OSHA
OSHA sets the standards--and, therefore, the law—for minimal compliance in the United States. Machinery standards are largely contained in the 29 CFR 1910 section of the OSHA code of regulations, created by an act of the U.S. Congress in the early 1970s.
Articles
A new ANSI standard will move certain safety responsibilities from employers to OEMs and machine tool providers. Packaging OEMs are already responding.
Some steps need to be completed before the OSHA inspector walks in, while others need to be done when the inspector is present. Read this article to learn more.
New standards signal the advent of the Performance Level (PL), a risk-based assessment that categorizes machine safety.
Six steps for machine system manufacturers to meet standards.
Answers from a direct Q & A session with OHSA on the topic of machine guarding.
Industry-based safety standards have been changing over the past several years due to the impact of large companies wanting standards harmonization for economies of scale and the fact that IEC and ISO standards began to provide uniform guidelines for machine builders and manufacturers. It is important for machine builders and end users to understand the implications of these changes, as they have a legal obligation to know how the standards impact their businesses.
Understanding machine safety standards and terms remains a challenging first step to spotting and reducing risks and increasing profitability. This article lists principal machine safety standards from American National Standards Institute (ANSI), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Robotics Industries Association (RIA), and U.S. Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA).
Books
Safety Products from Design Safety Engineering
Links
OSHA and its state partners have approximately 2100 inspectors, plus complaint discrimination investigators, engineers, physicians, educators, standards writers, and other technical and support personnel spread over more than 200 offices throughout the country. This staff establishes protective standards, enforces those standards, and reaches out to employers and employees through technical assistance and consultation programs.
As the voice of the U.S. standards and conformity assessment system, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) empowers its members and constituents to strengthen the U.S. marketplace position in the global economy while helping to assure the safety and health of consumers and the protection of the environment.
Founded in 1880 as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, today's ASME promotes the art, science & practice of mechanical & multidisciplinary engineering and allied sciences around the globe.