R 408.12461 General requirements.

Rule 2461.(1) An employer shall provide and ensure the usage of point of operation guards or properly applied and adjusted point of operation devices on every production operation performed on a press. Point of operation guards shall conform to the provisions of table 1 and figure 1, except when the point of operation opening is less than 1/4 of an inch. (2) Where an operator feeds or removes parts by placing 1 or both hands in the point of operation and where a 2-hand control, presence-sensing device, type-B gate, or movable barrier, on a part revolution clutch, is used for safeguarding, both of the following provisions shall be complied with: (a) An employer shall use a control system and a brake monitor which comply with the provisions of R 408.12422(2) and R 408.12429. This requirement shall be complied with by November 1, 1975. (b) Air clutch controls shall be designed to prevent a significant increase in the normal stopping time due to a failure within the operating valve mechanism and to inhibit further operation if such failure does occur, where a part revolution clutch is employed. (3) The August 31, 1971 exceptions in the provisions of R 408.12445 and R 408.12449 do not apply to the requirements of this rule. (4) Running production with the press on inch mode is not an acceptable form of operator protection. A guard or device as prescribed in R 408.12463 is required. (5) Table 1 reads as follows: TABLE 1 Distance of opening from point of operation hazard (inches) Maximum width of 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 This table shows the distances that guards shall be positioned from the danger line in accordance with the required openings. (6) Figure 1 reads as follows: SAFE OPENINGS DIAGRAM EXPLANATION OF ABOVE DIAGRAM: This diagram shows the accepted safe openings between the bottom edge of a guard and feed table at various distances from the danger line (point of operation). The clearance line marks the distance required to prevent contact between guard and moving parts. The minimum guarding line is the distance between the infeed side of the guard and the danger line which is one-half inch from the danger line. The various openings are such that for average size hands an operator's fingers won't reach the point of operation. After installation of point of operation guards and before a job is released for operation a check should be made to verify that the guard will prevent the operator's hands from reaching the point of operation.