B6. Machine Safeguarding

Code 7.0

Production and other machinery shall be evaluated for safety hazards. Physical guards, interlocks and barriers are to be provided and properly maintained where machinery presents an injury hazard to workers.

Elements to Demonstrate Compliance to RBA Code

1. Policy

Ensure company's health and safety policy includes machine safeguarding elements including:

• a. All required permits, licenses and testing reports for machinery are in place and a process is implemented to ensure permits and licenses are always up to date.
• b. An adequate and effective machine-safeguarding program is implemented, and workers operate machinery safely.

2. Procedures & Practices

Procedures & Practices are in place such that:

• a. A documented process is in place to ensure permits are renewed before current permits expire.
• b. All required machine safety permits and licenses are in place, available for review and valid, and machine safety testing reports are in place and available for review.
• c. All machines have adequate emergency stops.
• d. All machines have adequate safeguards.
• e. All workers operate machine safely.
• f. An adequate and effective documented machine risk assessment process is in place, providing a method to identify machine safeguarding needs (pre-purchase/pre-installation hazard review of all machinery).

3. Controls & Monitoring

Controls & Monitoring should include:

• a. An appropriate method is used to ensure that safeguarding is installed as needed to control the identified hazards.
• b. Regular inspection and preventive maintenance of a machine, its safeguards, and emergency stops.
• c. Work instructions (if necessary or required) are available in a language understood by the worker at the machine (or within proximity), and safe machine operation documentation is in place and available.

4. Records

Records are maintained including:

• a. Records demonstrating regular inspection and preventive maintenance of machines are available for review.

5. Serious conditions that will result in a severe finding

• Worker operates a machine unsafely with immediate risk of life or limb.

6. Rating guidance

• Permits provision (B6.1): a Major finding arises where required permits, licenses or testing reports are missing, or where two or more of the minimum requirement elements are missing or ineffective; a Minor finding arises where one of the minimum requirement elements is missing or ineffective, or a system element is not adequately documented.
• Safeguarding provision (B6.2): a Major finding arises where a worker operates a machine unsafely without immediate risk of life or limb; a Minor finding arises where workers operate machines safely but work instructions are incomplete, or the machine safeguarding program is in place but incomplete.

1.0.0 (2021-01-01)

Changed

• Initial historical baseline — Machine Safeguarding (RBA Code of Conduct 7.0): Earliest imported version. Two provisions: (B6.1) all required machinery permits, licenses and testing reports are in place with a renewal process, rated Major if permits/reports are missing or two or more minimum elements are missing/ineffective and Minor if one element is missing; and (B6.2) an adequate and effective machine-safeguarding program with adequate emergency stops and safeguards, safe operation, a documented machine risk assessment (pre-purchase/pre-installation hazard review), regular inspection and preventive maintenance, and worker work instructions, rated with explicit per-criterion Priority/Major/Minor bands (Priority = unsafe operation with immediate risk of life or limb).