Pinch point lesions at work may result in a serious disability and may cause amputation or even death. A pinch point can occur wherever a part of the body can be trapped between two objects. This hazard exists everywhere in the workplace. Pinch Point has a very bad record of accidents or rather injuries. Every year it crushes hands and arms not only in the industry but also in homes from time to time. example of a pinch point accident reported by OSHA.
Pinch points don’t seem dangerous, especially if the equipment or machine moves smoothly, but if your hand, finger, or shirtsleeve gets too close, it can catch and lead to injury or even death. Much has been done to design guards to protect these pinch points; in some cases, ideal protection can be achieved, but in others, it is not so easy.
However, there is no reason for workers to be injured with this equipment, but they must learn to avoid injuries, they must learn to work safely. There is probably no other equipment in which it is so important to always observe the safety rules.
Pinch point hazard
Pinch point hazards are common in many workplaces, especially in construction and manufacturing. But what is a pinch point? And how can you detect these dangers?
Types of pinch-point injuries include amputations, lacerations, bruises, crushed tissue and bone, and broken bones. Rotating mechanical parts move too fast for you to escape once you’ve caught yourself in a pinch point. Gears, sprockets, sprocket chain drives, and moving parts of belt and pulley drives must have safety guards and Safety precautions for pinch points.
Be aware of the pinch points that are present in your work environment, including those associated with equipment or machinery that you may use or work with and/or near. You can imagine a pinch not being too severe. But crush injuries from pinch points can lead to cuts, bruises, broken bones, and even amputations. In many of the examples we are about to see, injuries are life-changing. Full-body crush injuries can be fatal or leave people disabled.
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However because pinch points are often created during a work process, they can be difficult to detect. Let’s look at some examples to help you more easily spot hotspots in your workplace. When working with machinery avoid injuries from the pinch, snag, cutting, crushing, and rolling points. What we want to emphasize is that whenever there are pinch points, there is a danger.
Pinch points occur when two separate objects move and converge at a particular point.
Snag points occur when objects with sharp corners, teeth, and rough surfaces are in motion.
Intersection points are present when two objects, one or both of which may be in motion, intersect. Objects are close enough to each other to have a scissor action.
Crush points are present when two objects, one or both of which are in motion, move very close to each other or are in contact. They may not be completely touching, but the space between them can cause crush injuries.
Rolling points are present when two objects are in contact and rotate toward each other, such as belts, and pulleys.
Be aware of pinch point
The importance of keeping safety in mind, both at home and at work, becomes more evident when working with equipment. Many are housewives who have suffered the crushing of their fingers with the kitchen equipment. Children are also injured by their toys. Even husbands who have decided to help their wives or children have suffered this kind of accident.
When these equipment were operated manually, the danger was not so much, because as soon as they felt that the fingers were trapped, the machine could be stopped immediately, whether it was being operated by the same person or another. However the danger increased when manufacturers began to put motors on it, and many did not put safety devices on them.
Machines for bending and rolling metal, from time to time also take over a hand. Very rarely are they guarded, since the guard would interfere with the pinch point and consequently with the work. The best protection is to stay well away from pinch points. Whenever possible, something should be devised so that no one can get too close. Safety training, as well as the development of a sense of caution and protection, are also very important.
Pinch point safety
Pinch points will no longer be dangerous if they are treated with respect and all necessary precautions are taken. Often pinch point injuries come as a result of workers who were not properly trained, who do not realize the dangers of machinery or who take shortcuts to complete the job faster and so they end up with injuries. Never do any job without training and lockout/tagout.
In addition to ensuring that workers understand the potential hazard at pinch points, it is important to ensure that machinery has a protective guard to prevent workers from approaching dangerous areas. This can be done before buying the machinery. New equipment should be evaluated with a safety checklist based on feedback from engineers, workers and safety personnel.
The fact that pinch point injuries frequently occur when stopping a machine provisionally to service or clean means that it is extremely important that workers follow the procedures necessary to lockout/tag-out. The worker is in danger if the equipment has not been de-energized.
We all know that in our factory, to meet production goals, some workers have to work with certain machines, assuming, of course, that they are authorized to operate them and, consequently, properly trained. Since every worker knows that using a piece of equipment when it is not authorized can cause problems, I am not going to insist on that, but I do want to repeat to you that never work with a machine that you do not know.
Now let’s see how to work on a machine safely to avoid pinch point
- Always dress in such a way that clothing cannot be caught in moving parts. Loose clothing, sleeves, cuffs, ties and jewellery should never be worn near machinery. Certain types of gloves can also be very dangerous.
- Always keep your mind on work, daydreaming can turn into a nightmare. Conversations that are not related to work should be avoided, as distractions are often very dangerous. Unless the machine is completely stopped and the padlock and card have been fitted.
- The guard must not be removed; Before starting the machine, make sure that the guard has been repositioned.
- It is not safe to work on a machine when you are not feeling well. You have to immediately report any physical problem that you are suffering even if you are emotionally worried.
- Before putting the machine into operation, make sure that it is in good condition and that all the guards are in place. Complete the checklist.
- Do not try to make any repairs to the machine, and you must report what is happening so that a competent person can repair it.
- Cutting tools must be kept in good condition. If the tool is blunt, breakage can occur, as can excessive pressure or speed. These breaks can result in painful cuts and punctures.
- When you finish working, you have to remove the shavings with a brush. If it is necessary to use compressed air, special attention must be paid to the particles that can be ejected. Those nearby must be protected.
- When oiling, greasing, regulating, or making any adjustments to the machine, it must always be stopped. When you have to get away from the machine, even for a moment, turn it off.
- Place and maintain warning signage adjacent to pinch-point hazards.
- Never put your hands near or reach rotating mechanical parts.
- Be alert any time you place your fingers, toes, or feet between any object.
- Do not operate equipment or machinery without the required guards.
- Turn off and de-energize equipment or machinery before performing maintenance or repairs. If necessary, follow lockout/tagout procedures.
Conclusion
Very rarely an accident occurs with a machine or a tool when they are maintained in good condition and operated correctly. Accidents generally occur as a result of unsafe acts or conditions and a lack of knowledge to operate the machine correctly and safely. In summary, we can say that only the machines can be operated by someone who has been trained and is authorized to do so.
Machines and tools cost a lot of money and very experienced and knowledgeable people are needed to repair them. A good operator takes pride in his machine and treats it with respect. He knows that if he treats it right he will produce a quality product, but if he takes away the guards and has a carefree attitude, the machine may retaliate by taking a finger or hand.
