Ohio Administrative Code
Title 4123:1 - Division of Safety and Hygiene
Chapter 4123:1-5 - Workshops and Factories
Section 4123:1-5-11 - Forging machines, other power machines and machine tools, hydraulic and pneumatic presses, and power press brakes

Universal Citation: OH Admin Code 4123:1-5-11

Current through all regulations passed and filed through September 16, 2024

(A) Reserved.

(B) Reserved.

(C) Forging machines.

(1) Hammers and presses.
(a) The ram will be blocked when dies are being changed or other work is being done on the hammer. Blocks or wedges will be made of material, the strength and construction of which will meet or exceed the specifications and dimensions shown in Table 11-1 to this rule.

(b) Tongs will be of sufficient length to enable the employee to keep himself in the clear in case of kickback and the tongs will not have sharp handle ends.

(c) Oil swabs, or scale removers, or other devices to remove scale, will be provided. These devices will be long enough to enable an employee to reach the full length of the die without placing hands or arms between the dies.

(2) Power-driven hammers.
(a) Safety cylinder head.

Every steam or airhammer will have a safety cylinder head to act as a cushion if the rod should break or pull out of the ram.

(b) Stop valve - shutoff valve.

Steam hammers will be provided with a quick closing emergency valve in the admission pipe line at a convenient location. This valve will be closed and locked in the off position while the hammer is being adjusted, repaired, or serviced, or when the dies are being changed.

(c) Cylinder draining.

The steam hammer cylinder will be constructed with a self-draining arrangement, or a quick-acting type drain cock will be provided, which should be piped to a sump or drain pipe. If it discharges into the air, it will be located so as not to endanger employees.

Table 11-1

Strength and Dimension for Wood Ram Props

Size of timber inches (1)

Square inches in cross section

Minimum allowable crushing strength parallel to grain p.s.i. (2)

Maximum static load within short column range (3)

Safety factor

Maximum recommended weight of forging hammer for timber used

Maximum allowable length of timber, inches

4x4

16

5,000

80,000

10

8,000

44

6x6

36

5,000

180,000

10

18,000

66

8x8

64

5,000

320,000

10

32,000

88

10x10

100

5,000

500,000

10

50,000

100

12x12

144

5,000

720,000

10

72,000

132

Footnote(1) Actual dimension.

Footnote(2) Adapted from U.S. department of agriculture technical bulletin 479. Hardwoods recommended are those whose ultimate crushing strengths in compression parallel to grain are five thousand p.s.i. (pounds per square inch) or greater.

Footnote(3) Slenderness ratio formula for short columns is L/d=11, where L=length of timber in inches and d=least dimension in inches; this ratio should not exceed eleven.

(3) Air-lift hammers.

Air-lift hammers will be provided with two drain cocks; one on main head cylinder, and one on clamp cylinder.

(4) Board-type drophammers.
(a) Guarding.

A suitable enclosure will be provided to prevent damaged or detached boards from falling. The board enclosure will be securely fastened to the hammer.

(b) Releasing lever.

Means will be provided to prevent releasing lever from falling in case the front rod or releasing lever breaks.

(c) Front rod (friction rod).

Means will be provided to prevent the front rod (friction rod) from falling in case it breaks.

(d) Protection over workplace.

A screen or other guard will be installed over the workplace of hammer operator at the normal operating position.

(e) Board clamp rod.

Means will be provided to prevent the board clamp rod from falling in case it breaks.

(5) Forging presses.

The employer will provide and require the use of safety blocks for use whenever dies are being adjusted or repaired in all forging presses.

(6) Mechanically-operated hammers.
(a) Where only one hand is used for holding materials.

On mechanically-operated hammers where only one hand is used for holding the material, a safety stop, dog, or catch will be provided which prevents the hammer from coming down until such device has been released and held out of the way by the other hand; or a hand lever instead of the foot treadle will be provided for tripping the hammer.

(b) Where neither hand is used for holding material.

On hammers where neither hand is used for holding the material:

(i) A safety stop or tripping lever will be provided which will require the use of both hands to trip the hammer; or

(ii) A pull guard will be provided.

(D) Other power machines and machine tools.

(1) Upsetting machines.

Tension and safety springs will be covered to prevent the bolt or nut from being thrown out in case of breakage.

(2) Bulldozers.

A guard will be provided which will prevent employees from stepping between the dies.

(3) Power shears
(a) Alligator shears.
(i) Alligator shears facing an aisle or passageway will be located a minimum of four feet therefrom, unless guarded.

(ii) A guard will be installed which will prevent a kickup. This specification does not apply to alligator shears which operate automatically or by remote control on production lines.

(b) Squaring shears.

Squaring shears, where material is fed or removed by hand, will have the blade guarded at feed and discharge sides of the shear.

(4) Hollow spindle lathes, cutting-off machines, etc.

On hollow spindle lathes, cutting-off machines or any machine used on bar stock, pipe tubing, etc., where the material is revolved by power, substantial troughs or guards will be provided which will prevent the operator or other employees from coming in contact with the projecting unused portion of the revolving material.

(5) Machines with reciprocating tables.

Machines with reciprocating tables will have the openings guarded; guards will also be provided at each end and the sides of the table if the clearance of the table, which includes the work being machined and its chuck does not exceed twenty-four inches.

(6) Die casting machines.

Danger zones on die casting machines will be guarded.

(7) Hopper fed machinery.
(a) All hopper fed machinery, such as rotaries, die machines, and extruders, will have the entire opening protected with substantial grid type guards to prevent access of the employee's hands into the danger zone, or the hopper will be extended high enough to prevent entry into moving parts. The guards will be permanently attached to the hopper. If the hopper is removable, it will be provided with an interlock device so that the machine cannot operate when the hopper is removed.

(b) Exception.

Machinery covered expressly by specifications contained in other rules of the Ohio bureau of workers' compensation.

(8) Guillotine cutters.
(a) All power guillotine cutters where the blade is exposed to contact will be equipped with a two-hand control device.

(b) Exception.

Machinery covered expressly by specifications contained in other rules of the Ohio bureau of workers' compensation.

(9) Tumblers.

Power driven tumblers, rattlers, drums, barrels, containers, or similar machines that rotate, spin, or rock will be guarded on an area or individual basis. The guard will be interlocked with the drive mechanism so that the machine cannot operate unless the guard or enclosure is in place.

(10) Nip points.
(a) Means will be provided to protect employees exposed to contact with nip points created by power driven in-running rolls, rollover platen, or other flat surface material being wound over roll surface.

(b) Exception.

Machinery covered expressly by specifications contained in other rules of the Ohio bureau of workers' compensation.

(11) Food mixers.

All power driven food mixers will be equipped with a two-hand control device to keep agitator in motion under power when bowl is opened more than one-fifth of its total opening.

(12) Fastening machines.

All power driven fixed fastening machinery, such as riveting machines, wire stitchers, staplers, sewing machines, and similar fastening machinery will be guarded.

(13) Knives.
(a) All power driven knives or cutting blades, such as reciprocating knives, endless band knives, flying knives, slicer blades, and similar cutting machines, where exposed to contact, will be guarded except for the necessary working portion of the blade while being used.

(b) Exception.

Machinery covered expressly by specifications contained in other rules of the Ohio bureau of workers' compensation.

(E) Hydraulic or pneumatic presses.

Every hydraulic or pneumatic (air-powered) press will be constructed, or will be guarded, to prevent the hands or fingers of the operator from entering the danger zone during the operating cycle. Acceptable methods of guarding are:

(1) "Fixed barrier guard" - an enclosure to prevent hands or fingers from entering the danger zone;

(2) "Gate guard" - a movable gate operated with a tripping device to interpose a barrier between the operator and the danger zone and to remain closed until the down stroke has been completed;

(3) "Two-hand control" - an actuating device which requires the simultaneous use of both hands outside the danger zone during the entire closing cycle of the press;

(4) Pull guard - attached to hands or wrists and activated by closing of press so that movement of the ram will pull the operator's hands from the danger zone during the operating cycle;

(5) Restraint or hold-back guard - with attachments to the hands or wrists of the operator to prevent hands or fingers entering the danger zone during the operating cycle;

(6) Other practices, means or methods which will provide safeguards, preventing the hands or fingers of the operator from entering the danger zone during the operating cycle and which are equivalent in result to one of the types specified above.

(F) Power press brake (when used as a power press).

The specifications of rule 4123:1-5-10 of the Administrative Code will be applicable to power press brakes when used for other than bending.

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