of stored energy could injure an employee are in Lockout/Tagout (Control of Hazardous Energy), Chapter 296-803 WAC.

 

WAC 296-806-20022

Keep power transmission equipment in good working condition

Definition: A power transmission part is a mechanical component of a system that provides motion to a part of a machine or piece of equipment.

 

You must

• Make sure power transmission parts are kept in good working condition at all times
• Keep bearings free from lost motion and well lubricated
  

WAC 296-806-20024

Inspect power transmission parts

You must

• Inspect power transmission parts at least once every 60 days to make sure that all:
  • – Safeguarding meets the requirements of this chapter
  • – Parts are in proper alignment
  • – Bolts and screws that hold power transmission parts together or support the system are tight

WAC 296-806-20026

Protect employees lubricating moving machinery

You must

1) Protect employees who lubricate moving machinery by:

• Providing tools, such as oil cans or grease guns, that have spouts or necks that are long enough to keep the employees’ hands out of hazardous areas
• Requiring employees to wear closely fitted clothing

Note: Things such as clothing, hair, and jewelry can get caught in machinery and be a hazard on the job.

 

You must

2) Make sure drip cups and pans are securely fastened to the machinery

SAFEGUARDING REQUIREMENTS

WAC 296-806-20028

Safeguard employees from the point of operation

IMPORTANT:

• If a specific safeguarding method in this chapter is required for machinery or machine parts found in your workplace, follow the specific requirement.
• In the absence of a specific safeguarding method required by this or some other chapter, you need to choose a method or combination of methods from the safeguarding requirements found in Safeguarding Methods, WAC 296-806-20042 through 296-806-20058. Examples of safeguarding methods include:
  • – Guards
  • – Devices
  • – Safeguarding by distance
  • – Safeguarding by location

You must

• Protect employees from hazards created by the point of operation by using one or more safeguarding methods.

WAC 296-806-20030

Safeguard employees from nip or shear point hazards

You must

• Protect employees from hazards created by nip or shear points by using one or more safeguarding methods.

WAC 296-806-20032

Safeguard employees from rotating or revolving parts

You must

• Protect employees from hazards created by rotating or revolving parts by using one or more safeguarding methods.

WAC 296-806-20034

Safeguard employees from reciprocating or other moving parts

You must

• Protect employees from hazards created by reciprocating or other moving parts by using one or more safeguarding methods.

WAC 296-806-20036

Safeguard employees from flying objects

You must

• Protect employees from hazards created by flying objects, including chips, sparks, and fluids by using one or more safeguarding methods.

WAC 296-806-20038

Safeguard employees from falling objects

You must

• Protect employees from hazards created by falling objects by using one or more safeguarding methods.

WAC 296-806-20040

Safeguard employees from moving surfaces with hazards

You must

• Safeguard employees from hazards created by moving surfaces with hazards such as sharp edges, burrs, and protruding nails and bolts.

-Continued-