Preventing Machine Hazards

Machine Hazards

The use of machines, in particular, those with moving parts, expose workers to risks of bodily injuries. The following are some common machine hazards and risks:

Entanglement – When a worker’s body part or loose items worn by him/her get caught in the moving machine parts.
Impact – Impact from moving machine parts or pressurised fluid jets that can cause abrasions and bruises.
Cutting – Contact with moving cutting elements such as blades that can cause severe injuries or amputations.
Electrical – Contact with faulty electrical components in machines such as live wires that can cause electrocution.
Heat – Contact with hot machine surfaces that can cause skin burns.
Loud noise – Excessive loud noise generated by machines that can cause noise-induced deafness (NID) after prolonged exposure.

Preventing Machine Hazards

There are 4 main reasons why accidents involving machines occur in the workplace:

Failure to implement sufficient safe work procedures on an organisational level;
Failure to follow safe work procedures due to ignorance, lack of experience or disregard for safety;
Lack of safety management practices to identify and eliminate unsafe acts and behaviours; and
Lack of adequate design for safe use, such as the absence of proper machine guards

Risk Control Measures

After you have identified the machine hazards in your workplace, you need to evaluate the risks of these hazards and implement appropriate risk control measures. You should prioritise your measures according to the Hierarchy of Control. Upstream risk controls (i.e. elimination, substitution and engineering controls) are more effective in reducing or controlling risk, and should be considered first.

Hierarchy of Control	Sample risk control measure
Elimination	Locate lubrication points away from moving machinery parts.
Substitution	Replace noisy machines with less noisy ones.
Engineering controls	Install enclosed splash guards to protect workers from chemical splashing during machine operation.
Administrative controls	Establish lock-out tag-out (LOTO) procedures for repair and maintenance of machines.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)	Use the appropriate PPE for the job.

Refer to the WSH Guidelines on Safe Use of Machinery to learn more about machine hazards and control measures to minimise or eliminate risks.

You should:

Allow only trained and competent employees to operate machines.
Put up warning signs to warn employees of machine hazards.
Ensure all machines are properly guarded.
Educate employees on all machine hazards, relevant control measures and safe work procedures.
Provide employees with the correct PPE.
Schedule regular preventive maintenance for machines.