Machine Shop Safety Program Responsibilities

Environmental Health & Safety will provide the following services for this program.

Monitor the overall effectiveness of the program;
Provide machine shop coordinator training and general shop safety training for shop users;
Conduct periodic audits of shop areas;
Provide technical assistance; and
Coordinate Virginia Occupational Safety and Health (VOSH) visits and citation responses, as necessary.

Departments with maintenance/machine shops shall provide a safe and healthy workplace. Coordination of this program involves the following:

Designate a machine shop coordinator for each shop area under the department's control and provide support as needed for the coordinator to meet the requirements of this program. Typically, this role is filled by the shop supervisor;
Ensure that each departmental employee or student who works in and around shop areas receives appropriate training as indicated in this program; and
For student shops, establish shop policy regarding hours of operation and oversight.

Machine shop coordinators must ensure that all personnel using the shop equipment have been instructed in safe operating procedures (i.e. hands-on training) and are aware of specific personal protective equipment requirements. User training must be documented;
Operator manuals for each piece of machinery shall be available;
All machinery shall be used and maintained in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations;
Ensure all machinery is in safe and proper working order when in use;
A preventative maintenance program for each machine is highly recommended;
Perform periodic shop self-inspections to identify and correct existing or potential hazards;
Machine shop coordinators, or a designee, must be current on first aid/CPR/AED training;
Ensure required safety features, such as guards, are installed for each piece of machinery and are functioning properly; and
Ensure required personal protective equipment is used, and operating procedures are followed by users.

Each person, employee or student, who performs work in a shop area must:

Operate machinery or equipment only after being trained by the machine shop coordinator (or designee);
Follow standard operating procedures for the machinery and equipment including the proper use of safety features;
Use prescribed personal protective equipment;
Report injuries to the machine shop coordinator;
Dress appropriately (no loose jewelry, clothing, or unsecured long hair); and
Report problems with machines to the machine shop coordinator, so that they can be tagged out-of-service until properly repaired or replaced.