Pennsylvania Code › Title 34 - LABOR AND INDUSTRY › Part I - Department of Labor and Industry › Chapter 29 - MECHANICAL APPARATUS-MISCELLANEOUS › Subchapter A - POWER, FOOT AND HAND COLD METAL PRESSES › HAZARDS AT POINT OF OPERATION › Section 29.21 - All installations

Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 28, July 13, 2024
(a)
Methods of guarding.
Except when operators use both hands to
					 handle stock which is of such size that it is impossible to get their hands
					 under the die, means of safeguarding the press at the point of operation shall
					 be provided and used on each press in accordance with the following table,
					 depending on the method of feeding the press:
GUARDS FOR POINT OF OPERATION
Method of Feeding
								  Press
Safeguarding Required
(1) Manual
(A) Enclosure of ram [§
								  29.21(b)]; or
(B) Limitation of ram stroke [§
								  29.2(c)]; or
(C) Gate guard [§ 29.21(d)]; or
(D) Two-hand tripping device [§
								  29.21(d)]; or
(E) Sweep guard [§ 29.21(d)]; or
(F) When the preceding preferred methods
								  are not employed, special handtools may be used for holding or placing the
								  material [§ 29.21(e)].
(2) Semi-automatic
1. Chute feed
(A) Enclosure of ram
								  [§ 29.21(b)];
2. Slide feed
or
3. Sliding dies
(B) Limitation of ram
								  stroke [§ 29.21(c)];
4. Dial feed
or
5. Revolving dies
(C) Gate guard [§
								  29.21(d)].
(3) Automatic 1. Automatic roll feed
(A)
								  Enclosure of ram [§ 29.21(b)]; or
2. Automatic push or pull feed
(B)
								  Limitation of ram stroke [§ 29.21(c)]; or
3. Automatic plunger feed
(C) Gate guard
								  [§ 29.21(d)].
(b)
Enclosure of ram.
If the
					 press is safeguarded by enclosing the ram, the enclosure shall be substantially
					 constructed. The opening between the bottom of the enclosure and the work or
					 working surface shall not exceed 3/8 inch. The top of the enclosure shall
					 extend at least as high as the upper limit of travel of the ram. There shall be
					 no dangerous shear points between the guard and any moving part. Openings in
					 the guard shall not exceed 1/2 inch, if within four inches of any moving point;
					 if farther away than four inches, openings shall not exceed two square inches
					 in area.
(c)
Ram
					 stroke.
If the press is safeguarded by limiting the ram stroke, the
					 stroke of the ram shall be such that the clearance between the ram and die or
					 stripper shall not exceed 3/8 inch.
(d)
Guards and devices.
If
					 the press is safeguarded by a gate guard, a two-hand tripping device, or a
					 sweep guard, such guards or devices shall be of an approved type and conform
					 with the following specifications:
(1) Each
					 such guard or device shall be simple and reliable in construction, application,
					 and adjustment. It shall be permanently attached by cap screws or through bolts
					 to the press frame. It shall not offer any accident hazard. It shall be
					 designed and constructed to minimize the possibility of removing or misusing
					 essential parts and to facilitate inspection of such parts.
(2) Each guard or device shall be so designed
					 and constructed that no part of the hand of the operator is within the danger
					 zone while the ram is descending. Two-hand tripping devices shall be so
					 arranged as to prevent tying, locking, wedging, or otherwise securing one
					 handle or button and operating the press with the other hand only, except by
					 the use of a key which shall be kept only in the possession of the
					 foreman.
(3) On slow acting presses
					 each guard or device shall be arranged so as not to permit the operator to
					 place his hand in the danger zone after the press has been tripped and while
					 the ram is still descending.
(4)
					 The openings in gate guards shall be not greater than specified in subsection
					 (b). This requirement applies also to sweep guards which consist of a sliding
					 gate or enclosure.
(5) Unless the
					 guard or device is directly connected to the ram (for example, a sweep guard),
					 a nonrepeat attachment shall be provided by which the tread or operating lever
					 is disconnected after each stroke and a positive stop is introduced to stop the
					 press. The nonrepeat attachment shall not be dependent upon the action of any
					 spring except a compression spring operation in or on a closely fitting barrel
					 or rod and so wound that the space between coils is less than the diameter of
					 the wire. Such nonrepeat attachment, however, is not required for a gate guard
					 so constructed as to insure its being in place to offer full protection if the
					 press should repeat because of riding the treadle or breakage of the latch
					 return spring. A nonrepeat attachment may be so arranged that it may be
					 rendered inoperative in case continuous operation is desired, if for such
					 operation the press is otherwise safeguarded as specified in subsection
					 (a).
(6) Gate guards which are
					 attached to the ram and which move downward so that the hand of the operator
					 may be caught between gate and lower die are prohibited.