According to eXtension, crushing points are also mechanical hazards in which two objects come close to each other. These mechanical hazards can easily crush limbs, fingers and bones. Overwhelming incidents can also result in death in certain circumstances. Since protection helps deal with the hazards associated with the use of machinery and equipment, the need for safe working practices should not be ignored. Safe work procedures include: Protection helps minimize the risk of accidents caused by machinery by creating a barrier that protects the operator or others from the hazard point/danger zone of the equipment. Most guards are used on site. Adjustable Protectors: Provide a barrier against a variety of different hazards associated with different production operations. You have the advantage of flexibility. However, they are not a reliable barrier like other guards and require frequent maintenance and careful adjustment. Machines can significantly improve production and efficiency. But they are not without risks. Moving parts, sharp edges and hot surfaces are a hazard to workers.
Many machine-related injuries can be prevented through the correct use of safety precautions. It is important to understand the hazards posed by machinery and the elements needed to implement effective protective practices. The following links take you to the pages of BAuA, the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Here you will find very detailed information on the various danger factors, legal regulations as well as important occupational health and safety measures. Because of the variety of mechanical hazards (see Fig. 1-2), differentiated consideration of risk mitigation measures is required. Some basic design rules are as follows: The first design rule to reduce the risk of mechanical hazards is to reduce the action energy to a safe level. So far, however, only limit values for individual cases are known [2].
Limit values for the design of electric vehicle doors and machinery safety doors are an example of this. Recently, a new value has been acquired, for example through research aimed at securing human-robot collaboration. This means that biomechanical limits are now available to assess mechanical risk for other areas of the human body [3]. Mechanical hazards arise from the relative movements between body parts and objects such as work equipment or work objects, which lead to their contact. The consequence of this contact can be accidents that result in injuries. Fig. 1-1 Mechanical accidents in the total number of accidents at work in 2018 [1]. If such separation is not possible, the third design rule is the provision of personal protective equipment, for example, in case of mechanical risks due to tripping, slipping and falling accidents, the provision of safety footwear with appropriate slip resistance. If such measures are not possible, the method of choice is the determination of the key behavior. Mechanical risks occur in particular when using work equipment, when handling work objects, for example during transport work or due to design defects in the workplace. The following overview shows the typical hazardous areas or hazard sources on the basis of which the mentioned mechanical hazard subgroups can be identified (Fig.
1-2). Adequate on-the-job training is crucial to reduce mechanical risks. Machine operators should receive training on the following topics: Mechanical hazards are hazards arising from the use of or exposure to motorized or manual equipment, machinery and equipment. Mechanical injuries are usually caused by contact or entanglement with machinery. Machinery that could be hazardous to workers include sharp edges, hot surfaces, moving parts, flywheel, pulley, belts, etc. The second design rule to reduce the risk of mechanical hazards is to ensure local or temporal separation between people and moving parts. For this purpose, protective devices are used for local separation or protective devices, e.g. light curtains or laser scanners for temporal separation. Mechanical risk factors include almost anything inorganic that can move or injure you. This includes many tools, machines and (mobile) vehicles, but also, for example, black ice and even high steps or stairs, if these are not protected against falls. Another dangerous area is the execution of pinch points. These are created in three ways: between 2 rotating parts, between rotating and tangential parts, or between rotating and solid parts that cisament, crush or grind.
Electrical hazards are mainly caused by an electrical failure or malfunction of an electrical device. Examples of electrical hazards are electric shocks and electrical fires. These hazards can be minimized by installing emergency circuit breakers where electrical equipment is located. Mechanical hazards: Mechanical hazards are mainly caused by malfunctions of a device. The danger can result in serious injury or even death. These risks can be minimized by ensuring that the equipment is in good condition before use. Mechanical risks in radiation therapy can be caused by: Electrical and mechanical risks are important factors in risk assessment, as they can cause injury or even death. But general precautions such as using appropriate protective equipment and a focus on routine safety can minimize these hazards. Mechanical hazards are typical of working in workshops, laboratories and domestic workers at the University of Konstanz. Fig.
1-2 Mechanical hazard subgroups with typical hazardous areas or hazard sources According to accident statistics of the German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV), about three quarters of all occupational accidents are caused by mechanical hazards (Fig. 1-1). Mechanical hazards refer to moving machines that can cause injury or death, according to Texas State University. OSHA states that mechanical hazards occur in three basic areas: where the work is performed, in the power transmission device, and in other moving parts. All hazards associated with the use of machinery can be managed by safe working procedures and the application of appropriate safety precautions. Using an electrical appliance near water creates a risk of electric shock when water enters the electrical system. It can also cause equipment malfunctions or failures. These risks can be minimized by: [1] Special assessment of the Statistics Department of the German Social Insurance against Accidents (DGUV), 25.10.2019 [2] Commission for Occupational Safety and Health and Standardization (KAN): Crushing Points – Working Principles for Standardization, 1996: KAN Study Crushing Points – Working Principles for Standardization, 1996] [3] FB HM-080: Information DGUV Collaborative Robotic Systems – Design of systems with «power and force limitation» function Issue 08/2017 *We gladly showed it here, but unfortunately it was completely unaffordable for licensing reasons.