Will Machine Safety Ever Rule the Manufacturing World?

When machinery was first introduced into manufacturing, it operated without regulation. In fact, it was only five decades ago, in 1970, that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was formed in response to public outcry over industrial accidents.

Originally called “the safety bill of rights,” the Occupational Safety and Health Act was created to improve workplace safety for employees. Unfortunately, this bill and the regulations that followed it can only have their intended effect if companies adhere to them. But even some companies that preach “Safety First” will often fail to comply with the safety standards for manufacturing operations.

Unsafe Machinery Is Still in Operation

Many manufacturing facilities have legacy machinery that were built prior to 1970. While this equipment is still sturdy and functional, it wasn’t designed with safety in mind and operating it can be risky. A bit of overconfidence, inattention, or just plain bad luck is all it takes for an employee to sustain a serious injury.

An excuse we commonly hear for these hazardous conditions is that “my machine is too old to add safety features and should be grandfathered in prior to OSHA regulations.” This attitude is misguided for two reasons.

First, it fails to consider the actual regulations, how they apply, and what can be done to meet them. This information is all readily available on OSHA’s official website, so every owner, employer, and manager has the opportunity to learn the letter of the law.

Second, it fails to consider advancements in machine safety. While there are challenges to making legacy machinery safer, modern guarding technology like variable frequency drives (VFDs), braking motors, and control reliability upgrades can significantly reduce the risk of injury.

The specifications for how to guard these older machines are not as readily available as OSHA regulations. They’re found in ANSI standards that require proper interpretation. Support for these projects require a technically skilled company that has the ability to evaluate the machine upgrade requirements before adding the suitable type of guarding.

Guarding old machines isn’t always easy, but it is always feasible. The age of a machine is never an excuse to continue operating it unsafely.

Blaming the Employee Is Never a Solution

Another major factor in unsafe work conditions is blaming the worker rather than protecting them. Effectively, turning a blind eye to the hazards by focusing on employee behavior instead.

Comments like “They shouldn’t have put their hand so close to the moving parts” or “No one has gotten hurt yet, so we’re good” are a way of passing on the responsibility for creating a safe work environment. It reflects an attitude that will only result in horrific accidents and severe penalties for the employer.

Blaming workers for incidents is a way of ignoring hazards. And ignoring hazards can carry serious consequences.

Ignorance Is No Excuse

Ignorance of the law is never an excuse, and that includes safety regulations.

Violating safety standards can result in heavy fines issued by OSHA, even if the employer claims to have no knowledge of the regulations that apply to their workplace. OSHA’s role is to ensure the safety of American workers by setting and enforcing standards. This enforcement includes sending inspectors to workplaces unannounced to identify hazards and look for repeat offenses.

An inspector discovering machinery that is operating unsafely can result in costly penalties and a potential plea to the court to shut down the jobsite.

These consequences can be avoided by reaching out to a safety guarding company for guidance and solutions. They will be able to create prioritized plans that include custom designs, fabrication, and assembly of machine guards, necessary machine upgrades, and the installation of integrated electronic safety devices. By doing so, they improve the safety of the equipment while helping manufacturers avoid the costs and consequences associated with hazardous equipment.

Will Safety Ever Rule the Manufacturing World?

Employers could take a gamble and hope that one day workers will be able to operate machinery without putting themselves at risk. After all, self-driving cars, self-lacing shoes, hoverboards, vacuuming robots, and wrist communicators were all thought to be nothing more than science fiction. Like those, brain chips might one day become a reality and ensure that everyone can be safe when working around machinery, no matter how old or unguarded it happens to be.

We can’t afford to wait for that day to come – if it ever does. For now, all we can do is make the machines safer.

With the help of qualified machine safety and automation specialists, manufacturing operations can be as safe as they should be – and employers can avoid the fines and consequences that come as a result of a tragic incident.

Ready to learn more? Check out our free webinar on Hand Safety for Energized Equipment!