Common Sources Of Accidents

Common Sources Of Accidents

A large number of revolving, rotating, reciprocating and moving parts of machinery can be said as the sources of danger and require guarding for protection against accidents. Extensive studies reveal that some characteristic groups of dangerous parts are acting as common sources of accidents in workshops. Many such major sources are as under.

1. Revolving parts, viz. pulley, flywheels, worms, worm wheel, fan, gears, gear trains, gear wheels etc.

2. Projecting fasteners of revolving parts; like bolts, screws, nuts, key heads, cotters and pins etc.

3. Intermittent feed mechanisms, viz., tool feed of planer; table feed of a shaper, ram feed of power presses and similar other applications.

4. Revolving shafts, spindles, bars, mandrels, chucks, followers and tools like drills, taps, reamers, milling cutters, and boring tool etc.

5. Rotating worms and spirals enclosed in casings, such as in conveyors and revolving cutting tool, like milling cutters, circular saw blade, saw band, circular shears and grinding wheels, etc.

6. Reciprocating tools and dies of power presses, spring hammer, drop hammers, and reciprocating presses, reciprocating knives and saw blade such bow saw, shearing and perforating machines and the cutting and trimming machine and power hacksaws etc.

7. Moving parts of various machines, like those of printing machines, paper-cutters and trimmers, etc.

8. Revolving drums and cylinders without casing, such as concrete and other mixers, tumblers and tumbling barrels, etc.

9. High speed rotating cages such as in hydro-extractors.

10. Revolving weights, such as in hydraulic accumulator or in slotting machines for counter-balance.

11. Nips between meshing racks and pinions of machine parts

12. Nips between reciprocating parts and fixed components, such as between shaper table and the fixture mounted on it or a planer table and table reversing stops, etc.

13. Nips between crank handles for machine controls and fixed parts.

14. Projecting nips between various links and mechanisms, like cranks, connecting rods, piston rods, rotating wheels and discs, etc.

15. Projecting sharp edge or nips of belt and chain drives; via belt, pulleys, chains sprockets and belt fasteners, spiked cylinders etc.

16. Nips between revolving control handles and fixed parts traverse gear handles of lathes, millers, etc.

17. Moving balance weights and dead weight, hydraulic accumulators, counter-balance weight on large slotting machines, etc.

18. Revolving drums and cylinders uncased, tumblers in the foundry, mixers, varnish mixers etc.

19. Nips between fixed and moving parts such as buckets or hoppers of conveyors against tipping bars, stops or parts of the framework.

20. Nips between revolving wheels or cylinders and pans or tables, sand mixers, crushing and incorporating mills, mortar mills, leather carrying machines, etc.

21. Cutting edges of endless band cutting machines, wood working, and log cutting metal find stone-cutting band saws, cloth-cutting band knives, etc.

22. Nips between gears and racks strips, roller drives, presses, planning machine drives, etc.

Preventive Measures

Few safety measures commonly used in industries comprise of the proper safety guards for reciprocating machine components such as drop hammers, presses, shaper, slotter, power hacksaw, paper cutters etc., fencing of dangerous and rotating parts like revolving shafts, incorporating safety devices such as safety valves, rigid construction of heavy items like hoists, cranes etc, proper insulation of electric wire and earthing of electric appliances, wearing appropriate safety shoe and other necessary items for, body protection, maintenance cleanliness of shop floor, removal of metal chips with proper protection, avoiding fire hazard. Safety while working safely in any shop is the safety of human being and the safety of workshop machinery. Hence there is a great need for the study of the domain of industrial safety for accidents prevention and good house keeping is the utmost. Safe working conditions in any industry may help to minimize the number of accidents taking place, prevent premature death of talented employee, prevent needless pain and suffering to industrial employees, reduce damages to equipment and machinery, increase production and reduce production cost. Good housekeeping implies keeping industry clean, look pleasant well illuminated and ventilated so that accidents are minimized, total production and quality are improved and the employee morale is boosted. Careless handling of heavy materials and components is a major source of back and foot injuries. To avoid premature fatigue of transport workers, full use should be made of mechanized materials handling equipment. Use mechanical means of conveyance to ensure the safety of men engaged in material handling. The transport workers should not be asked to lift more than the permissible load. Personal protective devices such as safe hard hats, rubberized hats for protection against liquids /chemicals, ear protectors, face mask/face shields, welding helmet, goggles of case-hardened and clear glass for protection against impact should be used as per the need.

The good housekeeping has been borrowed from the maintenance of domestic properties in the home or house and is now liberally applied to the maintenance of both cleanliness and order in all kinds of business establishments, e.g., industries etc. Cleanliness is a condition wherein buildings, work and rest areas, machinery, equipments and tools are kept free from dirt, dust etc. Necessity of good housekeeping is essential in order to make and maintain a clean and neat factory work in its surroundings. It makes work more pleasant, most satisfying and motivate for all kind of employees to work. The advantages of good house keeping are fewer accidents, increased life of building, machinery, tools, etc., improved employee morale, increased production, better product quality, continuous cleaning reduces housekeeping costs, no time is lost in searching for tools etc, material handling and transportation pick up speed, inspection, maintenance and production control functions become easier, much floor space otherwise occupied by unused raw material and tools. A good house keeping procedure involves plan and project the housekeeping program carefully and completely.