B6. Machine Safeguarding

Code 8.0

Production and other machinery shall be evaluated for safety hazards. Physical guards, interlocks, and barriers shall be provided and properly maintained where machinery presents an injury hazard to workers.

Elements to Demonstrate Compliance to RBA Code

1. Policy

Ensure company's health and safety policy includes machine safeguarding elements including:

• a. All required permits, licenses and testing reports for machinery are in place and a process is implemented to ensure permits and licenses are always up to date.
• b. An adequate and effective machine-safeguarding program is implemented, and workers operate machinery safely.

2. Procedures & Practices

Procedures & Practices are in place such that:

• a. The facility conducts a job safety analysis (task hazard analysis) to identify job-specific hazards. Corrective action is taken for all identified hazards.
• b. Supplier conducts regular safety inspections of machinery and machine safeguards. Identified problems are corrected immediately or the machine is shut down until repairs can be made.
• c. Machinery with non-functioning safeguards is not operated until safeguards are restored to proper operating condition.
• d. Supplier has a program or process for providing and maintaining machinery safeguards for all dangerous equipment to safeguard operators from injury.
• e. Adequate training is provided to ensure safe use of equipment.
• f. The use of machine safeguards by workers is required and verified.
• g. The facility performs scheduled preventive maintenance of machinery and machine safeguards.
• h. The facility conducts a pre-purchase/pre-installation hazard review of all machinery and appropriate safeguarding is installed as needed to control the identified hazards.

3. Controls & Monitoring

Controls & Monitoring should include:

• a. An appropriate method is used to ensure that safeguards are installed as needed to control the identified hazards and follows the hierarchy of controls in a documented gated process, demonstrating that each hierarchy level has been fully evaluated and reasons why it could not address the risk fully before proceeding to the next hierarchal level.
• b. Regular inspection and preventive maintenance of a machine, its safeguards, and emergency stops.

4. Records

Records are maintained including:

• a. Records demonstrating regular inspection and preventive maintenance of machines are available for review.

5. Serious conditions that will result in a severe finding

• Any worker operating a machine in a way that has imminent or immediate risk to life or limb.

1.0.0 (2024-01-01)

Initial release.