Machine Shop Safety Program Summary

Applies to:

This program applies to all departments that have a work area with fixed metal- and/or wood-working machinery where the primary function is to fabricate or machine materials or parts. Areas are defined as  "shops" if they have three or more pieces of fixed machinery and at least one employee who uses or oversees the shop. Common shop equipment includes band saws, table saws, radial saws, mills, lathes, drill presses, bench grinders, polishers/buffers/sanders, planers/jointers, power presses, thermoforming equipment, and welding and cutting equipment. 

If the area is not considered a "shop", but a few pieces of machinery are present, machine-specific requirements for safe use still apply; however, a designated machine shop coordinator or supervisor may not be necessary. 

Requirements

Maintenance/machine shops on campus are subject to routine inspections by the Virginia Occupational Safety and Health Administration (VOSH) through their local emphasis program. To assist with the oversight of such areas, departments must designate one or more persons to serve as the machine shop coordinator to implement program requirements. Typically, the shop supervisor is appointed coordinator.

Student-use shops may require a more formal shop safety program. Shop oversight, established policy, more frequent self-inspections, machine maintenance, and machine-specific training in addition to general safety training is typically required.

Introduction

This program was developed to assist departments with maintenance/machine shop oversight by ensuring that:

• Machinery and equipment available for use is of a safe design, and is used and maintained in accordance with manufacturer's recommendations;
• Authorized personnel are provided training and information on how to protect themselves from shop and machine hazards;
• Shop areas are maintained in a safe and orderly manner; and
  
• All work is performed in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements.