Standard on Mechanical Power Presses (29 CFR 1910.217(e)(1)(i) and (e)(1)(ii))

Occupational Safety and Health Admin., Labor
operating valve mechanism, and to inhibit further operation if such failure
does occur, where a part revolution
clutch is employed. The exception in
paragraph (b)(7)(xi) of this section for
controls manufactured and installed
before August 31, 1971, is not applicable
under this paragraph (c)(5).
(d) Design, construction, setting and
feeding of dies—(1) General requirements.
The employer shall: (i) Use dies and operating methods designed to control or
eliminate hazards to operating personnel, and (ii) furnish and enforce the
use of hand tools for freeing and removing stuck work or scrap pieces
from the die, so that no employee need
reach into the point of operation for
such purposes.
(2) [Reserved]
(3) Scrap handling. The employer
shall provide means for handling scrap
from roll feed or random length stock
operations. Scrap cutters used in conjunction with scrap handling systems
shall be safeguarded in accordance with
paragraph (c) of this section and with
§ 1910.219.
(4) Guide post hazard. The hazard created by a guide post (when it is located
in the immediate vicinity of the operator) when separated from its bushing
by more than one-fourth inch shall be
considered as a point of operation hazard and be protected in accordance
with paragraph (c) of this section.
(5) Unitized tooling. If unitized tooling
is used, the opening between the top of
the punch holder and the face of the
slide, or striking pad, shall be safeguarded in accordance with the requirements of paragraph (c) of this section.
(6) Tonnage, stroke, and weight designation. All dies shall be:
(i) Stamped with the tonnage and
stroke requirements, or have these
characteristics
recorded
if
these
records are readily available to the die
setter;
(ii) Stamped to indicate upper die
weight when necessary for air counterbalance pressure adjustment; and
(iii) Stamped to indicate complete
die weight when handling equipment
may become overloaded.
(7) Die fastening. Provision shall be
made in both the upper and lower shoes
for securely mounting the die to the

§ 1910.217

bolster and slide. Where clamp caps or
setscrews are used in conjunction with
punch stems, additional means of securing the upper shoe to the slide shall
be used.
(8) Die handling. Handling equipment
attach points shall be provided on all
dies requiring mechanical handling.
(9) Diesetting. (i) The employer shall
establish a diesetting procedure that
will insure compliance with paragraph
(c) of this section.
(ii) The employer shall provide spring
loaded turnover bars, for presses designed to accept such turnover bars.
(iii) The employer shall provide die
stops or other means to prevent losing
control of the die while setting or removing dies in presses which are inclined.
(iv) The employer shall provide and
enforce the use of safety blocks for use
whenever dies are being adjusted or repaired in the press.
(v) The employer shall provide brushes, swabs, lubricating rolls, and automatic or manual pressure guns so that
operators and diesetters shall not be
required to reach into the point of operation or other hazard areas to lubricate material, punches or dies.
(e) Inspection, maintenance, and modification of presses—(1) Inspection and
maintenance records. (i) It shall be the
responsibility of the employer to establish and follow a program of periodic
and regular inspections of his power
presses to ensure that all their parts,
auxiliary equipment, and safeguards
are in a safe operating condition and
adjustment. The employer shall maintain a certification record of inspections which includes the date of inspection, the signature of the person who
performed the inspection and the serial
number, or other identifier, of the
power press that was inspected.
(ii) Each press shall be inspected and
tested no less than weekly to determine the condition of the clutch/brake
mechanism, antirepeat feature and single stroke mechanism. Necessary
maintenance or repair or both shall be
performed and completed before the
press is operated. These requirements
do not apply to those presses which
comply with paragraphs (b) (13) and (14)
of this section. The employer shall

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§ 1910.217

29 CFR Ch. XVII (7–1–05 Edition)

maintain a certification record of inspections, tests and maintenance work
which includes the date of the inspection, test or maintenance; the signature of the person who performed the
inspection, test, or maintenance; and
the serial number or other identifier of
the press that was inspected, tested or
maintained.
(2) Modification. It shall be the responsibility of any person modifying a
power press to furnish instructions
with the modification to establish new
or changed guidelines for use and care
of the power press so modified.
(3) Training of maintenance personnel.
It shall be the responsibility of the employer to insure the original and continuing competence of personnel caring
for, inspecting, and maintaining power
presses.
(f) Operation of power presses—(1) [Reserved]

(2) Instruction to operators. The employer shall train and instruct the operator in the safe method of work before starting work on any operation
covered by this section. The employer
shall insure by adequate supervision
that correct operating procedures are
being followed.
(3) Work area. The employer shall
provide clearance between machines so
that movement of one operator will not
interfere with the work of another.
Ample room for cleaning machines,
handling material, work pieces, and
scrap shall also be provided. All surrounding floors shall be kept in good
condition and free from obstructions,
grease, oil, and water.
(4) Overloading. The employer shall
operate his presses within the tonnage
and attachment weight ratings specified by the manufacturer.

Explanation of above diagram:
This diagram shows the accepted safe
openings between the bottom edge of a guard
and feed table at various distances from the
danger line (point of operation).
The clearance line marks the distance required to prevent contact between guard and
moving parts.
The minimum guarding line is the distance
between the infeed side of the guard and the
danger line which is one-half inch from the
danger line.
The various openings are such that for average size hands an operator’s fingers won’t
reach the point of operation.

After installation of point of operation
guards and before a job is released for operation a check should be made to verify that
the guard will prevent the operator’s hands
from reaching the point of operation.

TABLE O–10
[In inches]
Distance of opening from point of operation hazard
⁄ to 11⁄2 ..............................................................
11⁄2 to 21⁄2 ............................................................
21⁄2 to 31⁄2 ............................................................
31⁄2 to 51⁄2 ............................................................
12

Maximum
width of
opening
⁄
⁄
1⁄2
5⁄8
14
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EC27OC91.076

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