R 408.10034
R 408.10034 Machine guards and devices.
Cite as Mich. Admin. Code R 408.10034
Rule 34. (1) Two hand-control devices shall be the anti-tie down type and located in
a manner to prevent bridging. Operation shall require manual activation of both controls
until a point is reached in the cycle where the operator cannot remove his or her hands
and place them within a pinch point. If repeating would cause an injury, an anti-repeat
device shall be incorporated into the control system.
(2) Guards shall be secured to the machine, if possible, or to other fixed objects. The
guard shall not create a hazard in itself.
(3) A point of operation guard or device shall be as prescribed in a specific standard,
or, in the absence of a specific standard, shall be designed and constructed, when
required, to prevent the machine operator exposed to the hazard from having any part of
his or her body in the hazardous area during the operating cycle. A guard or device for
the point of operation of a nonproduction arbor press or straightening press is not
required if the machine is equipped with a hand control that is designed to stop the ram
action or return the ram to the up position when released .
(4) Hand tools shall not be substituted for the required guarding or point of operation
devices, except that a hand tool may be used as prescribed in subrule (5) of this rule for a
press brake operation. Where hand tools are used for placing into, and removing material
from, a point of operation, they shall be designed so that the operator is not required to
place a hand within the point of operation.
(5) A bending operation on a press brake involving less than 25 pieces of 1 specific
bend, if not guarded, shall require the use of a hand tool when the operator must hold the
work piece within 4 inches of the point of operation, and a conspicuous sign shall be
posted on the machine stating "Hand tools shall be used to hold stock."
(6) A revolving barrel, container, or drum exposed to contact shall be guarded by a
standard barrier, an enclosure, or equivalent protection where a hazard exists. Access
through a standard barrier or enclosure shall be by a gate equipped with an interlock,
which shall disconnect the power when the gate is opened and require manual
re-actuation of a start button. A constant pressure jog control that bypasses the interlock
may be used to aid loading and unloading.
(7) Blades of a fan, located within 7 feet of a floor or working level and used for
ventilation or cooling of an employee, shall be guarded with a firmly affixed or secured
guard. Any opening in the guard shall have not more than 1 of its dimensions more than 1
inch and the distance to the blade shall not be less than that prescribed in Table 1.
(8) A fan used in process cooling whose blade is less than 7 feet above the floor or
working level shall meet the distance requirements of Table 2. Where the openings are
larger than those shown in Table 2, the distance from the guard to the blade shall prevent
any part of the employee's body from making contact with the blade.
(9) When an employee is exposed to a hazard created by a pinch point other than
point of operation, the hazard shall be guarded or the employee otherwise protected.
(10) A band or circular saw shall be guarded as prescribed in General Industry
Safety and Health Standard Part 27 “Woodworking Machinery,” as referenced in
R 408.10002.
(11) An extractor, parts washer, or tumbler, manually controlled and equipped with
an inside revolving cylinder, shall be equipped with a cover or door interlocked in such a
manner as to prevent opening the door when the inside cylinder is in motion, and to
prevent power operation of the inside cylinder when the cover or door is open. An inch
control or constant pressure control which bypasses the interlock may be used to aid
loading and unloading.
(12) An employee shall not place his or her body beneath equipment, such as
vehicles, machines, or materials, supported only by a jack, overhead hoist, chain fall, or
any other temporary single supporting means, unless safety stands, blocks or other
support system capable of supporting the total imposed weight is used to protect the
employee in case of failure of the supporting system.
TABLE 1
Smallest dimension in guard (inches):
Minimum distance from guard to
blade:
Greater than 0 up to 1/4 inclusive
1/2 inch
Greater than 1/4 up to 3/8 inclusive
1 1/2 inches
Greater than 3/8 up to 1/2 inclusive
2 1/2 inches
Greater than 1/2 up to 3/4 inclusive
4 inches
Greater than 3/4 up to 1 inclusive
6 times the smallest dimension
TABLE 2
Distance of opening from point of
operation hazard (inches)
Maximum width opening (inches)
1/2 to 1 1/2
1/4
1 1/2 to 2 1/2
3/8
2 1/2 to 3 1/2
1/2
3 1/2 to 5 1/2
5/8
5 1/2 to 6 1/2
3/4
6 1/2 to 7 1/2
7/8
7 1/2 to 12 1/2
1 1/4
12 1/2 to 15 1/2
1 1/2
15 1/2 to 17 1/2
1 7/8
17 1/2 to 31 1/2
2 1/8