08 Mar
Published on 08
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Did you know ?
Accidents involving machines and tools account for 11% of work accidents. They represent more than 3 million lost working days in France.
Every day, we work using various equipment: grinders, lathes, milling machines, grinders, line conveyors, forklifts, etc.). However, if we are not vigilant, this equipment can cause serious accidents with irreversible consequences.
The material and its risks
These accidents occur more frequently in the industrial sector, then in construction and logistics.
The risks are multiple. These are mainly damage to muscles, tendons and joints under the effect of vibrations or stress, but also due to the possible crushing of parts of the body, or even the whole body. These risks are commonly referred to as: mechanical risks.
The risk of injury is due to the mechanical action of machine elements, tools, parts, or solid materials or projected fluids. The operator can be the victim of crushing, shearing, cutting, entrapment, dragging, imprisonment, shock, fall... The consequences of accidents are often serious for the victims: crushed fingers or limbs, amputations, death.
Several causes can cause accidents related to equipment:
- Passage of a limb through chains, belts, gears,
- Presence of a mobile element (chuck, cutting disc, etc.),
- Use of mobile machinery (forklift, earth-moving machine, lifting, etc.),
- Use of equipment for a purpose other than that intended by the manufacturer,
- Use of equipment in poor condition or modified,
- Improper use of equipment.
How can we prevent and protect ourselves from hardware-related risks?
Several best practices are to be adopted for our security:
- Before any use of equipment:
- Learn how to use the equipment properly. If in doubt, ask trained personnel.
- Identify emergency stop buttons or automatic shut-off systems, and make sure the guards are correctly positioned.
- Check the condition of your equipment, and in particular the validity of the periodic checks (VGP). Any defect or malfunction must be reported.
- Use collective protective equipment and your Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) ms available.
- Be careful when stopping a machine. Even if the machine is off, parts can remain in motion (grinder, saw, etc.). Many accidents are linked to the inertia of parts still in motion despite the stoppage of the machine.
- If your machine freezes: never try to unlock it by inserting your hands into the machine.
Do not hesitate to use your right to alert if equipment is damaged and should not be used.
Finally, your equipment does not only concern us, be attentive to your environment and to others.
The use of the equipment can be a danger for those around you (grinding sparks projected on someone, machine hitting a pedestrian, etc.).
To your tools!