Exposure to the hazardous areas of a machine
In the course of their work, workers may be exposed to hazardous areas of a machine in the event of:
- moving parts
- uncontrolled energy
Safe machines
Machines can cause serious injuries such as amputation, or even death. Whether in construction, agriculture, cabinet making, food processing or factories, workers have the right to use, maintain, adjust and repair machinery in safety. Therefore, machines must be safe. This is called “machine safety.”
The machine must be manufactured in such a way as to make its hazardous areas inaccessible. Otherwise, it must be equipped with one or more appropriate means of protection to control access to hazardous areas.
Responsibility for workplaces
The employer must also implement measures to ensure that workers use the machine safely, such as:
- procedures
- work methods
- training
- the use of personal protective equipment
- the communication of sufficient information
The employer must also put energy control measures in place to avoid any unforeseen release of energy during work in the hazardous area of a machine.
For their part, workers must comply with the work procedures established and inform the employer of any situation they consider to be hazardous.
Safety rules
Zero tolerance
If any of these rules is not followed, a CNESST inspector may order the suspension of work or the closure of a workplace and affix seals to a machine. Those at fault will be liable to criminal prosecution.
For more information, see the Zero tolerance sheet: Machine safety: exposure to the hazardous areas of a machine (in French only).
To eliminate the exposure of workers to the hazardous areas of a machine, the employer must:
- install guards or safety devices to control access to the moving parts of a machine during operation.
- Division XXI of the Regulation respecting occupational health and safety (ROHS)
- S. 3.10.13(1) of the Safety Code for the construction industry (SCCI)
- S. 3.10.14 of the SCCI
- S. 3.10.15 of the SCCI
- S. 3.16.9(2 and 6 i(a)) of the SCCI
- S. 373(4 and 7) of the Regulation respecting occupational health and safety in mines (ROHSM)
- S. 56 of the Regulation respecting health and safety in forest development work (RHSFDW)
- use lockout or, failing that, apply an energy control method that ensures equivalent safety before undertaking any work in the hazardous area of a machine, including the following:
- erecting
- adjustment
- inspection
- blockage clearing
- cleaning
- repair
- maintenance
- Other mandatory preventive measures
To ensure the worker’s safety in the presence of a machine, the employer must take the following measures:
- Keep the machine and the means of protection in proper working condition
- When replacing a guard or safety device, make sure the replacement guard or safety device offers a level of safety at least equivalent to that offered by the original guard
- Establish work procedures for the safe use of the machine
- Provide workers with training for the safe use of the machine
- Use a specific control mode where, for setting, maintenance or inspection or other work on a machine, a guard has to be displaced or a protective device has to be neutralized, and where it is necessary for the machinery to be put into operation
- Ensure that the people having access to the danger zone of the machine are trained and informed on the risks related to work carried out on the machine and on the prevention measures specific to the energy control method applied
Hazardous energy control methods
- Lockout
Lockout is an energy control method designed to install an individually keyed lock on an energy isolating device or on any other energy control device such as a lockout box. Thus, installing locks ensures that all energy sources are kept in a safe state throughout the duration of the work. If more than one person accesses the hazardous area, each person must install their lock.
To apply this method, the employer must:
- establish lockout procedures
- provide the material required
- train workers adequately
- coordinate the work effectively
- S. 197 of the ROHS
- Ss. 199 to 207 of the ROHS
- S. 2.20.3 of the SCCI
- Ss. 2.20.5 to 2.20.12 of the SCCI
- S. 2.20.14 of the SCCI
- Simple disconnection
Unplugging a machine may be used as an energy control method under certain conditions. For example, for a mitre saw:
- It has a single energy source, namely, electricity.
- The electrical plug is within reach of the worker who is carrying out the work on the machine.
- There is no energy after the machine is unplugged.
- Methods other than lockout
When the employer plans to use an energy control method other than lockout, they must ensure this method reduces the risk effectively by analyzing:
- the machine features
- identification of the health and safety risks for workers when using the machine
- the estimate of the frequency and seriousness of the potential employment injuries for each risk identified
- the description of prevention measures that apply for each risk identified, the estimate of the level of risk reduction thus obtained and the assessment of residual risks
- Ss. 198 to 200 of the ROHS
- Ss. 2.20.4 to 2.20.6 of the SCCI