Safety is a complex process with countless approaches, but all of them should take advantage of a few core safety tips that can save lives and gear around the workplace. Thousands of workplace accidents occur every year. Some are minor and others are fatal, but many are preventable.

Heavy equipment is an integral part of many industries, but safe operation of this massive machinery requires comprehensive and consistent safety training. How can managers and supervisors strengthen their training programs to ensure operators and employees have the resources they need to stay safe on the job?

This article highlights six key misconceptions about machine safeguarding. ANSI / ISO 12100:2012 Safety of machinery – General principles for design – Risk assessment and risk reduction is the primary reference.

Machine Guarding (1910.212) was the ninth most-frequently cited agency standard in FY 2019. Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing was the most-cited industry for violations of 1910.212 in FY 2019, with 423 citations, 371 inspections and $2,409,690 in proposed penalties.

A 23-year-old machine operator making nuts and bolts suffered a partial amputation of his right middle finger when it was caught in a machine at a Painesville manufacturer. He had only three weeks' experience with the equipment when the injury occurred.